What to do if your finger breaks. How to treat an abscess on a finger near the nail

Our hands, more than other parts of the body, come into contact with the environment and are exposed to adverse influences. In an unfortunate combination of circumstances, the consequence of constant exposure to the skin of the hands may be inflammation of the finger near the nail . In science, this condition is called paronychia (periungual felon) - a local acute or chronic infection of the periungual tissue of the hands (less commonly, feet). In most cases, as a result of infection of the soft tissue around the nail, suppuration (abscess) forms, which causes acute pain and, if left unattended, can lead to complications.

Skin is a natural barrier that protects the human body from the penetration of pathogenic microbes. When an injury occurs, the integrity of this barrier is disrupted, and microbes freely enter the body, sometimes causing purulent inflammation like an abscess, the so-called abscess or panaritium.

In this case, limited purulent fusion of tissue occurs. Inflammation has clear boundaries. The pus is in a kind of capsule. This inflammation ends with a breakthrough of the capsule and the release of pus to the surface or into the surrounding tissues. Treatment of panaritium on the finger depends on how deep the inflammation has penetrated and which parts of the finger are affected. The prognosis also depends on this.

Causes

A factor that causes inflammation of the tissue around the nail is a violation of the seal between the proximal nail fold and the nail plate. When the nail fold adheres less tightly to the nail, an open area forms between them, where bacteria can easily penetrate, causing a purulent abscess. The causative agent of acute paronychia is Staphylococcus aureus, as well as atypical bacteria, gram-positive and gram-negative rods and cocci. Chronic inflammation of the periungual space is usually caused by fungal infections (candida and other yeast microorganisms).

External factors causing inflammation of the periungual tissues with a purulent focus are associated with constant mechanical traumatic effects to which the hands are exposed:

non-compliance with hygiene rules during nail care (especially when performing trimmed or hardware manicure);
habit of biting nails and biting hangnails;
constant contact of the skin of the hands with water and aggressive cleaning agents and detergents;
thumb sucking in children;
injuries of the periungual fold and nail plate.

Most often, the cause of panaritium is microorganisms of bacterial origin:

staphylococci;
streptococci;
Proteus;
E. coli, etc.

Suppuration occurs due to injury or microtrauma of the fingers. Even a small wound near the nail is enough for infection to penetrate the skin. Reduced immunity, diabetes mellitus, and poor hygiene predispose to the development of inflammation. Panaritium after manicure, pedicure, piercing occurs when the rules for processing instruments are violated.

The risk group for acute paronychia includes cleaners, waiters, cooks, bartenders, nurses, orderlies and other persons who, due to their duties, are forced to constantly come into contact with water and aggressive agents based on sodium sulfate and sulfur.

There are several forms of felon

Skin felon develops with superficial inflammation. This is the mildest form of the disease. Skin felon is divided into paronychia and subungual felon. At paronychia The tissue around the nail is affected. At subungual felon the focus of inflammation is under the nail.
Subcutaneous panaritium is a more severe form of suppuration. The soft tissues of the phalanx of the finger become inflamed. Most often, the terminal phalanx of the finger on the palm side is affected.
With tendinous panaritium, inflammation affects the tendons of the finger, causing them to melt and die.
Bone felon occurs when infection penetrates through an open wound into the bone, or as a complication of improper treatment. This form is considered severe.
The articular form of felon is a purulent inflammation of the joint. This is also a serious lesion and may result in amputation of a finger.
If inflammation affects all the tissues of the finger, bones and joints, this inflammation is called pandactylitis.

Symptoms

Cutaneous panaritium

Subcutaneous panaritium

An abscess in this form penetrates deeper and irritates a larger number of nerve endings, which means the pain is stronger. Finger movements are limited due to pain. The affected phalanx swells, becomes red, the skin over the affected area becomes tense and shiny.

Tendon panaritium

If the tendon apparatus is damaged, it is impossible to move the finger. The pain is severe and runs along the affected tendons. The finger swells, turns red, looks like a sausage, feels hard and hot to the touch. The inflammation also compresses the vessels running along the tendon, causing severe swelling that can spread from the finger to the back of the hand and to the forearm. The skin over the swollen area becomes bright red and even purple. If the swelling spreads to the hand and forearm, movement in the affected arm is severely limited. The consequences can be severe, including disability.

Bone panaritium

When a bone is damaged, inflammation is accompanied by a sharp aching or throbbing pain. The finger swells, it is impossible to bend or straighten it, it is constantly half-bent. The finger feels hot to the touch. The formation of fistulas is characteristic - holes in the skin through which pus breaks out.

Articular felon

This type resembles bone in its course, but the inflammation in this case is initially concentrated around the joint. The swollen joint is hot and painful to the touch. Swelling around the joint is pronounced, movements in the finger are impossible. Sometimes pus breaks out through the fistula. Inflammation quickly covers the entire finger. The pain is severe, sometimes unbearable.

Pandactylitis

With pandactylitis, along with symptoms of inflammation of the finger - pain, pronounced swelling of the affected finger with transfer to the hand and forearm, redness, impaired mobility, general symptoms also occur: fever, feeling unwell, chills. This disease is serious, requiring complex and lengthy treatment, because inflammation affects not only soft tissues, but also bones, joints, and tendons. If the disease is not treated or treated incorrectly, sepsis may develop - a serious complication caused by the pathogen entering the blood.

Attention! If you suffer from diabetes, then if an abscess appears near the nail, as well as if you experience fever, severe pain, or increased body temperature, you should urgently consult a doctor to avoid complications that occur very often with diabetes.

If you see that your thumb is swollen, and the inflammation is severe, accompanied by severe pain, and the size of the affected area increases and spreads along the finger, this should be a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor. Advanced infection and abscess are a dangerous condition fraught with serious complications:

blood poisoning;
osteomyelitis (bone infection);
deformation and loss of the nail;
necrosis of the soft tissues of the finger.

Under unfavorable circumstances, as well as in the absence of proper treatment, acute paronychia can lead to serious complications, including amputation of the finger and hand. Do not ignore alarming symptoms: discharge of pus, change in skin color around the nail. Pronounced pain and the inability to move a finger, pain in the joint of the affected finger indicates that the infection is spreading to healthy tissue.

Treatment of panaritium on the finger

A timely visit to a doctor helps determine how and what to treat an abscess near the fingernail. After conducting an examination and assessing the depth of the lesion, the doctor will decide on a tactic.

Treatment of panaritium on a toe or hand is carried out both on an outpatient basis and in a hospital. Only conservative treatment of panaritium is rarely prescribed, since it is effective only at the very beginning of the disease, when the abscess has not yet formed.

The infection is most dangerous in children. If a child has a festering fingernail or toenail, seeing a doctor is mandatory.

At the first symptoms, baths with a hypertonic 10% sodium chloride solution or a napkin moistened with the solution and applied to the wound help. Such a bandage will draw out pus from the source of inflammation.

The symptom of the first sleepless night is an indicator of the need for surgical treatment. The surgeon opens the abscess, rinses the cavity from pus and applies an aseptic bandage. Immediately after opening the abscess, the patient can be sent home. Subsequently, dressings are made with a hypertonic solution, and observation is carried out.

With subcutaneous panaritium in the wound, drainage is required to prevent the edges of the abscess cavity from closing. Without drainage, purulent contents will begin to accumulate again, and a second incision will be needed.

If a joint, bone or tendon is affected, treatment is necessary in a hospital, in the department of purulent surgery. After opening the source of inflammation, a drainage bandage is applied to ensure a constant drainage of pus until the inflammation subsides. Antibiotics are required. Sometimes there are indications for a more radical operation - amputation of the phalanx of the finger or the entire finger.

A common mistake is the use of ichthyol ointment, Vishnevsky ointment, for felon. Without a pulling effect, these ointments are ineffective both before opening the nail abscess and after.

Folk remedies for the treatment of felon

Panaritium has been known since ancient times. People offer many methods for its treatment, however, when using them, you need to remember that they are most effective in the early stages of inflammation.

Ointments for abscesses on the finger near the nail:

Grate baked garlic and baby soap in equal proportions, mix until a homogeneous mass is formed and apply to the site of inflammation. Bandage it. Change the bandage 3-4 times a day.
Mix honey, flour and grated baked onion in equal quantities, apply the resulting mass to the site of inflammation. Bandage it. Change the bandage 3-4 times a day.
Grate half a bar of laundry soap, finely chop 2 onions, add a couple of tablespoons of butter. Keep in a water bath until the mass becomes homogeneous. Stir, cool. Apply to the abscess and apply a bandage on top.

An effective remedy for abscesses around the nail is rose oil. It should be applied to a napkin and applied to the affected area for an hour, after which the napkin should be changed.

Aloe is also used to treat felon on the finger. Cut a fresh aloe leaf, remove the skin from the smooth side of the leaf and apply to the site of inflammation. Bandage it. Change the bandage 3-4 times a day.

Compresses for the treatment of felon

Pour boiling water over two tablespoons of willow bark. Keep in a water bath for 30 minutes, strain, cool, moisten a napkin in the broth and apply to the sore spot overnight.
Finely grate fresh red beets. Wrap the pulp in a napkin, apply it to the abscess, and bandage it. Leave for 4 hours.

Eucalyptus or calendula prevent suppuration if you catch the process at the very beginning. You need to keep your finger in the bath for 30 minutes several times a day.

Important! Never pierce the area of the abscess with a non-sterile needle, scissors or other sharp object. This may cause the infection to worsen because... By doing this you will introduce new germs and bacteria, causing complications in the process. In the hospital, the doctor will open the abscess under sterile conditions and install a drain to drain the pus, as a result of which you will feel relief. You can also alleviate your condition by using warm hand baths with clean water, immersing your hands in a container for 10-15 minutes. This will help relieve swelling and reduce pain. If after a manicure your finger breaks out chronically, then temporarily avoid trimmed and hardware manicures and consult a dermatologist. The doctor will prescribe antifungal drugs, which, when used regularly, help completely get rid of inflammation. A popular drug for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin of the nails is Clotrimazole - an ointment that should be applied to clean skin of the affected area several times a day.

Prevention

With any hand injury, there is a risk of infection entering the wound and developing inflammation. Preventive measures include careful wound care.

If you have injured your finger, you must:

Wash your hands with soap to remove dirt.
Wash the wound with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Remove, if present, a foreign body. Lubricate the edges of the wound with any skin antiseptic (iodine, brilliant green).
Apply an aseptic bandage or seal the wound with a bactericidal plaster.
Observe the wound. If you experience pain, swelling and redness around the wound, go to the hospital.

Prevention of tissue inflammation near the nail:

Use only individual manicure tools. Do not take other people's or give your manicure accessories to other people, even close relatives. Disinfect instruments thoroughly with alcohol or a UV lamp after each use.
Regularly trim your nails as they grow, monitor the condition of the cuticles, and prevent the appearance of hangnails. Moisturize the skin around your nails without allowing it to dry out.
When working with soil, contact with water and cleaning agents, wear rubber gloves with an absorbent textile lining.
Avoid the habit of biting your nails and biting the skin around your nails.

Despite the fact that an abscess on the finger does not cause a large percentage of complications, timely contact with a medical professional is necessary. In some cases, correct and timely treatment can help save a finger or even life.

An abscess on the finger (the second name of the problem is) is characterized by purulent inflammation of a focal nature and severe pain. Most often, this problem occurs on the fingers of the upper extremities, but medicine knows cases of diagnosing abscesses on the fingers and toes.

The condition in question is characterized by severe symptoms:

at the site of the onset of inflammation, severe pain is felt, which is acute and pulsating in nature;
the skin over the abscess becomes red;
the finger swells and there are problems bending it.

The patient’s body temperature remains within normal limits, and the general condition does not change, but if the infection begins to spread to larger areas of the upper limb, then signs of intoxication may be present, including high body temperature.

Causes of an abscess on the finger

In general, there are quite a lot of reasons that provoke the onset of the development of the condition in question. In some cases, it is enough to carelessly remove a hangnail to cause an infection - a purulent inflammatory process will immediately begin its rapid development. If we highlight the most common causes of an abscess on the finger, then these will be:

How to treat an abscess on a finger

As a rule, the condition in question does not imply the use of full treatment - the focus of purulent inflammation opens up on its own, its contents flow out and the wound heals. But there are times when a person still needs help, and it can be provided both in a hospital setting and at home.

Surgical treatment of an abscess on the finger

Usually, a patient goes to a medical facility only if the inflammation has already become widespread - the entire finger is swollen, it is impossible to bend or straighten it, the pain is throbbing and incessant. Doctors say that their help may also be needed if the abscess on the finger develops aggressively - treatment will be carried out on an outpatient basis.

The doctor makes a small incision in the skin, squeezes out all the purulent contents at the site of inflammation, washes the wound with antiseptic drugs and applies a sterile bandage. Before the operation begins, the doctor can give an anesthetic injection directly into the finger - the patient will feel more confident, and the surgeon will be able to work calmly, without fear that the patient will suddenly jerk his finger. Usually, this is where the provision of qualified medical care ends, but you will need to change the bandage once every 1-2 days. As a rule, after such a surgical intervention, the abscess on the finger quickly disappears.

In some cases, it may be necessary to prevent the infection from progressing.. This applies, for example, to cases where the condition in question has developed in a patient diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. By the way, this is why such people are not recommended to experiment with self-treatment of a finger abscess at home - it is advisable to immediately resort to qualified medical care.

Note:independent use of antibiotics to treat an abscess on the finger is unacceptable - only a doctor can select effective medications that can destroy the pathogenic microorganisms that cause the pathology.

How to get rid of an abscess on a finger at home

In general, there are a lot of remedies from the category of “traditional medicine” for treating the condition in question, and even official medicine recognizes their effectiveness. Doctors only recommend choosing one method of getting rid of an abscess on your finger and checking that you are not allergic to the components included in the chosen remedy.

Homemade compress

Prepare onion peels, milk and calendula. Boil the onion skins in water (from the moment of boiling - 20 minutes), drain the water and add ½ cup of milk to it. Then add 15 drops of calendula tincture (you can buy it ready-made at the pharmacy) and 1-2 cloves of chopped garlic to the mass. Bring the whole mass to a boil and immediately remove from the heat and allow to cool almost completely.

Next, take a piece of fabric, thoroughly moisten it in the prepared solution and cool it, apply it directly to the abscess on the finger for 15-20 minutes. This procedure should be done three times a day until the problem completely disappears. There is no need to make a bandage or form a classic compress.

A compress can also be made from lily tincture - the petals of this plant are placed in a glass vessel and poured with vodka or cognac so that they are completely immersed in the liquid. After waiting a few hours (1-3), we check the readiness of the product - the petals of the lily flower should become completely transparent. Now you can use the finished product for the same non-specific compresses as described above.

Thyme decoction

You need to take 1 tablespoon of thyme (use the culinary section in the store to purchase it), pour in 1 cup of boiling water (about 250 ml) and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. After the finished product has cooled, lower the sore finger into it for 5 minutes. This dive should be repeated 3-4 times at intervals of an hour; the procedure is recommended to be carried out every other day until complete recovery.

In the same way, you can use a decoction of horsetail, which is prepared in the classic way - 1 tablespoon of raw material per glass of water, boil for 5 minutes and cool.

Lemon

An unusual way of using this citrus fruit helps to get rid of severe pain at the very beginning of the progression of an abscess on the finger, and it will be possible to stop the development of a purulent inflammatory process. You need to take one medium-sized lemon, make a shallow hole in it and pour a pinch of regular table salt into it. Now you need to insert the sore finger into the hole made so that the source of the abscess is in the lemon pulp, and hold it for 25 minutes. After one use, the lemon is thrown away, and if you need to repeat the procedure (for example, the next day the inflammation is still progressing), you will need to prepare the lemon again according to the specified recipe.

Comfrey root and chamomile oil

You need to take 1 teaspoon of crushed dry medicinal comfrey root (sold in a pharmacy), add a small amount of hot water (maximum 50 ml) and add 3-5 drops of chamomile oil to the mixture. Now you need to moisten a small fragment of the bandage in the resulting product and wrap it around your finger, covering the area of the abscess.

You can walk with such a “compress” for 1-2 hours; such procedures can be carried out three times a day until the abscess breaks. In the future, when a wound has formed with purulent contents flowing out, the use of medicinal comfrey and chamomile oil is not necessary.

Antibacterial or laundry soap

Finding real, “natural” laundry soap is now very difficult, so you can replace it with antibacterial soap. The soap needs to be foamed, then you need to add hot water to the foam (remove it in a separate bowl) and dip your finger with the abscess in there for 15 minutes. Such procedures should be done 3-4 times a day, each time preparing a new solution.

This method of treating an abscess on a finger will be effective only in the first hours of the formation of an abscess, when the first symptoms appear - redness of the skin and throbbing pain.

Tamarind juice

This remedy is sold in stores selling oriental goods, so it is worth purchasing it in advance - tamarind juice has a long shelf life, and an abscess on the finger can happen to anyone at any time. You just need to lubricate the abscess with tamarind juice, and liberally until complete recovery occurs.

If we adhere to the exact tactics of treating the condition in question according to Eastern healers, then in parallel with treating the abscess with tamarind juice, it is worth applying steamed figs to the sore spot. This fruit needs to be cut lengthwise and steamed over steam (for example, over the spout of a kettle). Apply with a cut to the abscess and leave for 40-60 minutes, and in total such procedures need to be done 3-4 per day.

Aloe and tea tree oil

These components “work” most effectively when treating a toe abscess. You need to take an aloe leaf, peel it and soak it in tea tree oil. The leaf is tied to the abscess and is not removed during the day.

In the evening, remove the leaf from the finger, treat the area of the abscess with any disinfectant and apply a clean plantain leaf (it must be fresh) or a leaf of white cabbage to it - they will treat the abscess on the finger at night. As a rule, 2 days of such procedures are enough for the abscess on the toe to disappear.

It is worth remembering that in no case should you open abscesses on your fingers yourself using needles, scissors and knives - the likelihood of infection of the wound surface is very high, and the associated infection will need to be treated for a long time and in a hospital setting. If the abscess has opened on its own, then all of the above methods immediately become irrelevant - the patient must only regularly treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide and make sure that dust and dirt do not get into it, which can be done by applying a bandage.

Note:If an abscess on the finger begins to develop and home treatment does not bring positive results after 2-3 days of regularly performed procedures, then you need to seek qualified medical help.

An abscess on a finger is excruciatingly painful and quite dangerous. The condition in question cannot be ignored; opening a purulent lesion on your own or trying to squeeze out the contents from it is strictly not recommended. Only a competent approach to solving the problem will give a quick recovery.

Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical observer, therapist of the highest qualification category

Treatment of a sore toe near the nail can be surgical or conservative, depending on the severity of the disease. Therapy is carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor. This is especially true for children whose immune system has not yet formed, and suppuration occurs very quickly. Before moving on to the question of how to treat the inflamed area, it is necessary to find out why an abscess appears on the toe and what its symptoms are.

Causes and symptoms of panaritium

The disease when an abscess occurs on the finger near the nail is called panaritium. It is infectious and abscessive in nature and affects the periungual tissues. The main cause of suppuration is a violation of the seal between the nail plate and the nail fold. In the vast majority of cases, the abscess is observed on the big toe. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the area between the toes and other areas of the leg.

For what reasons can the seal between the nail plate and the roller be broken? This:

ingrown nail;
hangnails;
bruises and finger injuries;
sloppy pedicure;
fungal skin diseases.

There are also cases where the cause of panaritium of the big toe was a removed wart.

When pathogenic bacteria - staphylococcus and streptococcus - enter the wound, it becomes infected and suppurates, accompanied by severe pain. Often inflammation of the toe occurs with weak immunity. The development of panaritium can be provoked by cancer, diabetes mellitus, and systemic pathologies of connective tissue.

The disease has two forms: acute and chronic. In the acute form, a rapid development of a bacterial infection and rapid painful suppuration of the finger near the nail occurs. The occurrence of a chronic form is associated with the entry of yeast bacteria into the periungual area. It develops slowly: the inflammatory process occurs gradually, and the area near the nail may not swell and turn red immediately.

In addition to redness and swelling, a person with felon experiences the following symptoms:

severe, throbbing pain;
increased temperature in the inflamed finger, sometimes in the whole body;
swelling of the skin;
skin growth;
impaired motor function of the finger (flexion-extension).

If your toe breaks out near the nail, treatment should not be delayed under any circumstances. This is fraught with serious consequences, such as blood poisoning. If whitlow is caused by an ingrown toenail, you need to get rid of it immediately.

Foot baths

How to treat panaritium? The appointment is made by the doctor after examining the wound and conducting tests. For example, pus from under the nail is cultured to identify a specific pathogen. If a person is determined to cure himself, then he should know that he cannot open an abscess on his own. This is doubly dangerous when it comes to felon in a child. An abscess can only be removed by a specialist under appropriate conditions and with a sterile instrument.

Traditional medicine offers many methods for treating finger abscess, which in some cases turn out to be very effective and efficient for any form of the disease. These are compresses, baths, ointments and tinctures.

To quickly get rid of the existing problem, it is recommended to use several methods at once.

Baths for an abscess of the finger near the toenail:

Soda. Add baking soda to warm water in a ratio of 100 g per 1 liter of water. The foot with the sore toe is placed in it for 10 minutes. If necessary, repeat the bath after 2-3 hours.
With potassium permanganate. The water should have a pale pink color. The duration of the procedure is 10-15 minutes.
With garlic. To prepare such a bath you will need a head of garlic, 25 g of soda and 10 g of sea buckthorn oil. Chop the vegetable, add a little warm water, oil and soda and mix. Leave the mixture for 3 minutes and pour into a container with warm water. The foot is immersed in the liquid for half an hour, and hot water must be added periodically to prevent the bath from getting cold.
With soda and salt. This foot bath is recommended for ingrown toenails and skin tags. Pour warm water into a basin, pour 2 tsp into it. soda and salt, mix. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes.

Therapeutic compresses

Compresses made from medicinal herbs and other natural ingredients are an effective remedy for abscesses. If the finger is inflamed, they will relieve swelling, promote the maturation of the abscess and free the periungual space from pus. It is better to do them at night, because it is recommended to keep them on the inflamed area for several hours.

Grated raw beets will help prevent suppuration and relieve inflammation of the nail. It is placed on gauze and tied tightly to the damaged area.

If your finger breaks out, baked onions are used to speed up the breakthrough of pus. You need to bake a small vegetable and apply it to the abscess, then bandage it tightly. Baked onions are often combined with wheat flour and honey. Everything is mixed in equal proportions, applied to the big toe and secured with a bandage.

Aloe is a good antiseptic. The cut part of the sheet is applied to the sore finger and secured. The aloe will draw out the pus under the toenail. Plantain has the same effect. It is crushed and applied to the sore spot. Therapeutic compresses are changed several times a day, and after each abscess and growth are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or chamomile tincture. To avoid spreading the infection to other parts of the body, do not forget to wash your hands after the procedure.

Drug treatment

Among pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of abscessed fingers, Vishnevsky ointment, Levomekol and ichthyol ointment are used.

How to remove pus using Vishnevsky ointment? The composition of the known substance includes: xeroform, tar and castor oil, which complement and enhance each other’s effect. For more than a century, it has been hastily used to treat abscesses. Its creator is the great scientist and surgeon A.V. Vishnevsky, who conducted research in the field of purulent processes. The ointment dries, does not allow the wound to rot further, improves blood circulation and accelerates healing. If your finger is swollen and is about to tear, a small amount of ointment is applied to gauze folded in 4 layers, then applied to the inflamed area and secured. Keep the bandage for 10-12 hours. After removal, the periungual space, including the growth, is treated with a disinfectant solution (for example, medical alcohol) and Vishnevsky ointment is applied again. Ichthyol ointment is used in the same way.

If the abscess has ruptured, you need to carefully remove the pus, and then treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide.

Levomekol has a “2 in 1” effect: it destroys pathogenic bacteria (prevents the finger from fester) and restores damaged tissue. Apply like previous ointments. Natural oils help treat an abscess on the finger: sea buckthorn, oregano, calendula, castor oil.

Antimicrobial and antiseptic creams and ointments can be alternated with herbal compresses. This will help quickly draw out the pus from your finger and get rid of the infection.

When using traditional recipes, you need to pay special attention to the tolerance of the components: allergic reactions are possible. If treatment for a sore toe near the nail does not bring a noticeable result, you should seek professional medical help.

Operational measures and prevention

A neglected panaritium leads to the development of an acute abscess. When the infection spreads widely into the deep layers of the skin, when the nail has already peeled off, surgical intervention is necessary. The surgeon opens the abscess and removes the accumulated pus. If nail removal is required, the operation is performed under local anesthesia. Dead tissue is also cut out. Then the doctor treats the wound on the finger with antibacterial drugs and applies an antiseptic bandage.

Proper nail care is the key to your health. To prevent your toes from becoming inflamed, you need to fulfill a number of simple requirements:

monitor foot hygiene;
do not use cuticle softeners;
use disinfected instruments for pedicure;
cut your nails after taking a foot bath;
use only your own towel and slippers when visiting swimming pools and saunas;
use antibacterial soap during hygiene procedures;
prevent the development of fungal diseases on the skin of the feet.

Don’t forget about the available methods to boost your immunity. Play sports, balance your diet and give up bad habits. Then the risk of nail infection will be minimized.

Surgeons call “paronychia victims” patients who attend an appointment after the first sleepless night accompanied by pain. When a toe breaks, an acute purulent inflammatory process can lead to serious complications, including the loss of a limb. Streptococci, staphylococci, mixed pathogenic flora are dangerous pathogens. The infectious disease is called paronychia. An abscess is caused by fungal diseases of the feet, unsuccessful pedicures, splinters, and microtraumas. It can become a harbinger of diabetes, provokes arthritis, and affects metabolism. Treatment should begin as soon as possible.

The clinical picture is characterized by local redness, throbbing pain, swelling, and inflammation. The periungual epidermis is filled with a cloudy yellowish liquid. There is itching and burning sensation. Gradually, the inflammation moves into the deeper tissues of the finger. First aid measures:

Compress based on alcohol or potassium permanganate;
Reducing the load on the foot;
Treating the nail with an antiseptic;
Taking an antipyretic drug;
Limit contact with water.

A doctor will help you distinguish inflammation from a fungal infection. Abscesses near the nail require qualified help to avoid sepsis. Depending on the infectious complications and the degree of neglect, a set of measures is selected. The disease is completely curable.

Treatment of an abscess at the infiltration stage involves drug intervention. Antibacterial - novocaine blockade is prescribed for immunodeficiency or diabetes mellitus. Minor inflammation can be eliminated at home. A large abscess should be shown to a doctor. Baths are taken with a water temperature of 38. The foot is immersed in the liquid for 15-20 minutes. Treatment is repeated 4 times a day. The main thing is to wipe the limb dry after the procedure.

After the purulent capsule breaks through, antiseptics are used first. They minimize the consequences. Iodine preparations - effective nail treatment:

Iodovidone. Suppresses gram-positive bacteria, fungi, viruses. A 1% solution is used;
Iodopyrone. Complex of polyvinylpyrrolidone with iodine. Stops the abscess. Active action against mixed microflora;
Sulyodopyrone. Foamy liquid for treating wounds under a bandage. Relieves inflammation on the leg. Ingredients: povidone, iodine, potassium iodide. Bactericidal action. Used in surgery. Formation of a protective film on the finger.

It is important to keep the wound and surrounding skin clean. In addition to iodine, they use:

Dioxidine. Acts against pathogenic bacteria. With its help, the ruptured abscess near the nail is washed out.
Furagin. Antimicrobial agent. Used topically in the form of a 1% solution. Acts on staphylococci.
Miramistin. Used for minor suppuration on the finger. New generation antiseptic. The irrigation and rinsing method is used.

The use of ointments is the next step in conservative treatment. The abscess near the nail should be covered with a thin layer of the drug. Be sure to apply a sterile dressing. The basic products of therapy are: Vishnevsky ointment, Levomikol, ichthyol ointment. It needs to be treated locally.

In addition to antiseptic formulas, antibiotic ointments are used:

Synthomycin liniment. For topical use. Apply to the abscess. The main substance is chloramphenicol. Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effect. Valid on all stamps. Accelerates the healing of wounds on the finger.
Tetracycline ointment. Broad spectrum antibiotic. Active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Do not apply to nails affected by fungus.
Erythromycin ointment. Acts on soft tissue infections. The duration of treatment is about two weeks. Allergic reactions are possible.

If the abscess near the nail continues to bother, the capsule does not rupture, they resort to surgical intervention.

Scalpel, laser, cold

Suppuration caused by staphylococcus is difficult to treat with antibiotics. Antibacterial therapy is ineffective. The surgeon has to treat the abscess. The operation is performed under local anesthesia. The source of inflammation is opened, and dead tissue of the nail plate is excised. The postoperative wound is drained. To avoid infectious complications, the affected finger is treated using pulsating jet, ultrasound, and vacuum methods.

Clinical effectiveness is secured by film-forming aerosols:

Dioxysol. Suppresses 92.5% microbial activity;
Sulyodovisol. Reduced bacterial growth on the leg;
Tsimezol. Moderate osmotic effect.

An abscess can be treated with laser therapy. The advantages of a highly modern method are the minimization of unpleasant sensations. The technology gives a cosmetic effect: there are no scars left. It is assumed that it is possible to treat the nail without deformation. The technique assumes:

Reduce damage. The edges of the wound are welded, no blood is released;
No tissue swelling. Minimum rehabilitation period. No additional treatment is required;
Eliminating the risk of re-suppuration. Wound sterility.

Cryotherapy is the best accompanying method of surgery. The main means of recovery: cold and rest. A decrease in the sensitivity of nerve endings on the finger and the release of dopamine make painful procedures easily tolerated. The effect is carried out until numbness appears, which quickly passes, and a feeling of warmth appears. Cooling is carried out 5 times after cleaning the wound. The course of rehabilitation procedures is several times a day for about 20 minutes. The abscess is eliminated with liquid nitrogen.

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The initial stage of the disease requires treatment with alternative methods. In addition to tinctures of calendula, eucalyptus, and hawthorn, healers recommend a number of anti-inflammatory procedures. Baths help treat your finger:

Compresses help treat abscesses in between water procedures. Complete sterility of dressing materials is required. The procedure is carried out before bedtime. Weak fixation bandage. Inflammations on the legs are treated with furatsilin solution.

The onion is cut in half and baked in the oven. Apply it to the sore spot and secure it. The dressing is changed every 3 hours.
Nail treatment is carried out using kombucha. The bandage is left until the morning. Course - 5 days. Helps avoid plate deformation;
Raw chicken egg white is mixed with medical alcohol until flakes form. Strain, squeeze, wrap in gauze. Leave on finger for 6 hours.
The cabbage leaf is doused with boiling water and beaten. Soak in a solution of potassium permanganate. Lubricate with sour cream. Apply to the abscess.

If you experience sudden pain attacks, the temperature rises, and the inflammation does not subside, immediate intervention by a medical specialist is required. Self-medication procedures should be stopped!

Precautionary measures

Serious problems begin with minor injuries, treatment of the abscess confirms this. Minimizing the consequences is the main task of prevention. To avoid sepsis, curvature of the nail plate, and inflammation, precautions should be followed. They sound like this:

Avoiding the entry of pyogenic bacteria into the cavity of microdamages means eliminating a leg abscess. The wounds are lubricated with iodine solution. A sterile dressing is applied.
Antiseptics and asepsis prohibit cutting the cuticle on the finger. The procedure injures the nail fold. Minor abrasions occur. Treatment with an antiseptic is desirable. Unsterile pedicure tools can cause abscesses.
Yeast in the form of a supplement contains B vitamins. They are used in the treatment of purulent diseases. Act on staphylococci. Nail treatment is preventable.
Controlling blood sugar levels and restoring metabolism are reliable protection against complications.

Orthopedists advise avoiding tight shoes. The foot should not be compressed, the big toe can move freely. The presence of an antibacterial insole will stop the development of pathogenic microflora. Microcirculation of air is ensured by natural materials. Taking care of your feet becomes part of prevention.

Awareness of choice

A wide selection of drugs and techniques does not replace medical consultations. The problem of delayed diagnosis is quite capable of leading to surgery on the finger, and will serve as the beginning of the development of arthritis or thrombophlebitis. The wait-and-see approach forces you to endure the pain until the last minute. Sometimes it's too late.

Long-term conservative treatment should show positive dynamics. If this does not happen, then the resistance of microorganisms requires a surgical approach. A small incision under local anesthesia or a major operation depends on the degree of neglect. First my finger gets sore. Then my leg breaks out.

After opening the purulent capsule, the choice again arises: how to rehabilitate? Traditional medicine or pharmaceuticals? The main thing is that you do not have to re-treat the abscess. Both categories are suitable for restoration. The main thing is complete sterility of the wound and the tissues around it.

New generation antiseptics or cabbage leaves - let your doctor advise. Examining the finger, he recommends a course of recovery and prevention. The measures are aimed at strengthening the immune system, restoring and scarring tissue. Then the choice of physiotherapy. It is important to understand the treatment regimen for such an insidious infectious phenomenon as an abscess. The information will help you decide.