Causes and treatment of an infected nail

Paronychia is a skin infection that develops around the nail. It occurs when bacteria or fungi get under the skin.

Paronychia can result from biting or chewing the nails, but it is more common when working conditions require the hands to be frequently wet or exposed to chemicals.

Most cases of paronychia are not serious, and there are several effective treatments. This article will discuss the causes and treatments of the infection.

Share on PinterestParonychia is an infection that can occur around the nail.

Paronychia is an infection of the skin around the nail of at least one finger or toe. It typically develops around the edges of the nail at the bottom or sides.

This skin infection causes inflammation, swelling, and discomfort around the nail. Abscesses containing pus can also form.

There are two types of paronychia:

• Acute paronychia. This develops over hours or days. The infection does not usually spread deep into the finger, and treatment can reduce symptoms relatively quickly.
• Chronic paronychia. This occurs when symptoms last for at least 6 weeks. It develops more slowly and can become more serious. Chronic paronychia often affects several digits at once.

Paronychia can occur at any age and is easily treatable.

In rare cases, the infection can spread to the rest of the finger or toe. If this happens, a person should see their doctor.

Some symptoms of paronychia resemble those of different skin infections. Other symptoms directly affect the nail itself.

Paronychia symptoms include:

• swelling, tenderness, and redness around the nail
• puss-filled abscesses
• hardening of the nail
• deformation or damage to the nail
• the nail separating from the nailbed

Share on PinterestBiting the nails or the skin around the nails can cause infection.
Image credit: Chris Craig, 2007.

The infection occurs when the skin around the nail becomes damaged, allowing germs to enter.

Bacteria or fungi can cause paronychia, and common culprits are Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria.

Common causes of skin damage around the nail include:

• biting or chewing the nails
• clipping the nails too short
• manicures
• excessive exposure of the hands to moisture, including frequently sucking the finger
• ingrown nails

People can treat paronychia at home if symptoms are mild and the infection has not spread beyond the fingernail.

However, if symptoms do not improve after a few days or the infection has spread further than the nail, it is important to see a doctor.

If the symptoms are severe, contact a doctor immediately.

Share on PinterestRegularly moisturizing the hands, especially after washing, can help prevent nail infections.

People can reduce their risk of developing nail infections by using the following methods:

• moisturizing after washing the hands
• avoiding biting or chewing the nails
• taking care when cutting the nails
• keeping the hands and nails clean
• avoiding submerging the hands in water for long periods
• avoiding contact with irritants
• keeping the nails short

Some people have a higher risk of paronychia, such as:

• women
• people with diabetes
• people whose hands are frequently wet, including cleaners
• people with other skin conditions, such as dermatitis
• people with weakened immune systems

In most cases, a doctor can easily diagnose paronychia with a physical examination. They will also consider a person’s medical history and look for risk factors, such as diabetes.

In some cases, a doctor may require a sample of any pus that is present. They can send this to a laboratory for analysis to check whether bacteria or fungi are causing the infection.

Paronychia is a skin infection around a fingernail or toenail. Symptoms include inflammation, swelling, pain, and discomfort. Biting or chewing the nails is a common cause.

Acute paronychia develops quickly, and treatment can reduce symptoms rapidly. People can treat mild cases at home. Chronic paronychia has a slower onset and can take weeks for treatment to effectively reduce symptoms.

Taking good care of the hands and nails is the best way to prevent paronychia.

Green Nail Syndrome – American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD)

Green nail syndrome (GNS) is an infection of the nails that leads to a greenish discoloration of nails, also known as chloronychia. The green discoloration varies from blue-green to dark green to bluish-grey. Since the discoloration is underneath the nail, it will not disappear with washing or scrubbing. The condition is usually confined to one or two nails and can involve fingernails or toenails. The nail is usually not painful; however the skin around the nail, including the cuticle, may be swollen, tender, or red.

Green nail syndrome is caused by bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacterium flourishes in wet environments, such as jacuzzis, contact lens solution, sinks, and bath sponges. When it grows, it produces hallmark green pigments called pyocyanin and pyoverdin. These same pigments impart the green color of chloronychia.

Two major risk factors predispose to GNS. The first risk factor is when a nail becomes abnormally lifted off the nail bed; this is also known as onycholysis. When the nail is detached from the nail bed, the waterproof seal formed by the skin on the nail is lost. This creates a subungual space that collects dirt and debris and may allow an entry point for P. aeruginosa. Trauma to the area under the nail contributes to onycholysis. People at risk for separated nails are gardeners, janitors, and plumbers. The second important risk factor is a damp environment. Dry skin is rarely colonized or infected by P. aeruginosa. Nails repeatedly immersed in water are susceptible. Housewives, dishwashers, cooks, and health care personnel may be more likely to have GNS. It should also be noted that wearing tight-fitting shoes for a prolonged time, especially while exercising, is associated with GNS. This has been noted in military recruits and soccer players. Minor risk factors for GNS include nail psoriasis and fungal nail infections.

The clinical appearance of GNS makes it an easy diagnosis for a dermatologist. However if there is doubt, a nail sample can be taken for culture.

Green nail syndrome responds well to treatment. Therapy consists of cutting the detached portion of the nail, keeping nails dry, and avoiding trauma to the area. Topical antibiotics, such as bacitracin or polymyxin B, applied two to four times per day will cure most patients if continued for one to four months. Alternatively, chlorine bleach, diluted 1:4 with water, is effective in suppressing growth of P. aeruginosa when applied topically to affected nails. Vinegar (acetic acid) has been reported to be useful in this regard as well. Occasionally, the nail may need to be removed, if more conservative treatment fails. At these times, an oral antibiotic, such as ciprofloxacin, is often prescribed.

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The medical information provided in this site is for educational purposes only and is the property of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice and shall not create a physician – patient relationship. If you have a specific question or concern about a skin lesion or disease, please consult a dermatologist. Any use, re-creation, dissemination, forwarding or copying of this information is strictly prohibited unless expressed written permission is given by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.  

Tore off the burr, now the finger is swollen!!!!

April 25, 2011 09:33

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9 0015 April 25, 2011 09:41

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April 25, 2011 10:14 am

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when I was a child, my mother gave me some antibiotics with the same problem – everything went pretty quickly

25 April 2011, 10:37 2011, 10:39

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http://s56.radikal.ru/i151/1104/2f/865241048d5f.jpg

April 25, 2011, 11:25 am

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April 25, 2011 11:51 AM

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April 25, 2011 12:20 pm

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April 25, 2011 4:11 pm

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April 25, 2011 4:13 pm

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April 25, 2011 10:05 pm

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April 25, 2011 11:10 pm

#22 900 05

Hazel grouse

I had one too. In general, this is panaritium, or panarichius, something like that .. I smeared with an antibiotic ointment (tetracycline ointment, in my opinion), and drank broad-spectrum antibiotics. I know it’s stupid to drink them, but I didn’t want to cut my finger – and the surgeon threatened to do it)

Author

Tell me how to remove this inflammation, the finger hurts, turned red! I’m very afraid to go to the hospital…

April 25, 2011 11:12 PM

#23

April 25, 2011 11:33 PM

#24

1) If you plucked a hangnail just today and your finger is red and sore, then this is not yet a reason to worry a lot, wait until tomorrow, in most cases it passes in a day. Just wipe with alcohol so as not to infect.

2) If inflammation, swelling and pain do not go away in a day, try steaming in hot water with salt and applying Ichthyol or Levomekol ointment. They draw out the pus.

3) If you have already tried everything, you suffer for 3 days or more, and your finger hurts even more and twitches, GO TO THE SURGEON and DO NOT TIGHTEN!

Based on my own experience, I can add that there was the same nonsense last year. I plucked these barbs a hundred million times and nothing, but last year it didn’t blow. I suffered with my finger for a week, tried all possible and impossible methods, and soared and constantly applied ointments .. It didn’t help. The finger was smashed 2 times, all green-red, twitches in the middle, not only the finger hurts, but the whole arm .. a nightmare! The surgeon shouted that it was necessary to come immediately, in 2-3 days, and it was very dangerous to delay it before that. As a result, everything was quickly cleaned under anesthesia, though I was on sick leave for another week and went for dressings. So don’t delay! Treat at home for 2-3 days, if it doesn’t go away, go to the surgeon!

Good luck! Be healthy!

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May 03, 2011 06:50

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Uninvented stories 5

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September 12, 2012 09:48

006 guest

I had this, hot water with potassium permanganate did not help.

November 21, 2012, 09:55

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Irina

m

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Irina

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Attention

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Victoria

My big toe has been hurting for more than a month now. remote worker of the future: twisted claws, hump, fullness and swollen legs

Komsomolskaya Pravda

Search results

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Furniture At Work: British scientists show model remote worker from the future

Meet Anna.

One of the gifts of the pandemic was the opportunity to work remotely. Do not hustle in the subway during rush hour, independently monitor your work time and workload, maintain a balance between work and personal life. What could be better? However, we have something to fear: permanent work from home can become a real trap.

Studies show that regular work from home weakens social ties with colleagues, increasing the feeling of isolation, and thus worsens people’s mental health, and due to the incorrect distribution of work and leisure time, problems with the musculoskeletal system and sleep disturbance occur.

British wellness and health experts have even drawn up a portrait of what the home office worker will look like in the near future, and the picture is ugly. As once a person became upright and reasonable, so here the opposite picture of the “wild life” of a domestic worker is clearly visible.

Meet Anna. She has red swollen eyes from constant looking at the monitor, a hump on the back of her neck, fingers twisted from hitting the keyboard, and swollen legs with swollen veins.

British scientists have shown a model of a remote worker from the future

The reason for this appearance is that:

1 Anna does not stretch bones and joints, but sticks to the computer and often works on the bed. And the lack of regular movements and ergonomic inefficiency of the workplace can lead to disorders of the musculoskeletal system and chronic pain.

2 “Text claws” is the term for Anna’s hands, and the cause of finger cramps and muscle pain is the constant activity of fine motor skills, many hours of clicking a computer mouse and bending fingers in an unnatural position. So much for the “text claw” of the remote workers of the future.

3 Without enough natural light and constantly flickering screens, remote workers put extra strain on their eyes, hence headaches. Anna has dark, puffy eyes from years of squinting and staring at her laptop or smartphone.

– Try every 20 minutes to look away from the screen for 20 seconds and focus on something far away from you. It’s a great way to avoid eye strain while working from home, says Sarah Gibson, director of Proactive Healthcare.

4 Regular morning commute is a thing of the past. And although no one remembers the side during rush hour, but physical activity is sharply reduced. This is one of the reasons why home office workers put on weight. The second – snacks are always at hand. So Anna got fat. She rarely leaves the house and often snacks right in bed. She has pale, unhealthy skin, and her lack of movement and extra weight have led to swollen legs. Alas, this is a direct path to the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

Long-term health risks associated with working from home include mental health problems

5 Lack of communication leads to feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression in teleworkers, especially those who live and work alone.

Without a clear work-life balance, without fixed office hours or a certain “feeling at home” as the safe and only place in the world to return to at the end of each workday, Anne’s anxiety grows. She is in constant anxiety and never really takes a break from work, which leads to emotional burnout.

– Long-term health risks associated with working from home include mental health issues such as stress, loneliness and burnout. To avoid these risks, remote workers should prioritize social connections and self-care, and set clear boundaries between work and personal time, says Brian Clark, founder of United Medical Education.

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