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An informative guide on managing painful, swollen hangnail infections
Despite their small size, hangnails can cause significant discomfort, especially when infected. Fortunately, paronychia, or infected hangnails, are common, easily treatable, and typically resolve within about 5 days. Keep reading to discover the best methods for treating an infected hangnail at home, along with when to seek professional help and how to prevent future infections.
Key Points to Remember
- Soak the infected hangnail in warm water for 15 minutes, 2-4 times daily, until the infection clears.
- Apply an over-the-counter antibacterial ointment to alleviate swelling and pain as instructed.
- If symptoms persist beyond a week or if you notice pus, fever, or red streaks from the infected area, consult a healthcare professional.
Action Plan
Effective Home Remedies for Hangnail Relief
Alleviate the infected area by soaking it in warm water multiple times a day. Prepare a bowl or basin filled with warm water and immerse the infected area for 15 minutes, 2-4 times daily, until the infection subsides. For added comfort, dissolve ½ teaspoon (3 g) of Epsom salt in the water before soaking your nail.
- To avoid potential contamination from tap water, especially during a boiled water advisory, use bottled or boiled water as recommended by the CDC.
Safely trim the hangnail using sanitized fingernail clippers. Use a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol to thoroughly disinfect your nail clippers or scissors, then trim the hangnail level to your skin after soaking your nail in water for approximately 15 minutes.
- Cutting the hangnail helps alleviate pain by preventing further pulling.
Apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to the infected area. Use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of bacitracin or polymyxin B (Neosporin or Neosporin + Pain Relief) ointment to kill bacteria and soothe the wound. Reapply the ointment 1-3 times daily or as directed until the wound heals.
Keep the affected area moisturized daily to prevent dryness. Regularly apply a small amount of moisturizing lotion or petroleum jelly to the affected area and surrounding skin on your hands or feet to keep your skin hydrated. Avoid lotions with high alcohol or water content, as they can exacerbate dryness and worsen hangnail infections.
- Daily moisturization is crucial for healing and preventing hangnail infections by preventing dry, cracked skin.
Keep the infected area elevated whenever possible. Lie down and raise your infected finger or toe above your heart level as frequently as you can throughout the day. Regular elevation can effectively reduce swelling and alleviate pain.
- You can use a pillow or a rolled-up towel under your foot or finger to comfortably elevate the area.
Apply ice 2-3 times daily and take OTC pain medication to alleviate discomfort. To numb and soothe the infected hangnail, use an ice pack on the area for 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times daily. Additionally, take over-the-counter pain relievers as directed to help manage pain while the infection heals. Consider using an anti-inflammatory pain reliever if the infection causes swelling.
- Common over-the-counter pain relievers include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen.
Medical Interventions
Consult your doctor regarding the use of oral antibiotics. Depending on your symptoms and the nature of your infection (determined by a culture test), your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics to combat the infection. Ensure you take the antibiotics exactly as directed by your doctor and complete the full course of treatment.
- Stopping antibiotics prematurely could lead to the recurrence of the infection.
Discuss with your doctor the possibility of using antifungal medication. Many hangnail infections are fungal, characterized by symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, and moist or boggy skin. Following a wound culture, your doctor might prescribe an antifungal cream to treat the infected area.
- Topical antifungal ointments are usually applied to the affected area 2 to 3 times daily. Always adhere to your doctor’s instructions when using prescriptions.
- Since bacterial and fungal infections can occur simultaneously, your doctor might prescribe both antifungal and antibacterial treatments.
Discuss with your doctor the possibility of using a topical steroid cream. While antifungal creams are commonly used to treat chronic hangnail infections, studies suggest that topical steroid creams may be more effective. Depending on your doctor's assessment and culture test results, they may prescribe a topical steroid for you.
- Topical steroids are typically applied 2-3 times daily. Follow your doctor's application instructions carefully.
Seek advice from your doctor if you have diabetes. Individuals with diabetes are at a heightened risk of developing chronic hangnail infections, which can lead to serious health complications. If you have diabetes and experience a hangnail infection, consult your doctor before attempting self-treatment to ensure effective eradication of the infection through antibiotics, antifungals, or topical steroid cream.
Visit your doctor if pus accumulates around your nail. Although pus buildup around an infected hangnail is common, it requires drainage by a healthcare professional. Your doctor will likely numb the area, make a small incision to drain the pus, and dress the wound with gauze. Depending on the infection's severity, your doctor may also opt to remove a portion of your nail to facilitate proper healing.
- Follow your doctor's instructions for changing your wound dressings.
Contact your doctor if your hangnail infection persists beyond a week. Most hangnail infections resolve on their own within approximately 5 days. If your infection persists or worsens after 7 days, schedule an appointment with your doctor to identify and treat the underlying cause.
- Your doctor may conduct a culture test to determine the infection's cause.
- In severe cases where conventional prescription treatments are ineffective, your doctor may perform a minor surgical procedure to remove all or part of the affected nail.
Seek immediate medical attention if you develop a fever. If you experience a fever and/or notice red streaks originating from the infected area, visit an urgent care center or the emergency room promptly for professional treatment. These symptoms indicate rapid spread of the infection and necessitate immediate medical intervention.
Tips for Preventing Hangnails
Maintain your nails at a reasonable length and clean them regularly. Use nail clippers to trim excessively long fingernails or toenails, ensuring they are tidy and well-maintained. Avoid cutting them too short, as this could lead to skin damage and potential infections. Also, wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap to reduce the accumulation of dirt beneath the nails.
- Sanitize your nail clippers by wiping them with rubbing alcohol after each use.
- Well-groomed nails significantly lower the risk of developing hangnail infections.
Protect your hands with gloves when handling harsh chemicals. Shield your hands from prolonged exposure to water and irritating cleaning agents by wearing rubber gloves. Individuals engaged in activities such as bartending, dishwashing, or house cleaning are more susceptible to developing hangnail infections due to frequent hand immersion in water, which softens the cuticle skin, making it more prone to tears and cuts.
- Ensure thorough drying of your hands after exposure to water or other liquids.
Refrain from biting, sucking, or picking at your nails. Habitually biting or picking at your nails can damage the surrounding skin, leading to the development of hangnail infections. Moreover, saliva can introduce bacteria to the torn or damaged area, increasing the risk of infection.
Avoid pushing back or trimming your cuticles excessively. Cuticles refer to the transparent skin layer at the base of your fingernails or toenails. During nail care routines, abstain from trimming or pushing back your cuticles, as this may cause skin damage and potentially result in an infection.
- While it's acceptable for a professional manicurist to push back your cuticles, refrain from doing it yourself to prevent pushing them back excessively.
Ensure to change your socks daily. Moisture trapped in socks can potentially lead to a hangnail infection on your toenails. To prevent such infections, wear a fresh pair of socks each day and replace them if they become damp.
- Additionally, avoid wearing the same pair of shoes for more than two consecutive days to allow them to fully dry out.
Additional Advice
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Be cautious not to trim your nails excessively short or push your cuticles too far back, as this can irritate and harm the skin, increasing the risk of introducing bacteria to the wound.
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Utilizing a warm compress on the affected area for 15-20 minutes daily may aid in reducing pain and swelling.
