Common "Nail Infection" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Nail Infection

Nail infection that develops in the edges of the fingernails and toenails is called paronychia. It is the most common bacterial nail infection. The risk factors include injury to the nail, cutting your nails, and constant exposure of your hands to water.

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What causes fungus on the nail beds of my fingers and toes?

Query: Hello doctor, Why do I have fungus on the nail beds of my hands and feet?  Read Full »


Dr. Mahmoud Ahmed Abdelrahman Abouibrahim

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Nail bed fungal infection could be due to either continuous exposure to water or immune deficiency. It is treated with a systemic antifungal for six months and keeping nails dry most of the time. mmune-deficient conditions should be excluded. Please send me a photo o...  Read Full »

Why do I have separation of the nail from the nail bed?

Query: Hi doctor, I am 50 years old female, who went through menopause but otherwise, I am healthy. There is a problem with my nails. Out of 10 nails, six nails have one-third of the nails separated from the nail beds, with a v shape, looking white underneath, the rest of the nails are looking pinkish pale...  Read Full »


Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through your attachment (attachment removed to protect patient identity). You seem to have a condition known as onycholysis, which is characterized by the separation of the nail from its nail bed. Causes could be either a fungal infection (onychomycosis) or ...  Read Full »

Is surgery required for a swollen and painful toe?

Query: Hello doctor, My wife has swelling and pain on her toe (pictures attached). Sometimes, blood and pus also secrete from it. Can you please suggest what we should do? Can this be healed through medicine? Please advise the medicine we should use. Does she require any surgery? Please advise.  Read Full »


Dr. Datta Ram. U.

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have seen the pictures (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Does she have any comorbidities like diabetes? Does she have a fever too? It looks like a condition called paronychia or periungual abscess, an infection of the nail fold and bed. It needs th...  Read Full »

Does nail indentation indicate recurrence of cancer?

Query: Hello doctor, I am a 50-year-old female with stage 1A breast cancer history about seven years ago and treated surgically and with radiation on my right breast. I am on Tamoxifen daily. I was fine since. No other medical conditions. But I have noticed some indentations or slight depressions in my fi...  Read Full »


Dr. Shanza Ikram

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through the case. In my opinion, you are having melanonychia, but at the same time, you have applied nail color as well. There are a number of causes of such melanonychia in your case. It could be due to poor diet, vitamin B12 deficiency, trauma, fungus, dru...  Read Full »

My father has paronychia. How to relieve symptoms?

Query: Hi doctor, My father was diagnosed with acute paronychia on his right toe nine days back. He took tablets Augmentin BD, tablet Vizylac BD, and T- bact ointment for seven days, and that somewhere improved the condition, but the pain and watery-like discharge are there. So help, what to do now?  Read Full »


Dr. Sandhya Narayanan Kutty

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. I have gone through the details and the images (the attachments are removed to protect the patient's identity) provided from your end. Paronychia, as you already might know, is an infection and inflammatory reaction of the tissue on the sides...  Read Full »

What is the yellow growth between my fingernails?

Query: Hello doctor, I have been unable to walk properly for the past few days. I have noticed a yellow growth between the fingernails of my foot; I do not know where this is from. What could be the reason? I want your advice. Kindly help. Thank you.  Read Full »


Dr. Sandhya Narayanan Kutty

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your query. As per the history and image provided (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity), the condition is callus or corn formation, which can form due to footwear. It is common and can be painful. There are treatments available. It is a...  Read Full »

I am having paronychia on my toe for four months and concerned about the skin turning reddish and swollen under the nail. Kindly suggest.

Query: Hello doctor,I am concerned about having paronychia on my toe, and the nail is black or near dark green for four months. I have tried three different types of oral antibiotics, various antifungal and antibiotic creams. Even though it is not painful anymore, the nail is still discolored. The skin is ...  Read Full »


Dr. Suvash Sahu

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand your concern. It seems that you are suffering from paronychia with ingrown nails. Paronychia is a soft tissue infection around a fingernail that begins as cellulitis but that may progress to a definite abscess (accumulation of pus). It is of two types...  Read Full »

My nailbeds are swollen, and I can see red lines on the surfaces of my nails. Kindly help.

Query: Hi doctor, My nail beds were swollen one night after wearing gel nail paints. I removed my nail paints, I saw some red lines on my nails, and my nail beds were swollen. Now, I have white patches and flaky skin. I am not sure if I have a fungal infection on my nails. I took tablet Terbinafine 250 mg ...  Read Full »


Dr. G. S. S. Sandeep

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I saw your nail pictures (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity). It seems to be a nail fungal infection (onychomycosis). We can still have a few other differential diagnoses here. I suggest continuing Terbinafine 250 mg, it usually takes eight to ten we...  Read Full »

I have a major problem with my toenails. Kindly help.

Query: Hello doctor, I have a major problem in my toenails. Kindly look at the picture and suggest a treatment.  Read Full »


Dr. Shekhawat Rajveer Singh

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have seen the picture (attachment removed to protect patient identity). You are suffering from tinea unguium, which is a fungal disease of the nails. You have to keep your nails hygienic. Keep away from chemical irritants especially, soap and detergents as well as...  Read Full »

Why am I having numbness in the nails of my thumb when the skin becomes thick?

Query: Hi doctor,My skin on the side of my thumbnail cracks when it becomes thick and it is not painful. When the skin becomes thick, my thumb starts to have numbness and so I remove the cracked dry outer skin. When I do this, I can see fresh skin under it. I break the skin and it becomes painful and tende...  Read Full »


Dr. Deepti Shukla

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. From this history, it seems that you have developed paronychia. It occurs due to infection of skin around the nails either due to bacteria or candida. It can occur due to trauma or injury to the nails or irritation. As mentioned in the history, washing hands repeatedly ...  Read Full »

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