Paronychia Nail Infection

Published on Nov 19, 2014.

2 minute read

Paronychia is one of the most common hand infections. Paronychia is an infection that develops along the edge of a finger or toe nail. If you have paronychia, it should be treated promptly to prevent infection of the entire hand or toe.

Types

There are three types of paronychia infections: bactuarial paronychia, candidal (yeast) parnonychia and fungal paronychia.

Causes

All paronychia infections are caused by bacteria, fungus or yeast, entering the cuticle of the nail. This happens when the nail is exposed to trauma. Common causes are injury, frequently biting the nails, trimming the nails too short, chemical irritants and long-term water immersion.

Symptoms

The most obvious symptom is red swelling around the base of the nail and cuticle. In the case of bacterial paronychia the swelling is often accompanied by pus filled blisters. In all types of paronychia, the nail may also change color or shape.

Chronic Paronychia

Chronic paronychia is a condition that develops gradually over time and is typical the result of a yeast infection. People who’s hand or feet are often wet most commonly suffer from this form of paronychia. Chronic paronychia can spread to the surround fingers or toes and can case them to grow discolored and deformed.

Acute Paronychia

Acute paronychia is a localized infection and results from the bacterial or fungal infection of a traumatic injury. Acute paronychia usually only lasts a few days and does not spread to the adjacent fingers or toes.

Shawn Hayes

Contributor

Shawn is a dedicated health and wellness writer, bringing a wealth of experience in nutritional coaching and holistic living. He is passionate about empowering readers to make informed choices about their physical and mental well-being. Outside of writing, Shawn enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and exploring new recipes to share with friends and family.

Conditions + Treatments

Natural Remedies to Remove Brown Spots

Most people have brown spots–or clusters of cells colored by pigment–on their skin. Nevi, or moles, come in various shapes and sizes–and most are completely harmless. Still, for aesthetic reasons you may decide that it is time for a particular mole or moles to go. How, then, to make this happen? Better yet, is there a natural way to remove brown spots? The answer is yes; there are several ways, including the use of honey, apples and castor oil.

3 minute read

Conditions + Treatments

Directions for a Vicks Humidifier

Using a humidifier can increase your comfort, but it’s important to operate it safely and clean it regularly to avoid the growth of bacteria and mold. When you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for placement, cleaning and maintenance of your Vicks humidifier, you’ll be sure that your appliance is operating efficiently and adding only clean moisture to your air.

3 minute read

Conditions + Treatments

Facial Exercises to Tighten the Skin on Upper Eyelids

If you want to tone the skin on your face, plastic surgery is not the only option. Facial exercises can help tighten the skin on your upper eyelids. The difference between surgery and the exercises is that surgery gives immediate results, while exercises take time. If you have free time you can dedicate to eye exercises each week, you may achieve the tightest eyelids possible. If you’re unsure, do the exercises for a month or two and check for results.

3 minute read