Sophia Delgado
Fingernails are made from a protein called keratin and support and protect the sensitive tips of our fingers. However, they are susceptible to various issues, including pain. Pain in your fingernails can be caused by several factors, including injury, infection, and skin diseases. Ingrown nails, for example, can occur if you clip your nails too short or bite them, leading to pain when pressure is applied. Similarly, hangnails, which are common in cold weather, can cause pain if torn or ripped and may lead to infection if not properly cleaned and treated. In addition, nail infections, such as paronychia, can result from bacteria entering the skin through cuts or nail folds. These infections can cause pain, redness, and swelling and may require antibiotics for treatment. Fungal infections are also a possibility, leading to discolouration, thickening, or flaking of the nail, and potentially causing pain over time. Subungal tumours, which appear as nodules under the nail, can also be a source of extreme pain and may require medical diagnosis and treatment.
Why do I feel pain in my finger nails?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Condition | Paronychia, Raynaud phenomenon, leukonychia, koilonychia, onycholysis, pitting, ridges, clubbing, etc. |
| Description | Pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness around the base or sides of the nail. |
| Causes | Bacterial or fungal infection, diabetes, injury, nail-biting, nail-picking, overaggressive manicuring, etc. |
| Treatment | Soaking the infected nail in warm water, antibacterial/antifungal creams, oral antibiotics, draining pus, removing part of the nail, etc. |
| Prevention | Keep nails trimmed, avoid nail-biting, use clean nail clippers, wear gloves when working with water or chemicals, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Nail biting
Firstly, biting your nails can lead to paronychia, a skin infection around the fingernails or toenails. This infection usually affects the skin at the base (cuticle) or up the sides of the nail. Biting the edges of the nails or the skin around the nails can cause bacteria to invade the skin, leading to acute paronychia. This results in a sudden, very painful area of swelling, warmth, and redness around the nail. In rare cases, acute paronychia can progress to a bone infection, and if left untreated, it can spread to deeper tissues, bones, or the bloodstream.
Additionally, biting your nails too short can expose the nail bed, which is loaded with nerve endings. This can cause significant discomfort and pain, as the nail is no longer there to protect the underlying soft tissue. Breaking the skin through nail biting can also leave an open path for bacteria, increasing the risk of nasty nail infections.
Tooth damage is another potential consequence of nail biting. The constant pressure and wear from biting your nails can lead to faster tooth wear and even nudge your teeth out of alignment over time. This can result in substantial dental costs for treatments.
If you are experiencing pain due to nail biting, there are a few things you can do to manage the discomfort. Applying moisturiser or emollient cream to your fingers and cuticles can help reduce the stretching feeling and pain as the skin heals. Keeping your hands in cold water can also provide temporary relief. However, if you suspect an infection, it is important to consult a doctor for proper treatment.
To break the habit of nail biting, you can try keeping your nails short and tidy, as this reduces the temptation to bite. Regular manicures can also help deter nail biting. If anxiety is a contributing factor, speaking to a healthcare professional can be beneficial, as they can provide guidance and support to manage your anxiety in healthier ways.
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Hangnails
- Soak your fingers: Start by soaking your fingers in warm, soapy water for about 10 minutes to soften the skin.
- Trim carefully: Using sanitized nail clippers or small scissors, gently trim the hangnail as close to the skin as possible without cutting too deep.
- Apply ointment: Apply a small amount of over-the-counter antibacterial ointment such as bacitracin or an antibiotic cream to the affected area.
- Bandage: If the area is sore or bleeding, cover it with a bandage to protect it from infection until it heals.
- Moisturize: Use a fragrance-free moisturizing cream or petroleum jelly to keep the skin around your nails moisturized.
The best way to prevent hangnails is to keep the skin around your nails healthy and hydrated.
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Physical injury
Chronic paronychia, on the other hand, is a condition that develops slowly and is usually caused by inflammation, irritants, allergens, or a fungal infection. It is characterized by gradual swelling, tenderness, and redness of the skin around the nails and can affect several fingers on the same hand. It can also be caused by repeated damage to the cuticle, which can predispose someone to nail infections. Treatment for chronic paronychia involves keeping the skin dry and using an antifungal medication on the affected nail. It is important to keep the affected area dry and apply medication as directed. In most cases, acute paronychia heals within 5 to 10 days, while chronic paronychia may take several weeks.
Another possible cause of fingernail pain related to physical injury is onycholysis, which is the separation of the fingernail from the underlying skin. This can be caused by localized inflammation or infection. Additionally, physical trauma can cause white nails or leukonychia, where fingernails become partially or completely white. This can be due to several factors, including anemia, dietary deficiencies, heart or kidney disease, or poisoning. If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, it can indicate liver problems such as hepatitis.
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Ingrown nails
If home treatments do not help, or if symptoms of an infection develop, it is important to see a doctor. Symptoms of an infection include redness, swelling, warmth, and pain around the nail. In some cases, an infected ingrown nail may require medical treatment or surgery to remove a portion of the nail or drain pus. Severe cases of infection can lead to permanent nail damage or, in rare instances, progress to a bone infection.
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Fungal infection
Fingernail pain can be caused by a fungal nail infection, also known as onychomycosis. This infection causes the nail to become discoloured—often a thick, yellow and brittle hue—thickened, and distorted. It is caused by the same fungi that cause athlete's foot, and toenails are more frequently affected than fingernails.
Fungal nail infections are usually not serious, but they can be unpleasant and difficult to treat. They can be spread to other people, so it is important to take steps to avoid this if you have an infection. You are more likely to get a fungal nail infection if you walk around barefoot in places where fungal infections can spread easily, like communal showers, locker rooms, and gyms.
The infection develops slowly, and in addition to discolouration, thickening, and distortion of the nail, it may also cause pain or discomfort, particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected finger. Nails can become brittle or crumbly, and pieces may break off and come away completely.
Antifungal medication comes in tablets or a special paint that you apply directly to the nail. A small sample of the infected nail may need to be taken and sent off for testing before treatment starts, to confirm that you have a fungal infection. If the treatment is working, you should see a new healthy nail start to grow from the base of the nail over the course of a few months. The old infected nail should begin to grow out and can be gradually clipped away. Antifungal treatments are thought to be effective in treating about 60 to 80% of fungal nail infections. It can take between 6 and 18 months for the appearance of the affected nail to return to normal, and in some cases, the nail may not look the same as before the infection. Terbinafine and itraconazole are the two medicines most commonly prescribed for fungal nail infections. These usually need to be taken once or twice a day for several months to ensure the infection has completely cleared up.
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Frequently asked questions
Pain in your fingernails can be caused by a variety of issues, including injury, infection, or skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis.
Paronychia is a common bacterial nail infection that occurs when bacteria, usually staph, enters the skin through a cut in the cuticle or nail fold. It can cause pain, redness, and swelling around the cuticle, and may result in a pocket of pus that drains.
Fingernail pain can also be caused by ingrown nails, nail fungus, or subungal tumors. Ingrown nails can occur when you clip your nails too short or injure them. Nail fungus can cause your nails to darken, thicken, or become crumbly and painful. Subungal tumors appear as nodules under the nail and can be extremely painful.
Paronychia is usually treated with antibiotics, which help to kill the bacteria causing the infection. It's important to follow your doctor's instructions and complete the entire course of antibiotics to prevent the infection from returning. Soaking the affected area in warm water can also help relieve symptoms.
If your fingernail pain is severe or persistent, or if you suspect an infection, it's important to consult a doctor. They can diagnose and treat any underlying conditions, such as tumors or fungal infections, that may be causing your fingernail pain.
