What to Do if you Have an Infected Hangnail?

The feeling of pain in your fingernails is often an indication of infected hangnail or irritation. For example, redness and swelling around your fingernails could be the result of an infected hangnail. A hangnail is a skin located close to the nail’s base that appears ragged and torn. They are usually found on the fingers and not the toes. However, it is possible to find one on the toenail.

A hangnail isn’t precisely the same situation as an infection or ingrown nail. The term “hangnail” is only used to describe the skin on the edges of the nail and not the nail itself. Nevertheless, hangnails are a common occurrence. Most people suffer from hangnails in dry skin, like during winter or after exposure to water for a long time.

Hangnails can get infected when exposed to fungus or bacteria. The hangnails with infection need to be treated as fast as it is possible. In most cases, the problem can be treated at home. However, if your hangnail doesn’t go away within one week, it is recommended to talk to your physician.

What’s the difference between a infected hangnail and an ingrown nail?

Hangnail infections are usually found on the fingers, are not visible on toes, although it’s possible to see one on a toenail. A hangnail isn’t the exact problem as an ingrown or infected nail. A hangnail only refers to the skin that runs along the edges of the nail and not the nail itself.

There are Several Principal hangnail Causes

1. Hands that are dry and brittle

Dry hands and nails are a natural cause of infected hangnails, Picture split ends in your hair. If the cuticle tissue is dehydrated, it will split and split. Dry cuticles are caused by the same reasons that cause the dry, flaky skin Stern claims (dry, cold weather, too much exposure to water, that kind of thing).

2. You tend to pick your nails all the time

If you’re a nail picker, then you may be hanging your nails. “If the cuticle hasn’t been taken out evenly, a “lone section’ will be more likely to break,”. It’s best to let the cuticle removal be left to your nail technician after you’re getting a manicure.

3. Hands are washed excessively

“People who must deal with numerous chemicals or regularly are exposed to water, such as cooks, bartenders, or healthcare workers, and others. As a result, they are more susceptible to developing hangnails,”

The same is true for mothers who wash their hands every day after changing diapers and people who use hand sanitizers regularly. In essence, over-washing drys your skin more quickly and could cause cracks or split your cuticle. Yet, “some of us are likely to be genetically inclined to build up excessive cuticle tissue,”

4. You may have an insufficiency of protein

Your skin and nails are composed of protein. If you’re getting enough of it, your skin could be damaged and crack, leading to hangnails. Consult your physician and increase the amount of protein you consume if you can also observe other signs of a protein hangnail deficiency (like thin hair, weakness, and mental fog).

Hangnails Symptoms

When a hangnail is irritated, the nail can get irritated, which can cause significant discomfort. However, it may be difficult to believe that something this small could cause such pain The reason for this is due to its location and the composition of the skin.

Hangnails occur in the lower or upper sides of the nail. These are the areas where blood vessels and nerve endings are abundant. If a hangnail gets swelling and inflamed, it puts pressure on nerve endings, increasing the discomfort. The signs of a hangnail are:

• A visible, protruding, and transparent piece of skin
• Redness along the sides or the bottom of the nail bed
• Swollen hangnail
• Pain, tenderness, or discomfort

If your hangnail has been affected, you might feel an itch or warmth, and a pus-filled abscess might develop.

Also read: Upper Arm Pain, When should you visit a doctor?

How to Get Rid of Hangnails Infection?

There are many ways to get rid of infected hangnail pain. keep reading

1. Treat a hangnail by reducing the amount of skin

While ripping or biting your hangnail may not be the most effective method for doing it, taking off the excess skin around the hangnail can be an effective way to start. By reducing the amount of skin left, you can reduce the chance of getting caught on your hangnail over the day.

You also improve your body’s ability to heal the wound. To cut the hangnail with care, use clean nail clippers to cut the hangnail as near its nail bed as possible. Cutting your hangnail back is the first step in treating it. Once you’ve cut your hangnail in half, it is possible to take a bath in warm water or antibiotic cream to treat the region.

2. Treat a Hangnail with an ice-cold water soak

Treat the area with a warm water bath if your hangnail hurts or is beginning to become infected. Begin by filling a container with water, then soak your nail in the affected area twice to four times a day over 15 minutes at the same time. Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the use of bottles of water is the best option for any purpose because it’s completely free of contaminants.

However, if you don’t own bottled water at hand, your second best option is to boil the tap water and chill it to a suitable temperature. Boiling water kills different kinds of bacteria and viruses that lurk in the water, including bacteria or viruses, as well as parasites that you don’t wish to expose to the bloodstream via your damaged nail bed.

3. Treat a hangnail with an Antibiotic Cream

Another option for treatment for infected hangnail yourself is if hangnail won’t heal is. Apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream applied to the area daily.  After covering your hangnail with antibiotic cream, wrap your finger in the form of a bandage to make sure the cream is held in place and stop the growth of bacteria in the hangnail while healing.

Alongside applying an anti-bacterial cream on the hangnail, it’s also recommended that you wash your hands after washing and remove your fingernails. Infections by bacteria can cause hangnails and dry nails. By cleaning your nails and applying an antibiotic ointment, you can stop the nail from becoming infected again and worsening due to.

Infected hangnails that are chronically infected may progress into a chronic infection of the hangnail. Thus, patients must be advised to avoid causing trauma to the nail folds. In addition, diseases that affect the whole body, such as eczema and psoriasis, can result in an acute hangnail infection. In the case of these conditions, treatment should be targeted at the root causes.

What is the Most secure Method How to Treat an Infected Hang Nail?

It is essential not to fall for the temptation to tear the hangnails off. It can increase the symptoms rather than ease the symptoms. In addition, these behaviors could increase the chance of getting an infection. The most secure way to remove hangnails is by following these steps:

• Hands clean with an antibacterial soap.
• Incubate your fingers in warm soapy water to soften your nails. Dry them. You may apply petroleum or mineral oil jelly on the nail to soften hangnails.
• It is possible to clip hangnails using a sanitized nail clipper. You may also seek help from someone if you’re not able to cut it by yourself.
• If you cut the skin below and it begins to bleed,
  1. Rinse thoroughly with water.
  2. Cover up with antibacterial.
  3. Apply bandages until the area is completely healed.

If you have diabetes, you might need to disclose it to your doctor and get started on medication to prevent pus formation.

How to Avoid Treating a Hangnail?

If you’ve got a hangnail, it can be tempting to cut it off or take it out and bite it off. It’s not an excellent choice for many reasons. First, by biting your hangnails, you can introduce bacteria in your mouth that can spread to the area. That bacteria could cause an infection.

Additionally, it can bring bacteria that you have touched to your mouth. The bacteria can make you sick. The damage to your hangnail could be just as dangerous. If you cut your hangnail in the wrong direction, it can tear off living tissue and extend the time you’re suffering.

How do you take Care of your Nails?

To ensure that your nails are healthy and prevent them from getting infected, be sure to adhere to these steps:

• Cut your cuticles as little as you can to avoid infections.
• Do not cut any nails that hang. Make use of sanitized clippers for clipping the nails that hang.
• Regularly moisten your nails using petroleum jelly or other moisturizers that are regular.
• Avoid manicurists who aren’t trained or rough and can forcefully pulled hangnail swollen finger the cuticles away.
• Make sure your hands are out of your mouth as saliva produced by the mouth break into the skin.
• Avoid using harmful nail care products, like regular nail polish removers, or drying agents, such as dishwasher liquid.
• Do not bite your fingernails or pick your cuticle, as these actions can cause damage to your nail bed.
• Wear rubber gloves made of cotton while cleaning dishes, gardening, cleaning, or when using harsh chemical products.
• Maintain clean and healthy nails by trimming nails and then rounding the tips with a gentle curve.

FAQ

Does the nail on your hand affect it?

Infection is caused when fungus or bacteria are found beneath the skin. An infection that occurs between the nail with the skin is referred to as paronychia. Hangnails typically occur on the fingernails and can also be found on the toenails.

Why do Hangnails Hurt so Much?

“Hangnails cause pain because there are lots of nerve endings that are located in fingers,”

Do I have to Visit the Doctor to Treat an Unintentional Hangnail?

A typical hangnail will not necessitate a medical visit. However, you should consult with your doctor if your hangnail is infected and:

• The skin is not healed within a week.
• Blisters and pus-like forms surround the area of injury.
• Infections spread down the nail bed, including the finger.
• Your nail changes color.
• The nail becomes weak.
• You are suffering from the disease diabetes.

The doctor might prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

I hope you will learn a lot about infected hangnail through this post. Keep visiting for more information about health-related articles.