Ointments for nail bed inflammation
Depending on whether the nail bed inflammation was caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi, different ointments are used as therapy to treat the nail bed inflammation. In general, it can be said that anti-inflammatory ointments offer a good basis to make the nail bed inflammation more tolerable, especially by relieving the pain and inhibiting the inflammation. In addition, the natural healing process of the body is supported, so that the nail bed inflammation disappears faster and with less pain.
As especially chamomile extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect, in case of a slight nail bed inflammation, one can try to heal the nail bed inflammation with pure chamomile ointment from the pharmacy. It is important not to use an ointment that contains additional fragrances or additives in addition to the chamomile extracts, as these can only irritate or even promote nail bed inflammation. If the nail bed inflammation is caused by bacteria, which can be determined by the doctor through a blood count analysis, the patient should use additional disinfecting ointments, such as iodine-containing ointments.
Iodine-containing ointments can also have a supportive effect on viruses and fungi, but they are best suited for treating bacterial nail bed inflammation. It is therefore also very important to always discuss with the family doctor before treatment which ointment he considers to be the right one. This will ensure that the treatment is individually tailored to the patient and is goal-oriented.
In order to also alleviate the itching that is often associated with nail bed inflammation, ointments with tanning agents (such as phenol-methanal-urea-polycondensate) can also be used. If nail bed inflammation is not caused by bacteria but by viruses, treatment with an antiviral ointment is appropriate. As these ointments do not kill the viruses directly, but only inhibit their growth, it usually takes some time (a few days) until the nail bed inflammation has completely disappeared.
However, if it is an inflammation caused by fungi, the patient must have an ointment that is antifungal (against fungi). In this case, too, usually only the growth of the fungus is inhibited, so it may take a little longer for the ointment to develop its full effect. It is also important that if the nail bed inflammation progresses further, a doctor should be consulted again despite ointment treatment.
Especially if larger pus blisters have developed, a doctor should open them. Then a bandage with disinfectant and anti-inflammatory ointment can be applied to finally heal the nail bed inflammation and ensure sufficient moisture under the bandage. In particularly severe cases, it may be necessary to remove the nail completely.In these cases, a protective bandage is also applied, which contains an ointment that on the one hand provides sufficient moisture and on the other has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Here too, it is very important that the opening of the pus blisters or the removal of the nail is only carried out by a doctor, as otherwise it is possible that the inflammation is carried over into deeper tissue layers and the inflammation spreads to the entire toe or finger. As camomile extracts in particular have an anti-inflammatory effect, in the case of a mild nail bed inflammation, one can try to heal the nail bed inflammation with pure camomile ointment from the pharmacy. It is important not to use an ointment that contains additional fragrances or additives in addition to the chamomile extracts, as these can only irritate or even promote nail bed inflammation.
If the nail bed inflammation is caused by bacteria, which can be determined by the doctor through a blood count analysis, the patient should also use disinfecting ointments, such as those containing iodine. Iodine-containing ointments can also have a supportive effect on viruses and fungi, but they are best suited for treating bacterial nail bed inflammation. It is therefore also very important to always discuss with the family doctor before treatment which ointment he considers to be the right one.
This will ensure that the treatment is individually tailored to the patient and is goal-oriented. In order to also alleviate the itching that is often associated with nail bed inflammation, ointments with tanning agents (such as phenol-methanal-urea-polycondensate) can also be used. If nail bed inflammation is not caused by bacteria but by viruses, treatment with an antiviral ointment is appropriate.
As these ointments do not kill the viruses directly, but only inhibit their growth, it usually takes some time (a few days) until the nail bed inflammation has completely disappeared. However, if it is an inflammation caused by fungi, the patient must have an ointment that is antifungal (against fungi). In this case, too, it is usually only the growth of the fungus that is inhibited, so it may take a little longer for the ointment to develop its full effect.
It is also important that if the nail bed inflammation progresses further, a doctor should be consulted again despite ointment treatment. Especially if larger pus blisters have developed, a doctor should open them. Then a bandage with disinfectant and anti-inflammatory ointment can be applied to finally heal the nail bed inflammation and ensure sufficient moisture under the bandage.
In particularly severe cases, it may be necessary to remove the nail completely. In these cases, a protective bandage is also applied, which contains an ointment that on the one hand provides sufficient moisture and on the other hand has an anti-inflammatory effect. It is also very important that the opening of the pus blisters or the removal of the nail is only carried out by a doctor, otherwise it is possible that the inflammation is carried over into deeper tissue layers and the inflammation spreads to the entire toe or finger.
Antibiotics are effective for inflammation caused by bacteria, but not for inflammation caused by fungi or viruses. For example, local antibacterial ointments can be used. In the case of advanced nail bed inflammation, it may be advisable to take an antibiotic.
However, the use of the medication should be clarified with a doctor in advance. Depending on the bacterial pathogen, the intake of different antibiotics can be useful. Mostly antibiotics are used against staphylococci, which are frequent pathogens of nail bed inflammation.
These are for example representatives of the antibiotic group of penicillins. One example is oxacillin. Antibiotics with the active ingredients cefalexin or clindamycin are also used.
