Paronychia is a bacterial or fungal skin infection that develops around the nail. There are several effective treatments for paronychia, including home remedies, antibiotics, and antifungal medication. The treatment of choice depends on the extent of the infection. Here are some details about the treatments for paronychia:
Home Remedies:
- Soaking in warm water
- Applying lemon and salt
Antibiotics:
- Dicloxacillin
- Clindamycin
- Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (Augmentin)
- Cephalexin
Antifungal Medication:
- Clotrimazole
- Ketoconazole
- Itraconazole
- Terbinafine
Most patients do not require antibiotics for a simple paronychia. Chronic paronychia may require weeks or months of treatment. It is important to keep the hands dry and clean throughout. If a person’s job requires their hands to be wet or exposed to germs, they may need to take time off. In chronic paronychia, the patient should be instructed to avoid trauma to the hands as much as possible. Wearing gloves is advised for manual workers. Topical anti-inflammatory agents, steroids, or calcineurin inhibitors are the mainstay of therapy for chronic paronychia. Topical steroids should be the first-line treatment for patients with chronic paronychia.
