Routine immunization for children in the Philippines
Everything You Need To Know About A Hangnail Infection
A hangnail infection is a type of skin infection (paronychia) that happens when a hangnail—flaps of pulled or damaged skin at the base of the nail—becomes infected. This infection occurs when certain bacteria, viruses, or fungi enter the skin tissue of a hangnail.
Common signs of a hangnail infection are pain and swelling around the fingernail or toenail. Wearing artificial nails or having diabetes may raise your chances of developing the condition.
Hangnail infections are common and typically acute (temporary) but can be chronic (long-term) depending on the cause and severity. Treatments can vary, with medications and medical procedures used for complex and advanced cases. There are several ways to treat an infected hangnail and manage its symptoms.
A hangnail infection can be classified as either acute or chronic. Acute Hangnail Infection Acute (short-term) hangnail infections are the most common, and bacteria usually cause them. Bacterial hangnail infections usually develop quickly and only affect one finger or toe at a time. Symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, pus, and skin that's hot to the touch. The symptoms typically go away within a few days, but the infection can take up to six weeks to heal fully. Nail biting, artificial nails, or injury usually cause acute hangnail infections. Children are particularly prone to acute nail infections due to sucking their fingers and biting their nails. Chronic Hangnail Infection Chronic (long-term) hangnail infections lasting over six weeks tend to occur from viruses and fungi. Chemical irritation of the skin, known as irritant dermatitis, can also lead to a chronic hangnail infection. A chronic hangnail infection usually affects more than one finger or toe at a time, takes longer to develop symptoms, and lasts longer. Symptoms of a chronic hangnail infection may include boggy (spongy or mushy) tissue around the nail, thicker nails, or nail discoloration. Candida, a kind of yeast, sometimes causes chronic hangnail infections. Candida lives naturally on the skin and will only cause infection if it grows out of control. You may be more likely to develop a chronic hangnail infection if you: Work in jobs where hands are exposed to chemicals or submerged in water for long periods, including as dishwashers, bartenders, laundry workers, housekeepers, florists, and bakers Take certain medications, especially those that suppress immune function Have conditions that affect immunity, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS), cancer, or diabetes How quickly hangnail infection symptoms develop depends on the cause. Bacterial infections progress faster, usually within hours or days, while fungal infections have a slower onset. It is possible to have both a bacterial and fungal hangnail infection simultaneously. The symptoms can be broadly broken down into those affecting the finger around the nail, the nail itself, and the rest of the body. Symptoms Around the Nail The main symptoms of a hangnail infection affect the nail fold—the area where the nail meets the skin at the sides (lateral nail folds) and the base (proximal nail fold). Typical signs include: Pain, swelling, and tenderness in the affected area Skin that's red and hot to the touch (erythema) An abscess, which is a buildup of pus (creamy, white, or yellow fluid) under the skin Nail Symptoms In more severe cases, a hangnail infection can change the appearance of the toe or fingernail, including: Beau lines, which are deep grooves or ridges in the nail Discoloration of the nail, causing it to turn yellow or green Dry and brittle nails Separation of the nail from the nail bed, which can cause the nail to fall off Symptoms Throughout the Body Rarely, hangnail infections spread to other parts of the body. These are known as systemic symptoms. You may experience: Fever and chills Red streaks on the skin Fatigue and a general feeling of unwellness Joint pain and swelling Muscular pain A hangnail infection occurs when bacteria, fungi, or other pathogens enter through the skin's tissues surrounding the nail in the fingers or toes. This happens when the pathogens cross through the breaks or ruptures in the barrier between the nail and nail fold, or cuticle, caused by the hangnail. Staphylococcus aureus, a skin bacteria, is the most common cause of acute hangnail infections. Other bacteria, like Streptococcus (found in the nose and throat) and Pseudomonas (found in soil and dirt), are usually present in chronic cases. Infection with yeasts, certain fungi, and herpes simplex virus (HSV) can also cause hangnail infections. Risk Factors Certain health factors, conditions, and habits raise your risk of developing hangnail infections. These include: Hitting your fingernail or toenail, resulting in trauma Biting your nails Getting manicures and pedicures that are done too aggressively Wearing artificial nails Sucking fingers or thumbs Having ingrown fingernails Living with chronic illnesses that impact immunity, such as HIV/AIDS or diabetes Working where your skin is exposed to chemicals, such as housecleaning or dishwashing Swimming often in chemically-treated water When diagnosing hangnail infections, healthcare providers work to rule out other potential causes of symptoms. Conditions that can present similarly to a hangnail infection include eczema, psoriasis, herpes, and dermatomyositis (an autoimmune skin disorder). Along with an evaluation of your medical history, healthcare providers rely on several assessments in diagnosis: Physical assessments: Healthcare providers can primarily diagnose hangnail infection by evaluating affected areas and looking for characteristic features of infection. Imaging: The healthcare provider may use ultrasound imaging in rare cases to screen for an abscess (pocket of fluid) or deeper infection. Clinical testing: If there's fluid or pus, the provider may collect a sample and send it to the lab to screen for specific yeasts, fungi, or bacteria. Most hangnail infections resolve on their own with home management techniques for discomfort. More severe cases call for antibiotics or medical treatments. Home Management Treating a hangnail or hangnail infection at home should be the first step before seeking additional care. Healthcare providers recommend the following techniques to manage any discomfort and promote healing: Warm water soaks: Soaking the affected fingers in warm water and antibacterial soap helps promote blood flow and drain any pus. Do this for 10-15 minutes at a time for up to four times daily. Hangnail trimming: After soaking an affected finger, use a cuticle clipper—a tool designed to cut off excess skin—to trim the hangnail. Make sure to disinfect the clipper in alcohol before use. Topical treatments: Healthcare providers may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) steroid creams to manage swelling. Antifungal agents are recommended if fungi are causing symptoms. Avoid drugstore triple antibiotic ointments containing neomycin, like Neosporin, due to possible allergic reactions. Prescription Medications You should seek medical help if your symptoms persist or worsen despite home management techniques. Healthcare providers may prescribe topical antibiotics (applied to the skin), like Bactroban (mupirocin) or Cipro (ciprofloxacin). In rare and severe cases, they may prescribe oral antibiotics (taken by mouth), such as Dycill (dicloxacillin), to fight off the infection and prevent it from spreading. If the infection is fungal, prescription antifungal medications may help. Medical Procedures Healthcare providers may need to drain the fluid if there's an abscess. After cleaning and numbing the affected area, they use a scalpel to create a small cut, allowing the pus to escape. They then disinfect and bandage the area. You should follow up with your healthcare provider within 24-48 hours to ensure the abscess drains properly and the infection does not worsen. There's a lot you can do to prevent hangnails and associated infections, including: Keep your hands clean, washing them with gentle soaps to avoid damaging skin Avoid biting your nails or ripping off or picking at any hangnails Moisturize your fingers, especially if you have dry skin Wear latex or protective gloves with a cotton lining to keep hands dry when washing dishes, cleaning, or working with chemicals Bring your own tools to manicure or nail salon appointments, and don't let the manicurist trim your cuticles during your appointment Trim your fingernails once a week and use an emery board (a type of nail file) to ensure the edges of your nails are slightly rounded Trim your toenails once a month, keeping the edges straight Avoid trimming the cuticles or using cuticle removers If a hangnail infection is severe and goes untreated, the condition can lead to more serious complications, including: Hand infection: Severe hangnail infections can spread to surrounding tissues and tendons in the hand. Treatment may require surgery to remove damaged tissue or even amputation. Sepsis: This is a severe bacterial infection that spreads to the blood. It is a rare complication that often arises in those with compromised immune systems. Nail dystrophy (onychodystrophy): This is a chronic hangnail infection that damages fingernails or toenails. It can lead to brittle, irregular nails if left untreated. Green nail syndrome (chromonychia): This is an infection with a certain type of bacteria that can spread to cause fingers or toenails to develop a green color. Surrounding tissues sometimes swell or become sore. A hangnail infection happens when bacteria or fungi spread to tissues in the finger or toe next to the nail. Tenderness, pain, discoloration, and swelling of the affected area are common signs. Hangnail infections tend to resolve on their own when managed at home. At-home treatments include soaking affected fingers or toes in warm water and trimming the hangnail. Medications and medical procedures are reserved for more severe cases. Keep your nails clean, trim them regularly, moisturize the skin, and wear protective gloves to help prevent a hangnail infection.Thanks for your feedback!
Nail Fungus Vs. Nail Psoriasis
Nail fungus and nail psoriasis are two conditions that affect the nails. They have similar symptoms, and you can have both fungus and psoriasis at the same time, but they are different and have separate treatments.
If your doctor isn't sure whether you have nail fungus or psoriasis, they may do a biopsy. (Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images)
Nail fungus is an infection that happens when fungi get under your nail. The fungus turns nails thick, discolored, and brittle. Onychomycosis is another name for nail fungus.
Nail psoriasis is an autoimmune disease in which skin cells multiply too quickly. Like nail fungus, psoriasis causes discolored, pitted nails. Most people with nail psoriasis also have scaly skin rashes, and they sometimes have joint pain called psoriatic arthritis.
Both fungus and psoriasis can affect the nails on your fingers and toes. But nail psoriasis is more likely to be on just the fingernails, and fungus is more likely to affect the toenails.
You can't catch nail psoriasis from someone else or spread it to other people. Nail fungus is contagious – it can spread from one person to another.
Fungi cause nail fungus. This group of tiny organisms includes mold, yeast, and mildew. A type of mold called a dermatophyte causes the most common fungal nail infection, tinea unguium.
You can pick up fungus if you walk barefoot in places where other people walk, like swimming pool decks and locker rooms. Fungi can also grow in wet shoes. Once these organisms are on your feet or hands, they can get under your nail and multiply. Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that sometimes spreads from the foot to the toenails.
Did You Know?
Having psoriasis makes you more likely to have nail fungus. Psoriasis can damage the nail, creating a path for the fungus to get underneath it.
You're more likely to get nail fungus if you:
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition. Your immune system overreacts and causes inflammation in your skin that speeds up the production of new skin cells. The extra cells build up on your skin and form scaly patches. Psoriasis inflammation can also affect the nails, causing symptoms like pitting, thickness, and color changes. About half of people with psoriasis have nail psoriasis, and up to 90% will have nail problems at some point in their lives.
Nail fungus and nail psoriasis can look similar, and they sometimes overlap. Having psoriasis makes you more likely to get a fungal nail infection. That's because psoriasis damages the nails and makes it easier for fungi to get underneath them. Some of the medicines that treat psoriasis weaken your immune system and lower your body's defenses against fungi and other germs.
Both nail fungus and nail psoriasis change the color and texture of your nails. Nails with fungus may be:
Nails with psoriasis may be:
The color changes might look different on dark skin, especially in people who have psoriasis. Instead of looking red, the psoriasis rash may be purple or brown with silver flakes.
Subungual hyperkeratosis
This condition can affect people with nail psoriasis and nail fungus. Subungual hyperkeratosis happens when psoriasis scales or keratin – a protein in the skin – collects under the nail. These substances thicken the nail and push it up. If subungual hyperkeratosis is in your toenails, your shoes might hurt when they press on the damaged nail. You could also see blood under the nail.
Onycholysis
Onycholysis is when a fingernail or toenail peels off from the nail bed. It can happen if you have nail psoriasis or nail fungus, but it also affects people who have nail injuries or the skin condition lichen planus (inflammation that causes a rash). Onycholysis starts with a white or yellow patch at the tip of the nail. The patch grows down until it reaches the cuticle. Bacteria may grow under the nail and turn it green. The nail can also become infected.
A primary care doctor, dermatologist (skin doctor), or podiatrist (foot doctor) can diagnose these nail problems. The doctor will examine your nails for symptoms like nail pitting, discoloration, crumbling, and separation from the nail bed. They may ask about your medical history, including whether you've had symptoms of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.
The doctor might clip off a small piece of the nail or take a scraping of material from under your nail. Then a lab will look at the sample under a microscope to see if you have an infection. They might also let the sample grow in a special dish to find out what type of fungus caused the infection.
If your doctor isn't sure whether you have nail fungus or psoriasis, they may remove a small piece of tissue from the nail bed, called a biopsy. A lab will look at the biopsy sample under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
Doctors assign nail psoriasis a score based on how serious its symptoms are. A low score means you have mild nail psoriasis. A high number means it's more severe.
Antifungal medicine treats nail fungus. You either apply this medicine to your nail (topical) or take it as a pill.
Psoriasis has many treatments. Some work on your nails directly. Others treat psoriasis throughout your body.
Antifungal medicines
Topical antifungal medicines for nail fungus include:
You put topical medicines on your nail every day to stop new fungus from getting in. Once the nail grows out, the fungus should be gone. This process can take time. Fingernails regrow in 4 to 6 months. Toenails take 12 to 18 months to fully grow out.
The most common side effects from topical antifungal medicines are:
Oral antifungal medicines work faster. They can clear the infection within two to three months. Antifungal pills include:
Antifungal pills can cause side effects like a rash and liver problems.
For a stubborn infection, you may need both an oral and topical antifungal medicine. When you combine the medications, they work better. You may need to use them every day for four months or longer to see improvement.
Rarely, antifungal treatments won't clear up a nail infection. If your nail fungus doesn't improve on medicine, your doctor may remove the nail with chemicals or surgery. The nail eventually will grow back.
Topical nail psoriasis treatments
For mild nail psoriasis, your doctor can prescribe one of these topical medicines that you apply directly to your nails:
You may have to use these medicines once or twice a day for six months or longer to see an improvement. Corticosteroids also come as an injection into your nail once every four to six weeks. You get these shots at your dermatologist's office. Some psoriasis medicines are also given as an injection in or around the nail. You may get a shot in your stomach or thigh to work systemically (throughout your whole body).
For moderate to severe nail psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe a systemic medicine. They come in a pill or as an injection/infusion into a vein:
These medicines can cause reactions where the needle goes in, headache, rash, and an increased risk of infections.
Nail fungus vs. Nail psoriasis home remedies
You may be able to manage nail fungus at home with over-the-counter antifungal creams like terbinafine (Lamisil). First apply a cream that contains urea to soften your nails. Then trim them and thin them out with a nail file to help the medicine penetrate more deeply into the nail.
Some people try natural remedies like these to treat nail fungus:
A few natural remedies may be helpful for nail psoriasis:
Even after you've treated nail fungus, you can get it again. To avoid these infections:
You may not be able to avoid nail psoriasis, but there are ways to protect your nails if you have this autoimmune disease:
Fungal infections and psoriasis both affect the nails. They may cause similar symptoms, and it's possible to have both conditions at once.
Nail fungus and psoriasis are treated in different ways. Antifungal medicines treat nail fungus. Psoriasis treatments include corticosteroids, biologic drugs, and methotrexate. Your dermatologist or podiatrist can recommend the right treatment for you. Keeping your nails trimmed, clean, and moisturized will protect your nails against fungus and psoriasis.
Does nail fungus go away?
Antifungal medicines can clear up nail fungus, but it could take a few months. Because nail fungus can come back, it's important to keep your nails trimmed and clean.
What are the early signs of nail psoriasis?
The early symptoms of nail psoriasis include small dents or pits in the nails, a change in nail color, and a buildup of debris under the nail.
What happens if you put antifungal cream on psoriasis?
An antifungal cream won't clear up psoriasis, but it can treat nail fungus if you have both conditions. Avoid the antifungal pill Lamisil if you have psoriasis, because it could make your symptoms worse.
Can you have a fungal infection and psoriasis at the same time?
Yes, you can have nail fungus and psoriasis at the same time. But each condition requires a different treatment.
Get Rid Of Excess Cuticles In 15 Seconds With This $4.29 Miracle In A Bottle
If you need additional info before you shop, these loyal customers will convince you to check this out for yourself.
A shopper raved, "Miracle in a bottle. I don't know what voodoo magic that they put in this bottle but your hang nails and cuticles with dry skin magically disappear when you use this stuff!"
Another declared, "Magic! I can't praise this stuff enough! My cuticles were so dry and overgrown. This treatment made removal so easy and quick! I hate I hadn't found it earlier. Absolutely recommend!!"
Someone gushed, "I was shocked at how good it worked and it's affordable. 20 seconds and the cuticle is literally coming off. Work's amazingly!!! Highly recommended!!"
"This product is amazing and works so well that I no longer have to go and spend money to get a manicure. Instead I do my manicures at home and whenever I want to. Saved me money and time spent on making the appointment, going to the place, wait and then getting a mani. Definitely giving this a 10 out of 10 and worth the money," a reviewer wrote.
A customer reviewed, "Didn't realize I needed this. THIS is what makes a home manicure look like a professional manicure. It basically turns any dead skin/cuticle on the nail into mush so it can be gently scraped and wiped off. Doesn't hurt your actual skin at all though. I'm obsessed."
Still thinking about your next manicure? Here are tips to grow long, strong natural nails.
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