Gritty eyes: Causes, symptoms, treatments, and more
How To Treat Paronychia (an Infected Nail)
Home remedies for paronychia, or an infected nail, include soaking in warm water and applying lemon and salt. In some cases, medical treatment may be necessary.
Paronychia is a bacterial or fungal skin infection that develops around the nail.
Paronychia can result from biting or chewing the nails, but it is more common when working conditions require the hands to be frequently wet or exposed to chemicals.
Most cases of paronychia are not serious, and there are several effective treatments. This article will discuss the causes and treatments of this infection.
Paronychia is an infection of the surrounding tissue where the nail meets the skin. Onychia is an infection of the nail itself, which causes inflammation of the nail and swelling of the surrounding tissue.
Doctors may also refer to paronychia as candidal paronychias. There is usually a disruption in the barrier between the nail plate and nail fold. This results in infection from the yeast Candida albicans.
Both paronychia and an ingrown toenail can cause pain in the toe area. While they can occur at the same time, they are two distinct issues.
An ingrown toenail is when the nail plate grows into the surrounding skin, causing inflammation and infection. It can cause pain and discomfort, especially if left untreated.
Because the nail breaks the skin, it frequently causes infections, including paronychia.
Ingrown toenails may result from:
Some symptoms of paronychia resemble those of different skin infections. Other symptoms directly affect the nail itself.
Paronychia symptoms include:
Paronychia occurs when the skin around the nail becomes damaged, allowing germs to enter.
Bacteria or fungi can cause the infection, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria.
Common causes of skin damage around the nail include:
Doctors diagnose paronychia by identifying the type of bacteria or fungi causing the infection.
They will obtain a clipping of the nail or take a swab of the infected area and test for the presence of specific bacteria or fungi. Having done this, they can make a diagnosis.
Treatments for paronychia will vary according to the severity and whether it is acute or chronic. Both at-home treatments and medical treatments may help, depending on the diagnosis and severity of the condition.
At-home treatmentA person with mild, acute paronychia can try soaking the affected finger or toe in warm water several times a day. If symptoms do not improve, they should seek further treatment.
Mild paronychia may be treatable with just a lemon and salt.
Individuals claim that a person can cure the infection by cutting a slit in a lemon and sprinkling salt into the hole before placing the affected finger in the lemon for a few minutes. They advise repeating this until the infection goes away. However, there seems to be no scientific evidence to support the idea that this can cure paronychia.
Another home remedy is applying magnesium sulfate paste to the infected area. Individuals claim that this helps with pain management and can ward off the infection. However, there doesn't appear to be scientific evidence to support this claim either.
Chronic paronychia may require weeks or months of treatment. It is important to keep the hands dry and clean throughout. If a person's job requires their hands to be wet or exposed to germs, they may need to take time off.
Medical treatmentWhen a bacterial infection causes acute paronychia, a doctor may recommend an antibiotic, such as dicloxacillin or clindamycin.
If a fungal infection causes chronic paronychia, a doctor will prescribe antifungal medication. These topical medications typically include clotrimazole or ketoconazole.
A doctor may also need to drain any pus from surrounding abscesses. To do this, they perform a procedure referred to as the incision and drainage method. They will provide a local anesthetic, then open the nail fold enough to insert gauze to help drain the pus.
Because many at-home remedies lack scientific support, it is best to consult a medical professional for guidance if you think you have paronychia or another type of toe or toenail infection.
People can treat paronychia at home by minimizing germ exposure and frequently washing the infected area. However, they should only do this if symptoms are mild and the infection has not spread beyond the fingernail.
If symptoms do not improve after a few days or the infection has spread further than the nail, it is important to speak with a doctor.
For severe symptoms, contact a doctor immediately.
People can reduce their risk of developing nail infections by:
Some people have a higher risk of developing paronychia, such as:
In most cases, a doctor can easily diagnose paronychia with a physical examination. They will also consider a person's medical history and look for risk factors, such as diabetes.
In some cases, a doctor may require a sample of any pus that is present. They can send this to a laboratory for analysis to check whether bacteria or fungi are causing the infection.
Paronychia is a skin infection around a fingernail or toenail. Symptoms include inflammation, swelling, pain, and discomfort. Biting or chewing the nails is a common cause.
Acute paronychia develops quickly and treatment can reduce symptoms rapidly. People can treat mild cases at home. Chronic paronychia has a slower onset, and it can take weeks for treatment to effectively reduce symptoms.
Taking good care of the hands and nails is the best way to prevent paronychia.
7 Types Of Eye Infections, Their Symptoms, And How To Treat Them
There are many eye infections, including conjunctivitis, keratitis, and cellulitis. Symptoms can include itchiness, discharge, vision changes, and more.
While many minor eye infections heal well on their own, others can be serious and may cause permanent vision loss.
It is important to contact a health professional if a person has changes in their eyes or vision that could indicate an infection.
This article looks at the different potential eye infections and how to treat them.
Often called "pinkeye," this is the most common eye infection.
The conjunctiva is a thin layer of tissue that covers the whites of the eyes and insides of the eyelids. Conjunctivitis is an infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva.
A person may get the infection in one eye or both.
Types of conjunctivitis include:
Irritation from getting a chemical or foreign object in the eye can also cause conjunctivitis. A person may have excessive eye watering or discharge from the eye if this happens.
No matter what the cause of pinkeye, telltale symptoms include:
A health care professional can often recognize conjunctivitis by examining the eye and discussing the person's symptoms.
Many people can treat viral conjunctivitis at home.
Medical treatments for pinkeye by type include:
A person should avoid touching their eye and should wash their hands frequently to avoid spreading conjunctivitis to others.
It is wise to contact a pediatrician if an infant has signs of conjunctivitis.
Keratitis is inflammation or infection of the cornea, which is the clear outer layer on the colored part of the eye.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that improper contact lens care increases the risk of keratitis. Wearing lenses for too long or not cleaning and storing them correctly can increase the chance of germs getting into the cornea.
Without treatment, keratitis can cause scarring on the cornea and permanent loss of vision.
The different types of keratitis include:
Symptoms of keratitis include:
A doctor may need to use a special light to view the eye or send a sample of cells to a lab for testing to determine which type of keratitis a person is experiencing. They will also take a careful history to assess possible risk factor exposure.
Keratitis treatment may require antibiotic, antiviral, or antifungal medicine in the form of eye drops or pills.
Endophthalmitis is an infection of the fluid or tissue inside the eye. It requires immediate medical treatment, or it may cause blindness.
According to 2018 research, worldwide cataract surgery is the most common cause of this condition.
Two common types of endophthalmitis include:
Symptoms of endophthalmitis include:
The American Society of Retina Specialists says that most cases of endophthalmitis require antibiotic or antifungal injections and possibly emergency surgery.
Cellulitis is a bacterial or fungal infection. It can affect the skin and the eyes.
Two types of cellulitis may affect the eyes:
Symptoms of cellulitis in the eye include:
Doctors often diagnose preseptal cellulitis with clinical observation.
If a doctor suspects orbital cellulitis, they may order certain scans or a blood test. They may also take a small sample of cells from the eyes or nose.
Cellulitis requires antibiotic treatment. Sometimes a person needs antibiotics given in the hospital. More severe cases may require surgery to drain fluid from the infection.
A stye is an infection in the eyelid, usually in an eyelash follicle or one of the oil glands of the eyelid.
Bacteria can cause a stye that may occur if a person touches their eye with unwashed hands or after touching their nose.
A stye may appear on the eyelash line or just inside the edge of the eyelid.
Symptoms include:
Most styes will clear on their own with home care.
A person can use a warm compress for 15 minutes, four times a day. They can also gently massage the nodule.
Learn more about how to get rid of a stye here.
Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids. Causes include bacterial infection, allergies, clogged oil glands in the eyelids, and certain skin conditions.
There are two main types of blepharitis:
Symptoms of blepharitis are:
A doctor may diagnose blepharitis through an eye exam and discussion of symptoms.
Blepharitis symptoms respond to home care. Regular cleaning of the eyelids and eyelashes with water and baby shampoo is helpful.
If a person has dandruff or rosacea, they can talk to a doctor about effective treatment for these conditions to help keep blepharitis under control.
Severe cases of blepharitis may require antibiotics or steroids.
Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, which is the middle layer of the eyeball that contains the iris.
Doctors associate uveitis with certain health conditions, including:
Symptoms of uveitis include:
Doctors diagnose uveitis with an eye exam
However, they may also take a person's health history and order blood and imaging tests, such as an MRI, to check for associated conditions.
Treatment may include steroids in the form of pills, eye drops, or injections. This will depend on the cause of uveitis.
Some eye infections, such as a stye or blepharitis, respond well to home care. However, other eye infections, such as endophthalmitis, are serious and can potentially lead to a permanent loss of vision.
If a person has signs of an eye infection, they should contact a doctor. Severe symptoms, such as extreme pain or a sudden loss of vision, require emergency medical care.
Likewise, if symptoms of a stye, blepharitis, or conjunctivitis fail to improve with home care, people should see a doctor.
There are many different types of eye infections. Most are not a cause for concern. However, some are an ocular emergency, and a person should seek medical help to reduce the chances of vision loss.
If people notice bothersome changes with their eyes or vision, they should speak to a doctor.
What Are Prostaglandins?
Prostaglandins are natural chemicals in the body with hormone-like qualities.
First discovered in semen, prostaglandins were later found in cells throughout the body, as well as in women's menstrual fluid, according to the Society for Endocrinology.
Prostaglandins affect reproductive processes and are also thought to play a major role in promoting and resolving inflammation in the body, notes the Cleveland Clinic.
While most hormones are released by a gland and then carried throughout the body in the bloodstream, prostaglandins are not. Rather, they're produced at the area of the body where they're needed.
Prostaglandins and ReproductionAlthough more research is needed to fully understand the role of prostaglandins in reproduction, it's known that they're present in the body throughout a woman's menstrual cycle, notes the Society for Endocrinology.
During your period, prostaglandins trigger muscles in your uterus to contract. These contractions help expel the uterus lining.
Higher levels of prostaglandins can cause more severe menstrual cramps, and severe contractions may constrict the blood vessels around the uterus.
When pregnant women go into labor, prostaglandins help cause the cervix to dilate and contractions to occur.
Your doctor may use synthetic prostaglandins to induce labor if it's decided that you should give birth before labor naturally occurs.
Dinoprostone (Cervidil) inserts and misoprostol tablets are used for this purpose.
While prostaglandins are found naturally in men's semen, and some people have suggested that having intercourse late in pregnancy can induce delivery, most experts do not believe that is the case.
The following risks and side effects are possible with induced labor, per the Mayo Clinic:
Prostaglandins are also used to:
Prostaglandins may also play a role in erections in men. Because of this role, they have been synthesized and used in injections to help men with erectile dysfunction (ED) obtain an erection, notes StatPearls.
ED occurs when a man consistently can't get an erection or maintain one long enough to engage in sexual intercourse.
Prostaglandins and InflammationWhen part of your body is inflamed, it means that your immune system is responding to infection or injury.
Inflammation is a way for your body to try to heal damaged areas, but it can also get out of control and cause damage over time.
Inflammation has been shown to play a role in arthritis, lupus, cancer, and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.
Prostaglandins play a key role in inflammation by contributing to the development of redness, swelling, heat, and pain.
Excess production of prostaglandins due to inflammation may lead to:
While researchers understand prostaglandins well when it comes to promoting inflammation, notes the Cleveland Clinic, they don't yet understand how these chemicals help resolve inflammation.
Prostaglandins and Other ConditionsIf your body doesn't produce enough prostaglandins, your doctor may consider giving you prostaglandins to treat the following conditions:
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