What should you know about nail pyogenic granuloma treatment?

A pyogenic granuloma, also called a lobular capillary haemangioma, is a small red or purple growth made of overactive blood vessels. Around a nail it may follow minor trauma, irritation, or a break in the skin, and it can grow quickly and bleed after light contact. The name does not mean that pus is present. Other lesions can resemble it, so a clinician should assess the growth before treatment.

Do not squeeze, cut, burn, or repeatedly pick the lesion. Cover it with a clean non-stick dressing if it catches on clothing, and apply steady gentle pressure if it bleeds. A dermatologist may recommend [Curettage And Cautery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/curettage-and-cautery/), a procedure that removes the tissue and treats its base. The method depends on its size, exact position, bleeding, and effect on the nail growth area.

Arrange an appointment for a new bleeding or fast-growing nail-area lump, particularly when its diagnosis is uncertain. Seek urgent help if bleeding does not stop after sustained pressure, or if the finger becomes increasingly painful, swollen, warm, or produces pus. Return for review if the growth comes back, because recurrence can mean that its base needs further treatment or that the diagnosis should be reconsidered.

Does the appearance fit a pyogenic granuloma, or is another lesion possible? Will treatment affect the nail matrix or nail growth? Should the removed tissue be examined? How should I dress the area afterward, and what signs of infection should I watch for?