topic Re: Is This an Infection? in Beauty

Is This an Infection?

Quinny — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 20:53:46 GMT

I've probably waited too long to do anything about this, but... Under my fingernail (ring finger) it started turning yellow. It didn't hurt or bother me, so I figured I had just bumped my nail on something and it was reacting. Now, the yellow has spread all the way across my nail and the fingernail and begun lifting itself off of the nailbed. It has a couple big horizontal bumps or ridges going across the nail as well. I caught the place where the nail was coming up off of the bed and tore it about 1/16th of an inch toward the center of my nail. Still, it doesn't hurt, itch, smell bad...it just looks hideous. Have any of you ever experienced this? Is this an infection?

Re: Is This an Infection?

blackhole99 — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:06:51 GMT

I can't imagine that you don't have any pain in that nail bed, but you know how you feel. I would soak the finger in warm water and epsom salts put an antibiotic cream on it and make a doctors appointment.

Re: Is This an Infection?

Baileybut — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:07:48 GMT

I would have Dr check it out asap!

Re: Is This an Infection?

suzyQ3 — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:15:54 GMT

One of the most common causes of yellow fingernails is a fungus infection. That would also account for the lifting of the nail that you describe. Although rare, it can indicate one of a few diseases.

You should see a dermatologist.

Re: Is This an Infection?

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:34:08 GMT

@Quinny About a year ago I was rearranging furniture in our living room and I whacked my big toe into the leg of my heavy sofa table. I didn't think much of it at the time, but some time later I noticed my toe nail started looking the same way. It didn't hurt either so I left it alone and kept an eye on it. As time went on, I could see it lifting more and more. Unable to leave it alone anymore, I examined it a little more closely only to find out that the entire nail was detatched and lifted except on one border. I clipped it as close to the border as I could and once the nail was removed, I discovered a new nail had already been growing underneath. Today that nail is still a little shorter than it should be, but attached, pink, growing and approaching normal shape and size.

What I'm getting at is that this seems to be a natural reaction when there's some kind of trauma to fingernails and toenails. It's called "Onycholysis". I suspect you'll experience something similar to what I did, but good for you that fingernails recover and regrow faster than toenails.

Onycholysis

Re: Is This an Infection?

suzyQ3 — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:49:37 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@Quinny About a year ago I was rearranging furniture in our living room and I whacked my big toe into the leg of my heavy sofa table. I didn't think much of it at the time, but some time later I noticed my toe nail started looking the same way. It didn't hurt either so I left it alone and kept an eye on it. As time went on, I could see it lifting more and more. Unable to leave it alone anymore, I examined it a little more closely only to find out that the entire nail was detatched and lifted except on one border. I clipped it as close to the border as I could and once the nail was removed, I discovered a new nail had already been growing underneath. Today that nail is still a little shorter than it should be, but attached, pink, growing and approaching normal shape and size.

What I'm getting at is that this seems to be a natural reaction when there's some kind of trauma to fingernails and toenails. It's called "Onycholysis". I suspect you'll experience something similar to what I did, but good for you that fingernails recover and regrow faster than toenails.

Onycholysis

Makes total sense. I think I've had the same experience, too. This would be good news for the OP as opposed to an infection.

Re: Is This an Infection?

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:57:25 GMT

One more thing....

If it was an infection, I think the surrounding skin would be red, swollen, tight, tender, and hot, with maybe a white spot where puss is ready to pop out.

Re: Is This an Infection?

suzyQ3 — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 22:04:23 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
One more thing....

If it was an infection, I think the surrounding skin would be red, swollen, tight, tender, and hot, with maybe a white spot where puss is ready to pop out.

Definitely possible with a bacterial infection, but the type of infection I referred to in my first post was fungal. That's a whole different beast that doesn't present in the same way. The symptoms usually include a change in color and a lifting from the nail bed. Nasty things to get rid of, too.

Fortunately for the OP, though, I'm pretty sure that nail fungus is much more common on toenails, simply because they're kept in an environment that fungi love. And fungi love a couple of my toenails.

Re: Is This an Infection?

Mothertrucker — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 22:08:05 GMT

Have you tried soaking it in half peroxide and half cider vinegar? I did this when the same thing happened to mine...it cleared up and never came back..it was my pinky finger...I used to put it in a shot glass, and just submerge the one finger a couple minutes a few times a day.....

btw, a fungal infection is rarely red and puss-y

Re: Is This an Infection?

nana59 — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 22:56:14 GMT

I have psoriatic arthritis, and what you're describing is a symptom....thought it was a fungal infection until doctor diagnosed it.....

Re: Is This an Infection?

ID2 — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 10:33:37 GMT

@quinny wrote:
I've probably waited too long to do anything about this, but... Under my fingernail (ring finger) it started turning yellow. It didn't hurt or bother me, so I figured I had just bumped my nail on something and it was reacting. Now, the yellow has spread all the way across my nail and the fingernail and begun lifting itself off of the nailbed. It has a couple big horizontal bumps or ridges going across the nail as well. I caught the place where the nail was coming up off of the bed and tore it about 1/16th of an inch toward the center of my nail. Still, it doesn't hurt, itch, smell bad...it just looks hideous. Have any of you ever experienced this? Is this an infection?

OP why haven't you gone to the doctor? Why did you come here to ask if what you described is infected? We are not doctors. What you need to do is make an appt with your doctor to get to the bottom of this problem that is bothering you.

Re: Is This an Infection?

Nataliesgramma — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 10:37:28 GMT

sounds like it could be a fungal infection....best to have your Dr look at it at this point though...

Re: Is This an Iision?

juperier — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 12:08:44 GMT

First I agree with the other comments that it can't hurt to have a doctor look at it. A physician (or other medical professional) is the only only person qualified to make a diagnosis.

I also agree that the yellowish color is consistant with a fungus. There are many things that could be causing the onycholysis (nail lifting) and it's very easy to get bacterial and/or fungal infections in the space between the nail plate and nail bed once the nail has lifted.

I recently had onycholysis involving several fingernails and chose to take care of it myself because I knew that it was most likely due to nail products I had used AND was very minor. Only a short portion at the tip of each nail was involved. The detached portion was white and I never developed any noticeable ridges. Even tho I think my nails grow fairly quickly, it has taken way longer than I would have expected for my nails to return to normal.

Re: Is This an Infection?

Silver Lining — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 13:20:00 GMT

I've never seen or heard of anything like that but am interested in knowing what a doctor says about it. Let us know what happens.

Re: Is This an Infection?

Trix — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 14:56:48 GMT

Quinny, it's never too late to have a doctor take a look at something. Even if there is no pain, itch, unusal smell, the fact that you state it looks hideous is reason enough to consult your doctor.

Re: Is This an Infection?

Quinny — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 04:45:54 GMT

I'm sorry if my not seeing a doctor upset you so much. I'd had it for a while and it was just a small area of the nail. Since it didn't hurt, didn't itch and wasn't sensitive I really didn't think that much about it. Just within the last couple of weeks, it has gotten bad looking, so I just thought I'd ask here thinking someone might have had something similar and treated with a home remedy. Also, I didn't say it was infected, but rather inquired if it could be one, as I said seeing if someone else may have had it.

I would not assume to find a physician here, and that was not my intent on posting this.

Re: Is This an Infection?

Karina777 — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 14:08:02 GMT

It sounds like you have a fungal infection. you can try over the counter ointments, however, it is very difficult to eliminate completely. Your MD can give you a script for an oral medication that needs to be taken for three months, but blood work is usually needed to check liver function. Definately contact your MD because it will continue to spread throughout the nail if not treated.

Re: Is This an Infection?

Sunnycorle — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 14:28:54 GMT

Sounds like a fungus and you should go see a doctor for it asap. It won't get better without a doc's help. I had one on a nail years ago and tried to treat it with over the counter and the only thing that worked was seeing a dermatologist and he cut off alot of the nail and treated it and it healed quick and has been perfect since. I remember I suffered along time before seeing the doc so don't wait on it. I think I got it from a nail salon but this was at least 12 years ago.

Re: Is This an Infection?

apple1964 — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 14:54:53 GMT

Don't fool around with this... see a doctor everyone is different and I would not take any medical advice from unknown people on a shopping community forum. JMHO!

Re: Is This an Infection?

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 15:21:13 GMT

OP, I'm dumbfounded that you haven't see some sort of medical professional!

At the very least, stop by the drug store and ask to speak to the pharmacist and ask if there's a topical product for your nail situation ..... if they say go see a doctor, then go see a doctor!