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Our fingers contain an unusually high concentration of pain-perceiving nerve endings called “nociceptors.” Dermatologist hayley goldbach from the university of california, los angeles, told the bbc "fingertips are how we explore the world, how we do small delicate tasks, so it makes sense that we have a lot of nerve endings there. It’s kind of a safety mechanism." But having so many in one place means that we really feel an injury to our fingertips.

Getting a deep wound in general—especially one caused by rusty metal—doesn't guarantee that you'll develop an infected cut, but it does mean you should seek medical attention immediately. Don't try to resolve these kinds of cuts or scrapes on your own at home. Dr. Au is adamant about seeing a doctor in these instances because you'll likely need stitches or at least additional attention above and beyond at-home application of vaseline and a bandage. Here's what to do when you can't get to a doctor, from a survival specialist.