Paronychia, that is an indescribable pain, like a flame burning, can feel the unbearable pain through the screen. This disease is not uncommon in dermatology and orthopedic clinics, and many people are struggling under its clutches, but they are at a loss.
Every step is like dancing on the tip of a knife, and the toes seem to be pierced by thousands of needles at the same time. If you accidentally touch the injured toe, the pain is so deep that it seems that you have to cut off the whole toe to be freed.
What is paronychia?
Paronychia, the name may sound unfamiliar, but in fact, it is a common condition in our lives.
Imagine if we feel the hard, sharp edge of the toenail when we touch our toes lightly, which is where the nail groove is, which is the subtle connection between the nail and the surrounding soft tissue.
When this junction is injured or irritated in some way, it may become inflamed, which we call paronychia. Whether it's a finger or a toe, this tiny area can be the source of paronychia.
What are the specific manifestations of paronychia:
1. Pain: It is as if there are countless small sharp needles constantly piercing the groove of the infection, which is unbearable.
2. Redness and swelling: The nail groove seems to be surrounded by fiery red anger, swollen and inflamed, like a volcano about to erupt.
3. Fever: The body's immune system fights bravely, but it also causes a spike in body temperature in a silent place, as if there is a war raging inside the body.
4. Skin Cracking: The skin around the grooves, like arid land, is distressed by the lack of moisture.
5. Pus secretion: When pain, redness, swelling, and fever come like a tidal wave, the nail groove area begins to secrete yellow-green pus, like the defeat of the defeated.
6. Perungual hemorrhage: The inflammation of the nail groove is so severe that it can no longer be done, and the skin around the groove finally can't bear it anymore and begins to ooze blood, as if silently calling for deliverance.
What causes paronychia?
The wrong way of pruning is one of the common causes of paronychia. Many people trim their toenails over-trimming or improperly trimming, causing damage to the skin around the nails, which can lead to paronychia.
In addition, people who are overweight or obese are also prone to paronychia. This is because excess weight puts too much pressure on the feet, causing the skin around the toenails to be pinched and rubbed, which can lead to inflammation.
People who regularly engage in strenuous exercise are also prone to paronychia. During exercise, the toenail may be hit or pinched, causing damage to the skin around the nail, which can cause inflammation. Therefore, it is very important for people who regularly engage in strenuous exercise to protect the health of their toenails.
Shoes that don't fit well and are too tight are also a common cause of paronychia. Ill-fitting shoes can cause discomfort and friction to the feet, causing damage to the skin around the toenails, which can lead to inflammation. In addition, some female friends who wear high heels for a long time are also prone to paronychia. Therefore, choosing the right shoes is very important to protect the health of your feet.
Trauma is also a common cause of paronychia in the toenails. If the toenail is traumatized, such as impact, crushing, etc., it may cause damage to the skin around the nail, which can trigger inflammation.
It is important to note that if paronychia of the fingers occurs frequently, then it is important to pay attention to whether there is any abnormality in blood sugar. Because high blood sugar can cause damage to nerves and blood vessels, the skin around the fingernails is susceptible to damage and infection, which can lead to paronychia. Therefore, in case of fingernail paronychia, it is advisable to seek medical attention and check blood sugar levels in a timely manner.
Toenails always "drill" into the flesh, and it still hurts when touched? teach you a little trick, or help you relieve paronychia
First of all, we need to carefully prepare about 100ml of vinegar, slowly pour it into a small warm basin, and then add warm water at a suitable temperature of about 45 degrees Celsius. When the vinegar is mixed with the hot water, we soak it in our feet for a few minutes until we feel that our toenails are starting to soften.
Next, we take out the sterilized nail clippers and use them to gently pick out the nails that have fallen into the flesh. Then, with another pair of sterilized nail clippers, carefully cut it off. This process requires patience and care, like caring for a delicate flower.
After trimming the nails, we disinfect them with iodophor. Use a cotton swab dipped in an appropriate amount of iodophor and gently apply it to the trimmed area, which can be slightly larger. After waiting for about 5 minutes, we disinfect it with alcohol for a second time to make sure everything is safe.
Finally, we remove the medical gauze or absorbent cotton and gently place it on the embedded nail. Not only are these materials comfortable and breathable, but they also effectively change the direction of the nail's growth, preventing it from re-embedding in the flesh. Over time, the sensation of inflammation and pain will gradually disappear and your feet will return to health and comfort.
How to prevent paronychia on a daily basis?
First and foremost, maintaining nail hygiene is key. Trim your nails regularly and avoid letting them get too long and get embedded in the flesh. When trimming, you should use appropriate tools and make sure that the edges of the nail after trimming are smooth and free of sharp corners. Also, keep your feet clean and wash your feet, especially the gaps between your toes, with warm water and soap every day to prevent the growth of bacteria.
Secondly, choosing the right shoes is also an important part of preventing paronychia. Wear loose, comfortable shoes and avoid shoes that are too tight or too small to reduce pressure and friction on your toes. At the same time, avoid wearing the same pair of shoes for a long time to avoid undue stress on your feet.
In addition, avoiding foot injuries is also an important measure to prevent paronychia. When playing sports or activities, you should wear appropriate sports footwear and take appropriate protective measures to reduce the risk of injury. If you are unfortunate enough to be injured, you should treat it promptly to avoid infection.
Finally, maintaining good lifestyle habits is also an important aspect of paronychia prevention. Getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and boosting the body's immunity can help prevent the occurrence of various diseases. At the same time, avoid standing or walking for long periods of time to avoid excessive strain on your feet.
Further reading - Do I have to remove my nails if I have paronychia?
For many people with paronychia, especially those who are not yet severely ill, the first choice is to go to a dermatologist for professional treatment. However, when the pain is unbearable, orthopedic nail extraction surgery may become the only way to go. There are also many patients with fingernail paronychia, who often have significant redness and swelling around the nails, accompanied by the formation of white edges and the growth of abscess cavities. The only way to recover quickly is to seek the help of a doctor to cut and drain the abscess cavity so that the pus can be released.
So, can nail extraction surgery completely cure paronychia? Although nail extraction can provide some relief from the pain, the possibility of recurrence remains. In many people with toenail chicchia, the cause is improper trimming. Therefore, while we pursue cure, we should pay more attention to prevention, starting from pruning methods, lifestyle habits, etc., to jointly protect our health.
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Source: Baidu Jingling Science Talk
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