Marti... i need some help wit my nail... - Nail Problems Message Board

unknown123123 · 07-31-2007, 03:43 PM

about 2 and a half months ago (June), i had an infection in my middle finger on my right hand. it got worse so i went to the doctor after a day because it wasnt open. she pressed hard on my finger to take this yellow nasty stuff out and then gave me some ointment called "Mupirocin Ointment USP, 2%" (Rx only). after a few days, my finger wasnt puffy and wasnt hurting anymore. i thought everything was going to be fine again... i was wrong. a week or two later, my nail started lefting. i thought this was going to be dangerous and i clipped off the part of my nail that was white and a piece of my nail still stays on my finger. i discovered a rather large lump that is in the middle of my nail bed and im worried my infection never cleared, but right now after 2 and a half months, i stil hav that lump and im growing hard skin instead of a nail. im worried my nail will never grow back on this finger. should i still use this ointment everyday? i hide this by wearing a new bandade everyday and im not pretty happy about it. i try not to wet my hands that much so water isnt trapped inside it so my finger wont be wet... im worried. hav any ideas?

Marti · 07-31-2007, 08:00 PM

To begin with, get rid of the bandaids - they only serve to keep the skin and nail wet, and that isn't what it needs. The reason you could clip off teh nail plate is because whenever there is an infection between the nail plate and the nail bed, it always causes the nail plate to lift. Keep the exposed nail bed clean and dry - yes, you should apply the prescription ointment until it is all gone - not just until it looks better. The lump is probably where the infection was in the nail bed. The skin of the nail bed will always harden somewhat when it is exposed to the air - it is trying to protect the delicate blood vessels and nerve endings in your fingertip. As the nail matrix produces new nail plate cells, they will begin to push the damaged portion out toward the free edge. The lump will begin to lessen as this happens. It can take anywhere from 3-6 months for a fingernail to completely replace itself from root to free edge, so give it time.

unknown123123 · 08-01-2007, 05:05 PM

ty for ur help. aww.. no bandaids...

ok... ill try to keep it clean and dry... >.< i hope the nail gorws back soon.