The skin is our first defense barrier: it is essential to take care of it and avoid stressing it. Therefore, any sign of infection should be consulted to the podiatrist.
Paronychia is a skin infection that occurs around the nail. It can cause changes in the shape, color, or texture of the nail.
Infection can be caused by bacteria, fungi, etc. There is also the possibility of bacterial and mycotic infection at the same time. It is quite common and can cause the affected area to be inflicted, red and hurt.
Paronychia is often caused by bacteria or other microorganisms, which are commonly found on the skin. If they manage to penetrate through skin damaged by trauma, even a scratch or a bite, they are capable of triggering an infection.
There are mainly two types:
- Acute Paronychia: the skin infection develops rapidly, lasts for a few days and is usually located in a single finger.
- Chronic Paronychia: the infection grows slowly, can last for many weeks and is located in more than one finger.
Symptoms of the paronychia depend on the pathogen and severity of the infection.
Paronychia usually manifests with pain, swelling, redness, and the appearance of pus-filled blisters around the base or sides of the nail. When the disease is caused by bacteria, it can get worse quickly, while Candida albicans forms of infection tend to get worse more slowly.
On rare occasions, the paronychia causes permanent damage in the nail. If not healed, it is possible to find some alterations such as fattening, deformation, and gradual dimming of the nail.
No special tests are required to diagnose paronychia. It can be identified by a simple visual inspection. If there is pus or fluid in the blister, it can be tested in the lab to check for the type of bacteria or fungus causing the infection.
In most cases, the infection is cured on its own within a few days. In order to calm the symptoms, we recommend to wet your feet with hot thyme baths about three times a day, drying them well and applying an antibiotic ointment.
Surgery may be required in cases where the infection is significant and the abscess is difficult to resolve. Antifungal medications or antibiotics will be prescribed depending on the pathogen.
