Treating Paronychia at Home: Self-Care, Causes, & More

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Your guide to treating a throbbing nail infection at home

Co-authored by Savannah Vold Medically reviewed by Sarah Gehrke, RN, MS

Last Updated: November 29, 2023 Fact Checked

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Soaking the Area

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Medical Treatment for Acute Paronychia

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Treating Chronic Paronychia

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Whether you picked a hangnail or pushed back your cuticles, paronychia causes redness, pain, and swelling around a nail that can make completing your normal tasks difficult. Fortunately, acute and chronic forms of this nail condition are easily treated and should clear up within 5-10 days.^{[1]
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Harvard Medical School
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Go to source} Read on to learn more about caring for paronychia at home, as well as when to seek medical treatment and more.

Things You Should Know

Soak your infected nail in a bowl or basin filled with warm water for 20 minutes, 3-4 times daily. Acute paronychia usually goes away after a few days of warm water soaks.
After soaking the infected nail, apply an antibacterial ointment or petroleum jelly to the wound if the skin is broken. Then, carefully apply a bandage over the affected area.
If your symptoms do not subside within 5-10 days, or you develop pus near the nail, contact your doctor, who may treat your paronychia with an oral antibiotic.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Soaking the Area in Warm Water

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1
Fill a bowl or basin with warm tap water. Most cases of acute paronychia can be treated by soaking the area in warm water 2-4 times daily.^{[2]
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Go to source} Use a bowl to soak a finger or a basin to soak your feet. The water should be very warm but not so hot that it causes pain or discomfort.
- Acute paronychia can develop suddenly due to injury or exposure to harsh substances, unlike chronic paronychia, which is often caused by a fungal infection.
- Acute paronychia usually affects a single finger or toe due to a bacterial infection. Symptoms include redness, swelling, pus, and throbbing pain around your nail.
2
Add salt or saline solution if the skin around your nail is broken. If you have a cut, add a few tablespoons (15 ml) of table salt, Epsom salt, Burrow solution, or saline solution to your warm water.^{[3]
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- Avoid using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean the area, as they are strong enough to break down the surface of your skin, cause further irritation, and slow down healing.^{[4]
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Soak your finger or toe for at least 15 minutes 2 to 4 times daily. If the water cools down before 20 minutes, add hot water to warm it up or replace it with a fresh bowl. Acute paronychia usually goes away after a few days of regular warm water soaks.^{[5]
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- Warm water increases blood flow to the affected area, which helps your body to fight the infection.
4
Dry the area and, if desired, apply petroleum jelly and a bandage. Dry off with a clean towel after soaking. If your skin is broken, apply a dollop of petroleum jelly or antibacterial ointment over the wound with a cotton swab. Then, carefully cover it with a non-stick bandage.^{[6]
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DermNet NZ
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- Dressing the area is optional, but it's wise to protect broken skin if you'll be working with your hands or exposing them to dirt and dander.
- Remove the bandage before warm water soaks, and replace it when it gets wet, such as before washing your hands or showering.
- Avoid dipping the cotton swab back into the container after touching your skin with it.
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Keep your hands clean and avoid biting or sucking your fingers. Regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water and avoid putting your hands in contact with your mouth to ensure a speedy recovery, free from possible reinfections.^{[7]
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- If you’re treating a child’s infection and they can follow instructions, let them know they need to keep their hands out of their mouth for their boo-boo to get better.
- If the child is too young to understand verbal instructions, gently remove their hands from their mouth when you see them biting or sucking their fingers.
- Their pediatrician might recommend antibiotics to prevent complications due to the bacteria in their mouth if their habit can’t be controlled.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Seeking Medical Treatment for Acute Paronychia

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If you’re diabetic, have your doctor look at a nail infection before attempting to treat it on your own. Diabetes can interfere with your body’s ability to fight infections, so your doctor might recommend an antibiotic or antifungal medication to help your body eradicate any bacteria present in the infected nail.^{[8]
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If you’ve soaked the affected area for about a week and your symptoms persist or worsen, contact your doctor and describe your symptoms to see if they recommend taking antibiotics or antifungal medication. Additionally, your doctor might order a culture of the infection to determine the best treatment method.^{[9]
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Schedule an appointment if you develop an abscess. Call your doctor promptly if you notice an abscess or a painful, pus-filled lesion. Your doctor will then numb the area, make a small incision to drain the abscess, and dress the wound with gauze and a bandage.^{[10]
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DermNet NZ
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Go to source} To keep your wound clean and promote proper healing, change the dressing 2 to 3 times a day, and keep the area bandaged for 2 days.
- An abscess looks like a swollen mass and is tender or painful to touch. Without an abscess, your finger might only feel swollen and throbbing, while an abscess will be more painful and feel like it's filled with something.
- As an abscess develops, it may come to a head like a pimple and seep pus.
- Never attempt to drain an abscess on your own, as you’ll expose the area to more germs or cause the infection to spread.
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Start warm water soaks 2 days after having an abscess drained. If you’ve had an abscess drained, keep it dressed and change the bandages regularly for 2 days. After 2 days, remove the bandage, and soak the area in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes 3 to 4 times a day until your symptoms improve. You should notice healing after 2 days.^{[11]
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- If your skin is still broken and you want to protect it, bandage it after soaking, or keep bandaging it until the wound has closed.
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Ask your doctor if they recommend antibiotics. Depending on your symptoms’ severity and culture results, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics after draining an abscess or to treat persistent symptoms.^{[12]
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Research source} Take any prescriptions according to their instructions, and be sure to keep taking your medicine for as long as they prescribe, even if you start to feel better.
- Stopping antibiotics before you've finished your prescription could cause the infection to return.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Treating Chronic Paronychia

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Ask your doctor if they recommend an antifungal medication. Chronic paronychia is usually caused by a fungal infection and often affects multiple fingers or toes. Symptoms include redness, swelling, pain, and boggy or moist skin. Your doctor will likely order a culture and other tests to accurately diagnose chronic paronychia and prescribe a medication, such as an antifungal, to fight the infection based on their findings.^{[13]
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- While acute paronychia usually goes away within 5-10 days, chronic paronychia tends to take several weeks to heal with proper treatment.
- Typically, doctors prescribe a topical antifungal ointment, which you’ll apply to the affected areas 2 to 3 times daily. Always take any prescriptions according to your doctor’s instructions.
- Fungal and bacterial infections can coincide, so your doctor might prescribe both an antibacterial and antifungal treatment if this occurs. Keep in mind that fungal infections can take several weeks to clear.
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Keep your hands clean and dry. Wash your hands regularly, including before you apply an antifungal ointment. Dry your hands thoroughly after washing or whenever they’re exposed to water, and keep them away from moisture during your daily activities such as bartending, dishwashing, and house cleaning.^{[14]
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- Be sure to keep your hands away from your face and mouth.
Avoid exposure to water and irritating cleaning agents in occupations such as bartending, dishwashing, and house cleaning. Rubber gloves with absorbent cotton lining both absorb moisture and repel water and chemicals, making them the best choice for protecting and preventing paronychia.^{[15]
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4
Discuss surgical options with your doctor if necessary. Minor surgery might be necessary if the infection has spread beneath your nail beds or hasn’t responded to nonsurgical treatments. Your doctor may decide to remove part or all of the nail and apply antifungal ointment to the exposed nail bed to heal your infection.^{[16]
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- Rest and avoid using the affected finger or toe for 2 days after nail removal, keeping it raised above your heart level to prevent bleeding and throbbing.
- Take prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers according to your doctor’s instructions.^{[17]
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- Keep the dressing dry, and change it after 1 to 7 days. Your doctor will tell you how long to leave the bandage in place and instruct you how to change it.

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Tips

Prevent paronychia by not cutting your nails too short, cutting your cuticles back too far, or biting or picking your nails. Additionally, be sure to wear gloves when coming into contact with harsh detergents or chemicals like bleach.^{[18]
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Applying a warm compress to the infected area for 15-20 minutes daily may help improve blood flow and relieve pain and swelling.^{[19]
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Warnings

Avoid taking 2 or more pain medications at the same time unless directed by your doctor, as too much acetaminophen can be harmful.^{[20]
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