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For About 1 1/2 Weeks, I Have Had Mild Discomfort/sensitivity
Question: For about 1 1/2 weeks, I have had mild discomfort/sensitivity to touch on the left side of one of my fingers (near the fingernail). I don't see any pus or discoloration. It looks like any other finger. Dr. RG XXXXXXX wrote back to me 5 days ago about this and thought it might be paronychia. I was wondering if I need to do anything since it's still there? (I was hoping it would go away.) I don't know if it's related, but I have had mild diahrea for about 2 to 3 days. I think it is just from having too much spicy food though.
Is paronychia a sign of a weak immune system? I read that on one website and am worried that it might indicate my immune system is weak. I've always felt healthy though. How long will the paronchia take to go away?
Is paronychia a sign of a weak immune system? I read that on one website and am worried that it might indicate my immune system is weak. I've always felt healthy though. How long will the paronchia take to go away?
Also, will soaking it in warm water help the infection heal? Or do that just reduce discomfort?
Brief Answer:
Steroid antibiotic combination cream, moisturizer
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to ask a doctor service
I have gone through your query and noted your concern.
Paronychia means inflammation of the nail folds.
It doesn’t mean a weak immune system.
It could be due excessive washing of hands and frequent use of soaps and detergents.
It is not related to diarrhea.
I would recommend you to apply topical antibiotic and steroid combination cream like neosporin ointment and cortisone cream on the affected skin twice daily along with frequent and regular application of a moisturizing cream containing white soft paraffin on the entire hands 3-4 times in a day.
Avoid soaps, detergents and frequent washing of hands.
Keep your hands moisturised.
This should resolve in 10-14 days.
You can soak your hands in warm water twice in a day followed by application of moisturizer.
It will reduce the discomfort.
Regards
Dr Asmeet
Steroid antibiotic combination cream, moisturizer
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to ask a doctor service
I have gone through your query and noted your concern.
Paronychia means inflammation of the nail folds.
It doesn’t mean a weak immune system.
It could be due excessive washing of hands and frequent use of soaps and detergents.
It is not related to diarrhea.
I would recommend you to apply topical antibiotic and steroid combination cream like neosporin ointment and cortisone cream on the affected skin twice daily along with frequent and regular application of a moisturizing cream containing white soft paraffin on the entire hands 3-4 times in a day.
Avoid soaps, detergents and frequent washing of hands.
Keep your hands moisturised.
This should resolve in 10-14 days.
You can soak your hands in warm water twice in a day followed by application of moisturizer.
It will reduce the discomfort.
Regards
Dr Asmeet
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Thank you for your feedback. I'm wondering if this is definitely paronychia because the finger still looks fine. It just feels sensitive to pressure on the left side of the nail and a little part of the top of the nail. I had trouble uploading a picture but can you open this link to look at a picture of it? I'm wondering if this is a skin issue or something deeper in the finger. It is the left side of the ring finger (the one next to the pinky). https://www.dropbox.com/s/gfi1jubejh5b9mu/IMG_5514.jpg?dl=0
After I use the topical antibiotic/steroid, do I need to cover the area? For how long? Also, I have been using a lot of hand sanitizer because of the Covid pandemic. I'm wondering if that could be what is irritating the finger. Do you think I have an infection or just inflammation? One other thing I should note is that I have cubital tunnel syndrome and do occasionally get tingling and discomfort in my fingers. I do wonder if this is just that but I've never had discomfort and sensitivity to touch on just one side of a fingernail like this with CTS. Thank you again!
After I use the topical antibiotic/steroid, do I need to cover the area? For how long? Also, I have been using a lot of hand sanitizer because of the Covid pandemic. I'm wondering if that could be what is irritating the finger. Do you think I have an infection or just inflammation? One other thing I should note is that I have cubital tunnel syndrome and do occasionally get tingling and discomfort in my fingers. I do wonder if this is just that but I've never had discomfort and sensitivity to touch on just one side of a fingernail like this with CTS. Thank you again!
Brief Answer:
Welcome
Detailed Answer:
I have reviewed the attached photograph and the finger looks almost normal except slightly redness on left side.
The symptoms could be because of mild inflammation and not any infection.
It could also be due to frequent use of a sanitiser.
You don’t have to cover the area after applying steroid antibiotic cream.
It can be kept open.
You can continue these creams for 10-14 days.
In cubital tunnel syndrome pain and tingling is felt in little finger and ring finger and not in index finger.
Welcome
Detailed Answer:
I have reviewed the attached photograph and the finger looks almost normal except slightly redness on left side.
The symptoms could be because of mild inflammation and not any infection.
It could also be due to frequent use of a sanitiser.
You don’t have to cover the area after applying steroid antibiotic cream.
It can be kept open.
You can continue these creams for 10-14 days.
In cubital tunnel syndrome pain and tingling is felt in little finger and ring finger and not in index finger.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
My temperature tonight was 96.6 F (35.9 C). I've always had lower than typical readings but not that low. I'd say it usually is closer to 97.6. Does this sound like anything to worry about? I'm not sure if the fact that I have a possible fingernail infection and low temperature is a bad sign. I was reading that an infection combined with very low temperature can be a sign of sepsis. I feel fine though.
Brief Answer:
You don’t have to worry about it
Detailed Answer:
There is nothing to worry about your temperature.
You don’t have an infection in the nail.
Infection in the nail will present with fever, pain, swelling, redness and increased temperature of the nail fold skin along with pus and oozing in the affected area.
You don’t seem to be having any of these signs.
You don’t have to worry about it
Detailed Answer:
There is nothing to worry about your temperature.
You don’t have an infection in the nail.
Infection in the nail will present with fever, pain, swelling, redness and increased temperature of the nail fold skin along with pus and oozing in the affected area.
You don’t seem to be having any of these signs.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I noticed this morning two small white spots on the finger. They are hard to see but I've tried to show them in the pictures below. Can you tell what the white spots are? I'm wondering if this is actually an ingrown nail as opposed to paronychia.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/emr9lwksv7iqj2f/Finger.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9homjt719nw22vo/Finger%20II.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/emr9lwksv7iqj2f/Finger.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9homjt719nw22vo/Finger%20II.jpg?dl=0
Brief Answer:
Related to paronychia
Detailed Answer:
I have reviewed the newly attached pictures.
They seem to be slightly scaly lesions which can be seen in paronychia as well.
Related to paronychia
Detailed Answer:
I have reviewed the newly attached pictures.
They seem to be slightly scaly lesions which can be seen in paronychia as well.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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