Sophia Delgado
An infected nail, or paronychia, is a bacterial or fungal skin infection that develops around the nail. It is caused by bacteria getting under the skin around the nail, often due to biting or chewing nails, or working with wet hands or chemicals. The infected area becomes swollen, red, and painful, and a pus-filled blister may form. In rare cases, the infection can spread beyond the nail and lead to a serious infection. Treatment for paronychia includes soaking the infected area in warm water, antibiotics, or antifungal medication. In severe cases, a doctor may need to drain the pus and place a bandage over the cut. Sometimes, badly infected nails need to be removed under local anaesthetic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is it called when there is an infection around the nail? | Paronychia |
| What is paronychia? | A bacterial or fungal skin infection that develops around the nail. |
| What are the symptoms of paronychia? | Red, swollen skin around the nail that is painful, warm, and tender to touch. |
| What causes paronychia? | Germs enter the skin through nail biting, chewing, or injury. |
| How is paronychia treated? | Antibiotics, antifungal medication, or home remedies like soaking the infected area in warm water, lemon, and salt. |
| When should you see a doctor for paronychia? | If symptoms are severe, do not go away, or return after treatment. Seek immediate care if you have a condition affecting your body's ability to fight infection. |
| When is nail removal necessary? | In rare cases of severe, chronic paronychia, or when antifungal treatments are unsuitable or ineffective. |
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What You'll Learn
Home remedies
If you have an infected nail, it is important to determine whether it is safe to treat it at home or if medical attention is required. In most cases, you should be able to treat mild cases of paronychia (nail infection) at home. Soaking the infected area in warm water for about 15 minutes a few times a day can help to drain the pus from under the skin. Be sure to dry the area thoroughly after soaking.
There are also a few other home remedies that you can try. One such remedy involves cutting a slit in a lemon, sprinkling salt into the slit, and then placing the affected finger or toe in the lemon for a few minutes. This process can be repeated until the infection goes away. However, it is important to note that there is no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of this remedy.
Another home remedy is applying magnesium sulfate paste to the infected area. Additionally, you can treat paronychia at home by minimizing germ exposure and frequently washing the infected area. It is important to keep the area clean and replace any bandages as needed.
If symptoms do not improve after a day or two of home remedies, it is recommended to consult a healthcare provider for further treatment. Antibiotics are typically prescribed to treat paronychia and kill the bacterial infection. In some cases, drainage of pus may also be necessary.
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Medical treatments
If you suspect that you have an infected nail, you should seek medical attention. A doctor will be able to diagnose the type of infection and recommend an appropriate treatment. Paronychia, for example, is a bacterial or fungal skin infection that develops around the nail. It can usually be diagnosed by a visual inspection of the infected area. In some cases, a pus sample or nail clipping may be sent to a laboratory to test for the presence of specific bacteria or fungi.
If you have a mild case of paronychia, you may be able to treat it at home by soaking the infected area in warm water for about 15 minutes a few times a day. You can also try applying lemon and salt to the affected area, although there is no scientific evidence to support this method. If you have diabetes or another condition that affects your circulation, or if you are immunosuppressed, you should contact your healthcare provider as soon as you notice any signs of infection.
If you have a bacterial infection, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics such as dicloxacillin or clindamycin. For fungal infections, antifungal medications such as clotrimazole or ketoconazole may be prescribed. In some cases, a doctor may need to drain any pus from abscesses. This procedure, known as the incision and drainage method, involves administering a local anesthetic and opening the nail fold to insert gauze and help drain the pus. The area will then be cleaned and bandaged.
In severe cases of paronychia, the infection can spread beyond the nail and affect the underlying bone. If left untreated, this can lead to serious health problems, and in rare cases, the infected finger or toe may need to be removed to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the body.
Fungal nail infections, caused by the same fungus that causes athlete's foot, can cause the nail to become discoloured, thickened, and distorted. Antifungal tablets may be prescribed by a doctor, but these are not suitable for those with liver or kidney disease, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. In some cases, badly infected nails may need to be removed under local anaesthetic.
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When to seek medical help
In most cases, you can treat a nail infection at home and it should not cause serious health problems. However, if you have a more severe case of a nail infection, you should seek medical help.
If you have diabetes, another condition that affects your circulation, or are immunosuppressed, call your healthcare provider as soon as you notice any signs of infection. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you have a condition that affects your body's ability to fight infection.
If you have tried home treatments for several days and symptoms do not improve, or if they return after treatment, you should see a doctor. If you have a bacterial infection, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. If you have a fungal infection, a doctor will prescribe antifungal medication.
If pus has built up around the nail bed and is not draining on its own, a doctor may need to drain the pus. They will clean the area, make a small cut, and place a bandage over the cut. Keep the area clean and change the bandage when necessary.
In rare cases, a nail infection can spread beyond the nail and lead to a serious infection. If the infection spreads deeper into the finger or toe, it may be necessary to remove the affected finger or toe to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the body.
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Preventing infection
Preventing nail infections is a better option than having to treat them. Paronychia, a bacterial or fungal skin infection, can develop from biting or chewing nails, working with wet hands or exposing them to chemicals, or from damage to the skin around the nail caused by trimming or pushing back the cuticle. To prevent paronychia, do not bite or chew nails, do not trim or push back the cuticle, and avoid exposing your hands to water or chemicals for long periods. If you work with chemicals or your job requires your hands to be wet frequently, wear waterproof gloves.
Fungal nail infections are caused by the same fungi that cause athlete's foot, and they cause the nail to become discoloured, thickened, distorted, and easy to break. To prevent fungal nail infections, keep your nails clean and dry, and avoid walking barefoot in public places like swimming pools, locker rooms, and communal showers.
In general, to prevent nail infections, keep your nails short and smooth, and trim them regularly. Trim your fingernails with a slightly rounded edge, and your toenails straight across, taking care not to cut them too short. Keep your hands and feet clean and dry, and avoid sharing personal items like towels, nail clippers, and shoes.
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Complications
In rare cases, paronychia can spread deeper into the finger or toe, leading to a more serious infection. This can progress to the underlying bone and, in the most severe cases, may require the removal of a finger or toe to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the body. Those with diabetes or circulation issues are more likely to experience chronic paronychia and severe symptoms.
Fungal nail infections are caused by a fungus that causes athlete's foot, resulting in the nail becoming thickened, discoloured, and distorted. In some cases, the nail may need to be removed under local anaesthetic. Antifungal medication is usually prescribed, but those with liver or kidney disease, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding, cannot take this medication.
Home remedies for treating paronychia include soaking the infected area in warm water, applying lemon and salt, and keeping the area clean. However, many home remedies lack scientific support, so it is important to seek medical advice. Antibiotics can be prescribed for bacterial infections, and antifungal medication for fungal infections. Pus may also need to be drained by a medical professional.
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Frequently asked questions
Paronychia is a bacterial or fungal skin infection that develops around the nail. It is caused by biting or chewing nails, frequently wet hands, exposure to chemicals, or injury to the area.
Mild cases of paronychia can be treated at home by soaking the infected area in warm water and applying lemon and salt. In more severe cases, a doctor may recommend antibiotics or antifungal medication.
In rare cases of severe, chronic paronychia, the infection can spread beyond the nail and lead to a serious infection. In such cases, a doctor may need to remove the infected finger or toe to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the body.
