Paronychia is an infection that develops along the edge of the finger nail or toe nail. It can result in brittleness and unsightly decay of the nail and the skin immediately surrounding the area. Bacteria enter through unhealthy nail treatments such as biting, sucking, chemical exposure, or dishwashing activities. While it is not a serious condition to your overall health, it is something that can result in permanent nail damage and lead to a cosmetic nightmare. If you are experiencing redness, swelling, tenderness, pus buildup and tenderness to the touch, the first thing you must do is become aware of the way that you treat your nails. Following are five more essential behaviors to enact: Pay close attention to the affected area. If the redness spreads beyond the nail to the skin, contact your doctor immediately. While paronychia is not a life threatening condition, it can act as a sign of more serious conditions to come, such as fever or chills. Usually, it is a problem that you can get rid of yourself by soaking 3-4 times daily in a half and half solution of warm water and bacterial soap. Should the condition continue unaffected, seek emergency help right away. Do not be ashamed of the problem. Acquiring a fungal nail infection is not something that you always have control over, nor is it an indication of your cleanliness as a person. Trying to hide the problem, ignoring it, and holding out hope that it goes away can lead to more serious conditions down the road. Better to be vigilant than to be in denial. Worry not should you require surgical attention. The procedure is often out patient and relatively painless, thanks to the fact that the doctor will deaden the affected area via an anesthetic such as lidocaine. He will then use a knife or other surgical instrument to open up any abscesses and relieve the pain. While the procedure sounds very unpleasant, it is one that moves quickly and should not be feared. Follow up. Don't just assume that after the procedure the problem will go away. Keep a close eye on the affected area and continue to soak whenever possible. After a week or two a follow up visit to your doctor is recommended, enabling you to know for certain whether or not you have a clean bill of health. Prevent. Stopping the problems before they start is always the best behavior for fighting the beast known as fungal nail infection. Avoid the aforementioned behaviors that are known to lead to bacterial entry. But rest assured that whatever happens, through vigilance and determination, you will never have to live with the affects of the condition for long. It does not get to run your life if you don't want it to.
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