How to trim an ingrown toenail with paronychia?

Written by Li Chang Yue
General Surgery
Updated on September 22, 2024
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If paronychia occurs with an ingrown toenail, one must not cut the nail bed too short. It is advisable to visit a professional institution where local disinfection can be carried out, followed by surgical removal or wedge resection of the nail embedded in the nail bed. This helps to reduce the risk of infection and stabilizes the condition of paronychia, avoiding local contamination, formation of paronychia, secondary abscesses, suppuration, nail bed infections, and other serious issues caused by self-trimming. Thus, if one has paronychia or an ingrown nail, it is best to visit a formal hospital and have it treated by a doctor. If necessary, a nail removal surgery can be performed to completely and effectively cure paronychia.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can erythromycin ointment be used for paronychia?

Erythromycin ointment can be used for paronychia. Paronychia is a disease where an infection occurs in the nail groove or the surrounding soft tissue. If left untreated, paronychia can develop into more severe conditions such as subungual abscess. Paronychia often results from injuries such as abrasions, puncture wounds, ingrown nails, or pulling out hangnails. Erythromycin ointment can be used as a topical medication for paronychia, but it is important to keep the affected area clean and dry.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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How to treat paronychia in infants and toddlers?

If an infant has paronychia, it indicates that there is local damage and bacterial infection. In such cases, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly. The doctor will thoroughly disinfect the area affected by paronychia, and for severe cases with abscesses, debridement may be necessary. Generally, if parents try to disinfect the child’s wound, they might not be able to adequately treat some deep infections. Therefore, it is still necessary to go to the hospital. After the doctor treats the wound, regular visits to the hospital for dressing changes are needed for a thorough treatment of the infant's paronychia. If the paronychia is severe and accompanied by a systemic infection, treatment under the guidance of a hospital doctor with antibiotics may also be required.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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How to treat an ingrown toenail that has become infected and pus-filled?

Paronychia with suppuration can be controlled by disinfecting the area with iodine and then applying anti-inflammatory ointments, typically mupirocin ointment or erythromycin ointment. If there is significant local swelling, it may be necessary to perform a lateral nail avulsion or nail removal under local anesthesia to ensure adequate drainage of the pus and control the infection effectively. After controlling the infection, for more severe cases of ingrown toenail deformity, it may require further correction of the nail and a procedure to reshape the nail groove to manage the inflammation and correct nail deformities. Treatment should also include oral antibiotics, taken under medical supervision, such as erythromycin tablets. Since paronychia with pus formation can easily lead to systemic infection, it is crucial to treat it aggressively.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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What to use for swelling of paronychia?

Paronychia, characterized by redness, swelling, and pain, can be treated by applying iodine tincture for local disinfection and cleansing, which helps reduce swelling. Under a doctor’s guidance, anti-inflammatory ointments such as compounded polymyxin B, fusidic acid cream, or mupirocin ointment can also be applied. For severe redness, swelling, and pain, oral antibiotics may be administered in conjunction with the treatments mentioned above to reduce inflammation. It is important to follow a medically supervised and proper regimen when using antibiotics and to increase water intake during treatment. If the paronychia is caused by an ingrown nail piercing into the nail fold, trimming the nail may relieve the local swelling and pain. It is recommended to seek treatment at a professional hospital. Paronychia is a common condition, and taking preventive measures can help avoid its onset.

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Can paronychia heal by itself?

Paronychia cannot heal on its own; it definitely requires timely treatment at a hospital. If not treated promptly, the condition could worsen and may even necessitate surgical removal of parts of the nail bed or keratin. Upon detecting paronychia, it's important to first clean the affected area thoroughly. Applications such as iodine tincture can be used topically, and soaking in boric acid or alcohol is also possible. During recovery, it is advisable to avoid spicy and greasy foods. Additionally, it's crucial to quickly begin antimicrobial treatment. Antibiotics can be taken orally or administered via intravenous drip to treat the infection systemically, such as amoxicillin. Ichthyol ointment can be applied to the swollen areas, but any medication should be used following a doctor's prescription. During the treatment period, it is recommended to consume a diet high in protein and fiber, especially foods rich in vitamin C like kiwifruit and passion fruit.