Painful peeling skin around the nails: safe home care

A torn hangnail, cracked cuticle, manicure injury, or repeated wet exposure can leave raw skin that hurts when touched. Increasing throbbing pain with swelling, warmth, or pus suggests infection around the nail. A tender lump may need assessment for a boil or collection of pus. Redness spreading beyond the finger can be cellulitis. A one-sided blistering, burning rash has a different pattern and can occur with shingles.

Wash with clean water and mild soap, then pat dry. Do not bite, pull, pierce, or squeeze the peeling area. Trim a loose hangnail with clean clippers and cover the crack with a small dressing. A warm, clean compress can be soothing; replace the dressing when wet or dirty. Keep detergents and solvents away from the area and avoid manicures until it heals. Do not use leftover antibiotics or strong antiseptics without advice.

Get prompt medical help for pus, rapidly increasing pain, spreading redness, fever, red streaks, numbness, or difficulty moving the finger. A clinician may need to treat a pocket of pus with abscess drainage, prescribe medicine for a diagnosed infection, or address an ingrown nail. Seek urgent advice for blisters near the eye or a widespread blistering rash.

Does this look like a torn nail fold, infection, or another problem? Is there a collection that needs drainage? Which dressing or pain-relief option is suitable for me, and what changes mean I should return?