What is a hangnail? Experiencing pain around your fingernails is typically a sign of inflammation or infection. Swelling and redness around your fingernail may be caused by an infected hangnail.
A hangnail is a piece of skin near the root of the nail that appears rugged and torn. Hangnails typically appear on the fingers and not on the toes, though it’s possible to have one around a toenail. IYTHEALTH.com tells you about it.
A hangnail pain isn’t the same condition as an infected or ingrown nail. A hangnail only describes the skin along the sides of the nail, not the nail itself.
Hangnails prevail. Many people experience hangnails when their skin is dry, such as in the winter season or after being exposed to water for an extended period.
Infected hangnails ought to be treated as quickly as possible. Usually, the condition can be effectively treated at home. If the hangnail does not clear up within a week, you ought to consult your doctor.
How to Determine an Infected Hangnail
You should have the ability to observe the symptoms of an infected hangnail soon after it ends up being infected. This condition is referred to as paronychia.
Common symptoms include:
- soreness, swelling
- tenderness/pain
- a warm sensation
- a pus-filled blister in the affected area
An extended infection may lead to a blemished nail or an infection that infects other parts of the body.
If you’re experiencing a bacterial infection, these symptoms may take place all of a sudden.
If you’re experiencing a fungal infection, your symptoms may be more progressive. Fungal infections appear more frequently in those who have diabetes or who invest a big quantity of time with their hands exposed in water. A hangnail pain can become infected if exposed to bacteria or fungus.
How to Relieve Pain from an Infected Hangnail
A mild to moderate hangnail infection can typically be treated at home. Follow these actions for home treatment:
- Soak the infected area in warm water once or twice a day for 20 minutes.
- After your initial soak, cut the hangnail off. Eliminating the rough edge of the hangnail might reduce additional infection. Make certain to suffice straight with cuticle clippers.
- Rub vitamin E oil or cream on the afflicted area to prevent another hangnail.
- Use a topical antibiotic cream on the infected hangnail for a few days. After applying the cream, cover the area with a bandage.
Don’t swindle the hangnail, as it can intensify the condition. If your symptoms aggravate or don’t clear within a week, consult your doctor. You must likewise consult your doctor if you’re experiencing severe pain, significant swelling of the finger, excessive pus, or other signs of infection.
What takes place if an infected hangnail isn’t really treated? Neglecting an infected hangnail can make your condition worse.
In unusual circumstances, the infection may spread to other parts of your body if left neglected. Contact your doctor if you have pus around or under the nail or if the infection doesn’t improve within a week.
Home Remedies for Hangnail Pain
1. Vitamin E oil is one of the most effective remedies for hangnails as it softens and dampens the nail beds. Plus, vitamin E assists in healing of the skin tear.
- Apply pure vitamin E oil on the issue area and leave it on till it is taken in entirely. Reapply a number of times a day up until you eliminate your hangnails.
- Another alternative is to combine vitamin E oil with another oil like olive, castor or jojoba oil and apply it daily.
- To avoid hangnails, put a drop of vitamin E oil on your nail beds after clipping your nails.
2. The best method to avoid along with treat hangnails is to keep your nail beds hydrated so the skin around your nails remains flexible. Honey works as a terrific moisturizing representative. Being a natural humectant, it draws in and maintains moisture.
Plus, it has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that fight infection and reduce inflammation. Manuka honey, in specific, has powerful antimicrobial properties.
- Dab raw or manuka honey on the affected area and leave it on for a number of hours to soften the cuticles. Do this everyday until you get rid of the problem.
- You can likewise use honey on a regular basis to prevent hangnails.
3. Beeswax helps soften and moisturize along with strengthen your nails. When combined with oils, it forms a relaxing and protective layer on the skin to keep it from tearing.
- Mix together one and one-half to two teaspoons each of coconut oil, almond oil and olive oil, 3 teaspoons of honey and 3 tablespoons of beeswax.
- Melt the mixture in a microwave or double boiler.
- Eliminate from heat and stir in a few drops of essential oils like tea tree, lavender, plantain or peppermint oil.
- Use it on your nails and cuticles and leave it on over night.
- Repeat daily regularly.
When to See Your Doctor
You need to set up a consultation with your doctor if:
- The afflicted area doesn’t enhance after a week of home treatment
- The afflicted area blisters and becomes filled with pus
- Other areas of the nail or finger begin to show symptoms of infection
- The nail ends up being apart from the skin
- You observe any other unusual symptoms, such as a change in nail color or shape
- You have diabetes and you think your hangnail is infected
Your doctor will examine your hangnail for signs of infection. They might be able to diagnose the hangnail simply by taking a look at it. In other cases, your doctor may want to take a sample of any pus in the infected area to send out to a lab for further analysis.
You may require a prescription for an antibiotic in topical or oral type. If pus exists, your doctor might need to drain the infected area. This eliminates the bacteria and may help eliminate pressure in the area.
Once treated by more powerful medications, the hangnail ought to clean up within 5 to 7 days.
Health Tips
Hangnails prevail, particularly if your hands are dry because of the weather condition or from frequent direct exposure to water. A lot of hangnails will heal without treatment with no signs of infection
Infected hangnails need suitable treatment, a lot of which can be done at home. You ought to see a doctor if the infected hangnail does not heal after about a week of home treatment.
If you need medical treatment for the infected hangnail, your symptoms should disappear after a few days. If you have a chronic condition, it might take a number of weeks to completely heal.
How to avoid future infection? Avoiding hangnails is among the best methods to prevent infected hangnails.
If you believe any sort of injury to your nail or to the skin around the nail, you need to look for immediate treatment.
We hope the above info was practical. Do not hesitate to share if you know any info.
Good luck! Have a nice weekend!
