Do I Have Paronychia?

Do you have redness of the skin around the base or the sides of your nail?

Do you have swelling of the skin around your nail?

Do you have tenderness in the affected area?

Do you feel throbbing pain in the skin around a nail?

Does the skin around your nail feel warm?

Do you have pus-filled pocket under the skin next to your nail, or underneath the nail itself?

Do you have changed texture of your nails (thick, hard nails)?

Do you have deformed nails?

Do you have changed color of your nails (browning discoloration of the nail plate)?

Do you have nails separated from the nail beds?

Does the skin around your nail feel moist or “boggy”?

Do you bite or prick your nails, cut your nails to short or have constantly wet hands?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have paronychia. Paronychia is a skin infection that appears in the area around a fingernail or toenail. It affects the nail bed or the sides of the nail. Paronychia is usually caused by bacteria or a type of fungus called Candida. In some cases, the skin becomes infected with bacteria and yeast at the same time. To prevent paronychia, maintain good hand and foot hygiene, don’t bite or pick your nails, avoid injuring your nails and fingertips or cutting your nails too short. Also, avoid excessive exposure of your hands to water or harsh chemicals.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have paronychia. Paronychia is an infection that affects the skin around your fingernails or toenails. When the skin becomes injured or irritated, microbes invade your skin, causing an infection. Paronychia can be acute and chronic. Acute paronychia is caused by bacteria; it appears suddenly, developing over several hours. It usually affects a single fingernail and does not last long. However, chronic paronychia is usually caused by yeast called Candida. It develops slowly, affecting several fingers on the same hand. Each affected nail becomes detached from the nail bed. Diagnosis is based on a physical examination.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have paronychia. Paronychia is an infection of the skin on the side or at the base of your fingernails or toenails. Anyone can get paronychia, but it is more common in people who bite their nails, have ingrown toenails or have constantly cold and wet hands, such as bartenders, cleaners, housewives or dairy farmers. Also people with diabetes and weakened immune system are prone to paronychia. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the infection. It involves antibiotics, antifungal medications and drainage of pus. The outlook is usually good.