Paronychia After a Pedicure: What to Know

Paronychia is inflammation or infection in the skin beside a fingernail or toenail. A sharp tool, aggressive cuticle trimming, biting, or a small break in the skin can let germs enter. Tenderness, redness, warmth, swelling, or fluid beside the nail are typical clues. Moisture trapped under polish or in footwear may keep the fold irritated. A yeast-related process can also affect a repeatedly wet nail fold; see Skin Yeast Infection for related information.

Remove rings from an affected finger before swelling increases, and keep the nail fold clean and gently dry. Avoid cutting the cuticle, squeezing a blister, puncturing the skin, or applying leftover antibiotics. Pause polish, gel, acrylic nails, and further pedicures until the skin has settled. A clinician may recommend local care, Antibiotics For Skin Infection, or drainage when a pocket of pus has formed.

Seek prompt medical assessment for spreading redness, worsening throbbing pain, marked swelling, pus, fever, red streaks, or trouble bending a finger or walking normally. Arrange earlier care if you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced immune function, or a wound that is not improving. A collection of pus may need Abscess Drainage rather than home squeezing.

Ask whether the nail fold is irritated, bacterial, or yeast-related; whether any pus needs drainage; which products should be stopped; and how to protect the area during future salon visits.