What should you know about thickened skin under fingernails?

The tissue beneath a nail is close to the nail plate, so swelling or thickening can alter the nail’s shape, colour, or attachment. Repeated picking, manicures, trauma, pressure, and moisture can irritate this area. Infection may cause tenderness, drainage, discoloration, or separation, while inflammatory skin conditions can affect both the nail and nearby skin. Atopic Dermatitis may cause itchy, dry, inflamed skin around the hands and can contribute to scratching. A single nail that changes progressively needs an in-person look because several conditions can appear alike.

Keep the nail trimmed but do not dig underneath it or force back attached tissue. Pause biting, picking, artificial nails, and aggressive cuticle work while the area is irritated. Keep hands clean and dry, use gloves for wet or chemical tasks, and moisturise surrounding skin with a bland product. Do not share nail tools. Avoid covering drainage with an occlusive product, and seek advice about the right treatment rather than using leftover medication.

Seek prompt medical help for throbbing pain, warmth, spreading redness, pus, bleeding, or a nail that lifts quickly. Book an assessment for a persistent dark streak, a new lump, progressive distortion, or thickening affecting one nail without a clear injury. People with diabetes, poor circulation, reduced sensation, or reduced immunity should seek advice early for nail or fingertip changes.

Ask whether the change involves the nail plate, nail bed, or nearby skin; whether a sample or other test is useful; and how to protect the finger during recovery. Mention trauma, manicures, artificial nails, itch, pain, odour, drainage, colour change, and the order in which changes appeared.