7 Effective Homeopathic Remedies for Paronychia 

Paronychia is a skin infection around the nails at the point where the nail and skin meet. It can affect skin around fingernails or toenails. It arises from a bacterial or fungal infection. This infection can occur suddenly and resolve in 2 -3 days (acute paronychia) or develop gradually and last for weeks (chronic paronychia). In these cases, redness appears on the skin around the nail. Swelling, heat, pain and tenderness of the skin around the nail is also present. This area can also be itchy. Pus-filled eruptions may develop in the affected area. The nail may thicken, harden, get damaged and deformed along with change in shape and colour. The nail texture can also change. In severe cases, there may be separation of nail from the nail bed either partially or completely.

Homeopathic medicines offer excellent treatment for cases of paronychia. These medicines fight with the infection-causing agent and ensure natural recovery in these cases. Homeopathic medicines help to heal paronychia and manage its signs and symptoms well. It can effectively manage redness, swelling and pain near the nail. These are also effective for cases in which pus-filled eruptions have formed. They are also helpful in cases where the nail has become discoloured, damaged, deformed and has grown out of shape. In modern system of medicine, antibiotics or antifungal medicines are used as per the case of paronychia. They offer relief for a brief period of time. However, homeopathic medicines provide long-term relief in cases of paronychia.

Homeopathy is helpful for acute/chronic cases

Homeopathy carries a great scope to treat both acute as well as chronic cases of paronychia very safely and effectively. After helping to resolve the infection with well-prescribed medicines, they further work to strengthen the immunity of a person which will gradually decrease the tendency to get repeated infection.

Homeopathy fights with the infection

Homeopathic medicines aim to enhance the self-healing mechanism of the body to fight infection in paronychia cases. This promotes natural healing without any side effects. These medicines ensure complete recovery as they deal with the problem at the roots.

Individualized medication for best results

In homeopathy, the medicine for each case of paronychia is selected according to the peculiar signs and symptoms presented by the person. This individualized medication focuses to heal the condition from the core. One should always take any homeopathic medicine under the guidance of a homeopathic doctor who prescribes medicines after detailed case evaluation.

Safe medicine with zero side effects

Homeopathic medicines for paronychia are very safe to use as these are prepared from naturally occurring substances. They carry no risk of side effects at all. Homeopathy is a great alternative system of medicine to provide excellent results with utmost safety.

Top 7 Homeopathic Remedies for Paronychia 

The highly recommended homeopathic medicines for treating paronychia are Apis Mellifica, Hepar Sulph, Nitric Acid, Silicea, Myristica, Ledum Pal and Antimonium Crudum.

1. Apis Mellifica – With Marked Redness, Swelling and Pain 

This medicine is prominent for cases where intense pain is present around the nail.  Redness and swelling is also marked around the nail. In cases needing it, the pain can be burning, stinging or throbbing in nature. It is also very sensitive and tender to touch. The pain can sometimes extend from the finger upwards to the arm.

When to use Apis Mellifica?

Apis Mellifica is a beneficial medicine for managing redness, swelling and pain of burning, stinging or throbbing type near the nail in cases of paronychia.

How to use Apis Mellifica?

It is best to start it in 30C potency that can be taken once or twice a day as per the intensity of the complaint. It can also be taken in high (200C) potency but only after consulting a homeopathic doctor.

2. Hepar Sulph – When Pus Forms around Nail

Hepar Sulph works well in cases of paronychia in which pus forms around the nail. In cases needing it, beating or throbbing pain is present along with pus formation. The skin over the affected area is inflamed, hot and swollen. The pus that exudes is offensive and can also be blood stained.

When to use Hepar Sulph?

This medicine should be selected to manage pus around the nail in cases of paronychia.

How to use Hepar Sulph?

It can be used in different potencies from low to high as per the severity of the complaint. Initially it is advised to use Hepar Sulph in 30 C potency two times a day for good results.

3. Nitric Acid – With Splinter like (Sharp )Pain around Nail

This medicine is indicated when there is a splinter-like i.e. sharp pain around the nail. Splinter means a small piece of glass, metal or wood. Additionally the nails are discolored and yellow. The nails may start crumbling. In many cases needing it, ingrown toenails can be present.

When to use Nitric Acid?

This medicine should be considered for paronychia treatment when there is sharp splinter-like pain around the nail.

How to use Nitric Acid?

Nitric Acid 30C can be used once a day.

4.  Silicea – For Cases with Pus-filled Eruptions and Yellow, Damaged Nails

Silicea is very effective for cases where pus-filled eruptions are present and nails are yellow and damaged. In cases where this medicine is required, thin watery pus may discharge from eruptions or brownish pus may flow out. The pus smells bad. Lancinating pains can be present in the eruptions. Besides, the nail turns yellow and is brittle. The nails are also rough and crippled. Hangnails or ingrown nails can be present too.

When to use Silicea?

Silicea is a highly recommended medicine to manage pus-filled eruptions near the nail occurring in cases of paronychia.

How to use Silicea?

Silicea is mostly used in 6X potency two to three times a day.

5. Myristica – To Hasten the Recovery where Pus has Formed

It is a great medicine for cases where pus has formed around the nails. In such cases, it helps to speed up recovery and resolve the infection in a short time. In cases needing this medicine, pus collects around their nails with pain and swelling in this region. Pain is felt in the fingernails.

When to use Myristica?

This medicine is indicated to hasten recovery where pus has formed with pain and swelling in paronychia cases.

How to use Myristica?

This medicine can be taken once or twice a day in 30C potency.

  6. Ledum Pal – When it Occurs from Splinter or Some External Injury

Ledum Pal is an effective medicine for paronychia when it occurs from splinters or it follows some external injury around the nail or a wound like puncture with a prick from a needle. It is often useful in the first stage after injury. Relief may be there by cold application around the nail where it is required.

When to use Ledum Pal?

Ledum Pal is a helpful medicine for paronychia treatment when it follows some injury near the nail, like from some needle prick or some splinter.

How to use Ledum Pal?

Its use can be done from low to high potencies. To begin with, one can take it in 30C potency once or twice a day. For using high potencies, kindly consult a homeopathic doctor.

7. Antimonium Crudum – When Nails are Discoloured and Deformed

This medicine is considered for cases where nails are discoloured and deformed. They grow out of shape. Pain may be felt under the nails in such cases.

When to use Antimonium Crudum?

This medicine should be opted to manage discoloured and deformed nails in paronychia cases.

How to use Antimonium Crudum?

Antimonium Crudum can be taken in 30C potency one to two times a day.

Causes

The main cause behind it is infection of skin around the nail. The infection can occur from bacteria or candida yeast. In some cases, both these infection-causing agents act together. Mostly acute paronychia is caused by bacteria and the chronic paronychia by a yeast infection. The bacteria involved in it mainly includes staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes. The bacteria tend to enter the area around the nail when there is some trauma, injury or damage to the skin in this area. The skin damage can occur from nail biting, picking or chewing the nails or a splinter. It can also get injured accidentally from some tools used for manicure. Cutting the nails very short also predisposes one towards this infection. People having hangnails or ingrown nails are also at risk of this infection. Hangnails refers to tiny skin which is torn and hanging loose around the nail, either the fingernail or toenail that carries a risk of getting infected. Ingrown nails is a very common and painful nail disease in which the corner of the nails, mostly the toenail, enters and grows into the skin.

Another risk factor is excessive exposure of hands to moisture (like in people who are work in water for long hours or who do repeated hand washing) and frequent contact of hands or feet with chemicals. This destroys the skin that surrounds the edges of the fingernail or toenail called cuticle. This favours an ideal environment for bacteria and yeast to multiply and cause infection.  People having diabetes and those with suppressed immune systems (drug induced) are also at risk.