Don’t Pick at Hangnails! Beware of Paronychia
As the warm season approaches, more people are enjoying bright clothing and nail art. Decorating nails with colors, patterns, or even detailed designs has become so popular that many people now do it at home with ease. These days, not only women but also men are getting into nail art.
Applying nail polish to nails and toenails—made of dead cells—doesn’t directly harm our health. However, the process of trimming and preparing hands and feet for nail polish requires caution. If a wound gets infected, it can sometimes lead to a severe inflammation that requires surgical removal of the affected tissue.
A Small Sting, Then Suddenly Inflammation?
Sometimes people feel a throbbing pain around their finger. At first, it may seem like nothing more than discomfort from a short nail, but as swelling worsens, a visit to the doctor may reveal paronychia.
Paronychia is an infection of the skin around the nail, often caused by tearing hangnails or small injuries during nail care. When bacteria enter these wounds, inflammation occurs.
Unclean nail tools can also be the cause, as can environmental exposure to germs through small cuts. Those with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable, and people whose hands are frequently exposed to water—such as chefs or homemakers—are at higher risk since wounds can easily worsen in damp conditions.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Paronychia
In mild cases, inflammation from paronychia may settle down on its own. However, for people with weak immunity or underlying health conditions, the infection can progress quickly.
Many dismiss it as just a little swelling around the fingers or toes, but in severe cases, the pain can interfere with daily life. Early symptoms often include redness and swelling, but if left untreated, pus can accumulate in the wound.
Particularly with paronychia on the fingers, what looks like mild eczema can sometimes develop into greenish pus filling the skin around the nail, even changing its color.
Treatment for Paronychia
The most common treatment is prescribing antibiotics. Typically, antibiotics are taken for three to five days while monitoring progress.
If pus buildup is severe, a doctor may need to drain it under local anesthesia before continuing with antibiotics. Since bacteria are present in the pus, it’s important not to touch others with the infected hand to prevent spreading.
Everyday Habits to Prevent Recurrence
The challenge with paronychia is that once you’ve had it, it can easily recur whenever your body is tired or a new wound appears. That’s why prevention is key.
If you’ve had paronychia before, always clean and disinfect your hands thoroughly and dry them well when you get a cut around the fingers or toes. Wearing rubber gloves when working in water helps too, but since moisture can build up inside and worsen inflammation, it’s best to use gloves lined with cotton or add a cotton layer inside before wearing them.
