Skin Infection Around A Fingernail or Toenail (Paronychia)

Skin Infection around a Fingernail or Toenail
(Paronychia)
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KEY POINTS
• Paronychia is an infection of the skin next to a fingernail or toenail.
• Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotic or antifungal
medicine, or you provider may open the skin to drain the pus.
• Ask your healthcare provider how to take care of yourself at home.
________________________________________________________________________
What is paronychia?
Paronychia is an infection of the skin next to a fingernail or toenail.
What is the cause?

The cutting or tearing of a hangnail or cuticle, nail biting, a splinter, or a thorn prick
can cause a break in the skin near the nail. Bacteria or a fungus can then get into the
skin and cause an infection.
A sudden painful infection is usually caused by bacteria commonly found on the skin.
Infection that develops slowly is called chronic. It is usually caused by a fungus. You
have a higher risk of having a chronic nail infection if:
• Your job involves a lot of exposure to water or chemical solvents. Examples of
such jobs are housecleaning, childcare, nursing, food service, and dishwashing.
• You bite or tear your nails and cuticles.
These infections are more common and may be harder to treat in people who have
diabetes or poor circulation, and in people whose immune systems are weakened by
HIV, cancer, or other health problems.
What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include:
• Painful, red, swollen skin around the nail
• Pus-filled blisters around the nail
If you have the infection for a long time, your nail may become thick and hard.
How is it diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and
examine you. You may also have blood tests or a swab of the fluid from the sore to see
what is causing the infection.
Adult Advisor 2020.1 © 2018 Change Healthcare LLC and/or one of its subsidiaries 1
How is it treated?
For an infection caused by bacteria your healthcare provider may prescribe an
antibiotic. For a fungal infection, your provider may prescribe an antifungal cream.
If you have pus-filled blisters, your healthcare provider may numb your finger or toe
and then open the pocket to drain the pus. If the infection is beneath the nail, your
provider may remove a section of the nail. Your provider may pack the wound with
gauze to allow it to drain and heal.
Usually it takes about a week for a bacterial infection to heal. You may need to treat a
fungal infection for several weeks with antifungal medicine before it heals.
If the nail has been damaged by the infection or if part or all the nail has to be
removed to treat the infection, it may take many weeks for the nail to grow back. If a
great (first) toenail has been removed, it can take at least 6-12 months for it to grow
back completely
How can I take care of myself?

Follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. The best
time to take care of an infection around your nails is as soon as it starts to develop.
• Wash the infected area with antibacterial soap and water and rinse it thoroughly.
• Soak your finger or toe in warm water or put a washcloth that has been soaked
with hot water on the infected area. Do this 2-3 times a day. This helps clean the
area and brings infection-fighting blood cells to the area.
• Put an antibiotic ointment on the area and cover it with a bandage.
• Take nonprescription pain medicine, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or
naproxen. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by our
healthcare provider, you should not take these medicines for more than 10 days.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen,
naproxen, and aspirin, may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These
risks increase with age.
• Acetaminophen may cause liver damage or other problems. Unless
recommended by your provider, don't take more than 3000 milligrams (mg) in
24 hours. To make sure you don’t take too much, check other medicines you
take to see if they also contain acetaminophen. Ask your provider if you need
to avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.
Ask your healthcare provider:
• How long it will take to recover
• If there are activities you should avoid and when you can return to normal
activities
• How to take care of yourself at home
• If you should wear a glove at work to prevent spreading infection, especially if
you prepare or serve food
• If you need to wear comfortable shoes with extra room for bandages
• What symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if you have
them
Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup.
How can I help prevent paronychia?

• Do not pick at your nails or cut the cuticles.
• Don’t bite your nails.
• If you want to push the cuticles of your nails back, use clean instruments and be
careful not to push too hard. Moisten the cuticles when you use hand lotion,
especially in winter.
• Wear gloves if your work or daily activities put your hands at risk for getting
scratched, poked, or irritated.
• If you have infections around your nails often, talk to your provider about what
can be causing the problem and what you can try to prevent the infections.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to
inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
Developed by Change Healthcare.
Published by Change Healthcare.
Produced in Cork, Ireland.

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Skin Infection around a Fingernail or Toenail

What is the cause?

What are the symptoms?

How can I take care of myself?

How can I help prevent paronychia?

Developed by Change Healthcare.

Published by Change Healthcare.

Produced in Cork, Ireland.

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