Sunday , 26 November 2023

Paronychia: Symptoms, Causes And Home Remedies

Paronychia: Symptoms, Causes And Home Remedies

Swelling and redness around nails that accompanied with throbbing pain and filling of surrounding skin with pus are symptoms of paronychia.

Paronychia: Symptoms, Causes And Home Remedies
Paronychia: Symptoms, Causes And Home Remedies

What is Paronychia?

Paronychia may be defined as a condition where the skin around a finger or toenail gets infected. The most affected area is nail base or cuticle or sides of nails.

Paronychia is of two types:

1.Acute paronychia-

Acute paronychia mostly affects one nail. The infection develops quickly anddoes not last for long.

2.Chronic Paronychia-

It may affect one or more than one nails. It is a condition where the nail infection either doesn’tgo or keeps on coming back. The infectioncomesslowly and lasts for weeks.

What are the Symptoms of Paronychia?

Both chronic and acute paronychia exhibits similar symptoms. Common symptoms are redness and tenderness of the skin around the nail, blisters filled with pus, discoloration, change in the shape or texture of the nail and detachment of the nail.

What are the symptoms of paronychia
What are the symptoms of paronychia

What Are The Causes of Paronychia?

The underlying cause of paronychia may be candida infection or bacteria or both. In acute paronychia, the infective agent is introduced following trauma, picking or biting nails, hangnail, a puncture caused due to manicures tools, pushing the cuticles down aggressively or other small injuries.

Chronic paronychia is mostly caused due to candida yeast infection but also may be caused due to bacteria. Infection is mainly caused because of keeping your hands and feet in water for long.

Paronychia Treatment

Mild cases of paronychia can be successfully treated at home with home remedies. If home treatment is not responding your doctor will give you antibiotics,or if needed the pus is drained taking precaution that infection doesn’t spread. While draining, the sample of pus is taken to determine the causative agent so that the best treatment can be provided.

Home Remedies for Paronychia

1.Salt and Water-

The first line of treatment for paronychia is always soaking your hands in salt water. For this take a bucket of hot water and add two tablespoons of salt to it. Soak your feet or hand in it for 20 minutes. Discard the water and sterile the bucket with antiseptic wash. Repeat this a few times in a day.

Salt and Water
Salt and Water

2.Mustard Oil-

Mustard oil is a beneficialhome remedy for paronychia. It fights off infection and also moisturizes the skin.
Apply mustard oil to the affected area a few times in a day.
Alternatively, you may add a few drops of lemon oil to a teaspoon mustard oil and apply to your fingers and toes.

3.Indian Lilac-

Indian Lilac or Neem leaves are anti-inflammatory and antiseptic.
Boil a handful of Indian Lilac leaves in a few cups of water for 10-15 minutes. Cool it, strain it and wash your hand and toes with this water.

Indian Lilac
Indian Lilac

Alternatively, make a paste of Indianlilac leaves and apply it to the affected part to treat paronychia.

4.Aloe vera-

Aloe vera is not just anti-microbial but also moisturizes the skin. Extract the gel of fresh aloe vera leaf and apply to the affected part a few times in a day.

5.Coconut Oil-

Coconut oil treatment for paronychia is a readilyavailable and reasonable home remedy. Coconut oil is anti-bacterial.It is rich in lauricacid and capric acid. Both the compounds nourishes and protects the skin and also reduces inflammation. Apply coconut oil a few times in a day over the affected finger and toe.

6.Ginger-

Ginger treats nail infections and also reduces pain and swelling. It softens the pus and promotes drainage. Make a paste of ginger and add a few drops of coconut oil to it. Apply the paste to the affected finger and toe. After 10 minutes wipe it with a cotton swab gently. Repeat this a few times in a day.

Ginger
Ginger

7.Apple cider Vinegar-

Apple cider vinegarbeing acidic maintain the pH level of the skin. It creates an environment that is not suitable for the bacteria and fungus to thrive.

Mixan equal amount of apple cider vinegar and water and soak your hands and feet in this solution for 30 minutes. Repeat this three times in a day.

These are the only home remedies we know to treat paronychia. If you know, some more home remedies to treat paronychia do share with us in the comment section below.

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