BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

Bacterial infections to the nails, a very common cause to nail deformity, can be identified by swelling, pain, discoloration of nails, appearance of pus under nails and deformation of nails. Nails may appear red in colour while infected by bacteria.

These symptoms occur when bacteria enter in to the skin that surrounds the nail. Nails are so designed by Mother Nature so as to resist any probable invasion of bacteria under normal circumstances. However cracks and other injuries to cuticles or to the skin under the nails may open a gate way to bacteria to infect the nails and the protected areas under it.

Common causes for bacterial infections

• Aggressive filing of nails using sharp metallic objects while under going manicure or pedicure. Rude file of nails cause damage to the nail bed and tips thereby creating cracks which would enable the bacteria to attack.
• Digging of the sides of the nail using sharp tools to remove dirt from the sides and under side of the nails. This can open up small cracks on the sides and underside of the nails which can result in bacterial infections and once they enter the skin it will start attacking the healthy tissues and there by causing acute pain and discomfort in the affected areas.
• External shocks and injuries resulting in cracks and breaks on the nails allows the entry of bacteria into the body thus causing infections.

Bacterial infections that affect the nail folds are clinically known as bacterial paronychia. This may cause acute pain in the affected area. Swelling, erythema and discomfort in and around the nails are the most commonly seen symptoms of bacterial paronychia. Presence of pus in the affected area is another common symptom of the disease. It is not safe to treat this condition without consulting a doctor. Bacterial paronychia some times requires drainage of the pus accumulated in the affected area.
Chronic paronychia and some other types of nail bacterial infections normally appear as a result of recurring nail-fold inflammation. Allergic reaction to the skin around the nails caused by the use of some cosmetics products, excessive dryness caused to the skin around the nails by frequent use of acetone based nail polish removers and following unscientific methods for manicure and pedicure can be cited as the most common causes that lead to chronic paronychia.