Nail pain

Nail pain can cause many problems and turn into unpleasant consequences for those who ignore it. But a certain percentage of patients do so, believing that the pain will go away on its own, or they self-medicate, using "grandmother's" methods. Many even wonder why we need these horny plates on the ends of our fingers?

But nails perform an important function. They protect the phalanges of the fingers from damage, often taking the blow themselves. Also, by the change in the color of the nail, one can judge the appearance of diseases that are not directly related to them: problems with the liver, gall bladder, infections, fungal diseases. The nails of heavy smokers also turn yellow, due to the effects of nicotine. Thus, these thin formations are not so powerful. It is not surprising that complaints about painful sensations in the nail are a common occurrence. What are the causes of pain in the nail?

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What causes nail pain?

Injuries

As already mentioned, the nail in our body is a kind of protector, an avant-garde, so the probability of a tear or pinching here is quite high. There are many reasons for this: a load falling on the leg or arm, a strong blow on a hard surface. Pain in the nail in such situations can be quite intrusive and long-lasting if you do not take the necessary measures. In some cases, a kind of bruise appears on the plate - it darkens. This is not a pleasant sight, and you will have to wait a long time for it to disappear - until the nail is renewed (and this can take several months). In some situations, the nail may die off.

If after receiving an injury there is a small hematoma, the finger tissue is not damaged, it has not changed shape, you can try to treat the bruise at home. Raise the injured arm/leg - do not let the blood flow to the nails. Be sure to wash the wounds to avoid infection, it is advisable to do this with soap. The damaged area should be smeared with an antibiotic ointment, and then covered with a bandage. Also take an anti-inflammatory drug.

If there is damage to a significant part of the nail, perhaps some areas are missing, or the finger itself is affected, you should immediately seek medical help. However, do not try to tear the nail off completely!

Ingrown toenail

Another name for this disease is onychocryptosis. It can be caused by various factors:

• Presence of flat feet;
• Fungal infections;
• Bad pedicure - cutting nails deeper than the end of the toe;
• Congenital predispositions;
• Uncomfortable shoes, etc.

When a nail grows in, the pain will be almost unbearable, subsiding somewhat when at rest, and increasing when walking and putting on shoes. There may also be bleeding and pus, and swelling of the injured finger.

Since doctors encounter this problem quite often, new methods of treating ingrown nails appear every year. So, now the following are used:

• Laser correction.
• Covering corners with acrylic.
• Using special brackets.

There are also many folk methods to get rid of the problem. Thus, a common piece of advice is to use warm baths with potassium permanganate and soda, after which the ingrown edge of the nail must be cut off. However, it is still better to make an appointment with a doctor when this common disease appears, so that the pain in the nail does not become a real nightmare for you.

In order to avoid ingrown nails, you should choose comfortable and soft shoes, do your pedicure correctly (don’t make round edges), and contact trusted specialists.

Fungal infections

Often, they are the ones that provoke pain in the nail. Nail fungus is scientifically called onychomycosis. Almost every fifth person in the world suffers from this disease. The disease is caused by various infections that can be transmitted to you when visiting a swimming pool or sauna. Moreover, the dermatophytes that cause it are distinguished by their exceptional tenacity and ability to reproduce.

The disease can be identified by the following symptoms:

• Yellowness and whiteness of the nail;
• The appearance of inflammation;
• Separation from the nail bed.

If you have any concerns about the presence of an infection, you should immediately consult a doctor and begin treatment.

Doctors often use such drugs as irtaconazole, griseofulvin, terbaflibine. However, it should be noted that the course often lasts more than one week, the effect of the treatment may not appear immediately. Also, these drugs have side effects, so they must be used in doses and only with a doctor's prescription. There are also folk methods of treating fungus, however, they are often ineffective. So, folk healers often use propolis and kombucha.

To prevent fungal infections, follow all the rules of personal hygiene, avoid excessive sweating of the feet, wear slippers in swimming pools and saunas, and try not to wear other people's shoes.

Nail pain can sometimes be difficult to prevent, but its rapid treatment is entirely in your hands!