Sophia Delgado
Pus coming out of your nail could be a sign of paronychia, an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. Paronychia is caused by bacteria entering broken skin near the cuticle and nail fold. Symptoms include throbbing pain, redness, warmth, swelling and pus-filled blisters. Treatment for paronychia involves antibiotics to kill the infection, and draining any pus from surrounding abscesses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of condition | Paronychia |
| Cause | Bacteria entering broken skin near the cuticle and nail fold |
| Symptoms | Pain, redness, warmth, swelling, pus-filled blisters, nail changes |
| Treatment | Antibiotics, incision and drainage method |
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What You'll Learn
Pus-filled blisters
Pus coming out of your nail could be a sign of paronychia, an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. Paronychia can develop when bacteria enter broken skin near the cuticle and nail fold, causing an infection. The cuticle is the skin at the base of the nail, and the nail fold is where the skin and nail come together. Pus-filled blisters (abscesses) may form, and the area around the nail may become swollen, red and painful.
Paronychia is usually treated with antibiotics to kill the infection. Pus may also be drained by a healthcare provider, and the fluid may be cultured to identify the specific bacteria causing the infection. In some cases, a small part of the nail may need to be removed to ensure complete drainage of the pus.
Acute paronychia causes throbbing pain, redness, warmth and swelling in the skin around a nail. Pus may form under the skin next to the nail or underneath the nail itself. Usually, only one nail is affected. Chronic paronychia, on the other hand, typically causes less severe symptoms. The area around the nail is tender, red and mildly swollen, the cuticle is missing, and the skin around the nail feels moist or "boggy". Several nails on the same hand may be affected simultaneously.
Mild acute paronychia can often be treated at home by soaking the affected finger or toe in warm water for at least 15 minutes, two to four times a day. If symptoms do not improve or pus develops, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Moderate to severe cases of paronychia may require oral or topical antibiotics and, in some cases, surgical drainage of the pus.
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Bacterial infection
Pus coming out of your nail is a sign of a bacterial infection called paronychia. This is an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. The infected area becomes swollen, red, and painful, and a pus-filled blister (abscess) may form. Paronychia is usually not serious and can be treated at home. However, if the infection spreads to the rest of the finger or toe, it can lead to a deeper infection that may require medical attention.
Chronic paronychia is a less severe form of the infection and usually causes milder symptoms than acute paronychia. The area around the nail is tender, red, and mildly swollen, the cuticle is missing, and the skin around the nail feels moist or "boggy." Chronic paronychia is more commonly caused by irritation from occupational or environmental exposures.
Healthcare providers treat paronychia with antibiotics to kill the infection. They may also drain the pus (thick, infectious fluid that builds up around a wound) and culture the fluid to identify the specific bacteria causing the infection. If necessary, a small part of the nail may be removed to ensure complete drainage of the pus.
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Fungal infection
Pus coming out of your nail could be a sign of a bacterial or fungal infection called paronychia. This is an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. The infected area can become swollen, red, and painful, and a pus-filled blister (abscess) may form.
If the infection is bacterial, it tends to come on suddenly. If it is fungal, it occurs more slowly. If you have a fungal infection, you may notice nail changes. For example, the nail may look detached, abnormally shaped, or have an unusual colour.
To prevent fungal infections, keep your nails short and clean, and avoid biting your nails or picking at your cuticles.
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Chronic paronychia
Pus coming out of your nail could be a sign of paronychia, an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. The infected area can become swollen, red, and painful, and a pus-filled blister (abscess) may form. Paronychia is usually caused by bacteria entering broken skin near the cuticle and nail fold, although it can also be caused by a fungal infection.
To treat paronychia, a doctor may need to drain any pus from surrounding abscesses. This is done through a procedure known as the incision and drainage method, which involves providing a local anaesthetic and opening the nail fold enough to insert gauze to help drain the pus. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to kill the infection.
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Acute paronychia
Pus coming out of your nail could be a sign of paronychia, an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. The infected area can become swollen, red, and painful, and a pus-filled blister (abscess) may form. Pus from surrounding abscesses can be drained by a doctor using the incision and drainage method. Antibiotics are also used to treat the infection.
Chronic paronychia usually causes less dramatic symptoms than an acute paronychia. Typically, the area around the nail is tender, red and mildly swollen; the cuticle is missing; and the skin around the nail feels moist or "boggy". Several nails on the same hand may be affected at the same time.
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Frequently asked questions
Pus coming out of your nail is a sign of an infection called paronychia.
Paronychia is an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail. It is caused by bacteria entering broken skin near the cuticle and nail fold.
Symptoms include throbbing pain, redness, warmth, and swelling in the skin around the nail. A small collection of pus may form under the skin next to the nail, or underneath the nail itself.
Paronychia is treated with antibiotics to kill the infection. Doctors may also drain pus from surrounding abscesses using a procedure called the incision and drainage method.
