What to use for swelling of paronychia?

Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
Updated on September 06, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jian Bo
Dermatology
58sec home-news-image

How to deal with big toe paronychia on your own?

The patient with an ingrown toenail managed it themselves, requiring minimized activity and elevating the foot to promote local circulation. Additionally, topical disinfectants such as iodine tincture can be used, not merely applied, but used for moist dressing. Take some cotton soaked in iodine tincture and apply it to the swollen area around the nail fold, generally recommending a five to ten-minute application. Antibiotic ointments can also be applied externally, such as mupirocin cream. After application, cover it for two hours, and treat it two to three times a day. If this method does not effectively alleviate the pain, consider taking antibiotics that have previously caused no allergies, with a preference for cephalosporins or penicillin-type antibiotics. If the antibiotics still do not effectively relieve the pain, it is advised to seek medical attention at a hospital. (Use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
54sec home-news-image

Can paronychia be treated by oneself?

Paronychia generally should not be self-treated. The occurrence of paronychia is usually related to improper nail trimming or improper removal of hangnails; some are caused by bacterial infections, while others are due to fungal infections. It is advised not to self-treat paronychia, especially if there is an abscess, as it requires proper medical treatment at a hospital. Improper handling can easily lead to worsening of the infection, and pus drainage treatment should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor. If swelling and pain are significant, oral antibiotics might be necessary. In cases where there is no allergy to antibiotics, oral medications such as cefaclor sustained-release tablets or cefdinir dispersible tablets may be used. Attention should also be paid to the cleanliness of the affected area to avoid squeezing it oneself.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jian Bo
Dermatology
48sec home-news-image

How to treat paronychia when it becomes purulent?

Paronychia has already become suppurative and needs timely treatment. Patients can choose to use medications to clean the affected area, which can prevent the condition from worsening. Paronychia is not a very serious disease, but improper care or worsening of the condition can lead to suppuration and cause severe symptoms. It is considered that the condition may be caused by accidentally injuring the surrounding soft tissue when trimming nails or by wearing tight shoes. If the patient's condition is severe, it is best to go to a formal hospital for timely examination and diagnosis. The suppurative area can be incised, and anti-inflammatory medications can be applied to avoid severe local infections. During the recovery period, patients should maintain a light diet and avoid spicy foods.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
57sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
1min 10sec home-news-image

How to remove granulation tissue from paronychia

For polyps caused by paronychia that repeatedly flare up and are quite obvious, surgical methods are necessary for complete correction. Surgical options include nail groove plasty and lateral nail fold incision, both of which are effective treatments for severe paronychia. If the polyp from paronychia is not severe, it can be treated with topical medications to shrink the polyp and reduce swelling. Commonly used medications include skin and mucous membrane disinfectants such as povidone-iodine, and continuous damp dressing with medical alcohol can be applied to further reduce swelling, which is beneficial for muscle atrophy. Highly concentrated saline solution or phenol can also be used for local scalding through continuous damp dressing. The growth of a polyp in paronychia indicates repeated inflammatory irritation, which leads to local proliferation, so it is essential to address paronychia promptly when it occurs.