Is your nail area swollen and painful? Let's talk about Paronychia!

Has the area around your fingernail or toenail suddenly become red, swollen, and painful to the point of being too painful to touch? Does it feel warm? Does it look like a small blister? This is what we call "paronychia" in medical terms. Simply put, this is an infection of the skin around the nail. Don't worry, this is a very common condition. Let's talk about it all clearly and simply today.

Simply put, what is Paronychia?

Paronychia is an inflammation or infection of the skin around your nail (called the nail fold and cuticle). It can be caused by a minor injury to the nail, a small crack in the skin, or irritation from repeated exposure to something.

Imagine a small gap between your nail and the skin around it. It's like a small crack in a wall. Microorganisms like bacteria can easily get into this gap. Once inside, they cause an infection. That's what we see on the outside as paronychia. This can occur in fingernails as well as toenails.

A doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics for this. If there is pus, they can also clean it out a little.

Who is most likely to develop this condition?

Although this can happen to anyone, some people are at a higher risk.

• For those who bite or bite their nails and the skin around them: Biting their nails and picking at the skin around their nails is not only a bad habit, it also causes small wounds and cracks in the skin. These are the perfect gateways for bacteria to enter.
• For those who constantly have their hands in water: Think of someone who washes dishes in a hotel, works in a bar, or is constantly touching water while doing household chores. Their hands are constantly wet, which makes the skin soft and more susceptible to infection.
• For those who work with chemicals: Working with things like detergents and cleaning chemicals without protective gloves can damage the skin and cause infections.
• For people with skin conditions: People with certain skin conditions are at higher risk of developing nail infections.
• For people with diabetes: Since the body of people with diabetes has a reduced ability to fight infections, even a small wound can lead to a major infection.

What are the symptoms of paronychia?

These symptoms usually start to appear within a few hours or days. Check the skin around your nails for these things.

Why is this happening? What are the main reasons?

These infections are most often caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus . However, other types of bacteria, such as Streptococcus pyogenes, can also cause them. These bacteria enter the skin in the following ways:

• Through cuts, scrapes, and hangnails on the skin.
• Ingrown nails, especially on the legs.
• Skin damage from frequent exposure to water or chemicals.
• Dangers to the nail or surrounding skin - things like biting nails, getting frequent manicures or pedicures.
• This condition can also be caused by certain medications (e.g. retinoids, anti-cancer drugs, HIV drugs).

There are two main types of paronychia:

Although the symptoms of both are similar, they can be divided into two types based on how and when they occur.

1. Acute Paronychia

This is the most common type. Symptoms appear suddenly, within a few hours or days. The infection is limited to the skin around the nail and does not extend deeper into the finger. With treatment, it usually clears up completely in less than six weeks. The main cause is a bacterial infection.

2. Chronic Paronychia

Symptoms of this type come on slowly. They can last for six weeks or more. Sometimes, the condition can affect several fingers at once. This can be caused by frequent exposure to water or irritants. Sometimes, a bacterial infection can be accompanied by a fungal infection. Candida is a common type of fungus that is found in these cases.

What things can you do at home?

If the infection is not too severe, you can try some of these things at home in the beginning.

• Hot water soak: Soak the infected finger in a bowl of lukewarm water for about 15 minutes, three to four times a day.
• Dry thoroughly: After removing from the water, let the area dry thoroughly. Pat dry thoroughly with a clean cloth.

Soaking in hot water like this helps to draw out the pus inside the skin.

What are the medical treatments?

The doctor will examine your condition and provide the most appropriate treatment.

• Antibiotics: If it is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are given to fight it. You need to take the medicine exactly as the doctor says, for the full duration. Otherwise, the infection may come back.
• Draining the pus: If there is a lot of pus, the doctor may clean the area, make a small incision to drain some of the pus, and then apply medication and a bandage.

How do you avoid this situation?

Preventing this is very simple. It just takes a few good habits.

• Avoid picking at your nails and the surrounding skin. This is the most important thing.
• When cutting your nails, don't cut them too short. Also, don't cut too deep into the skin around the nail (cuticle).
• Always keep your hands clean. Use a mild soap that is not harsh on the skin.
• If your skin is dry, a good moisturizing lotionApply to nails and surrounding skin. Dry skin is more likely to crack.
• If you work with chemicals, or if your hands are constantly in water, wear waterproof gloves.

When do you need to see a doctor?

This is usually not a serious condition, but in some cases, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.

And also,

• If symptoms do not improve after two or three days of home care.
• If the pain, swelling, and redness increase.
• If you have a fever.
• If the infection recurs after treatment.

Definitely see your doctor. Don't ignore even the smallest thing.