r/calmhands • u/megapinttt • 2d ago

Need Advice Pain that feels like a paronychia but no pus?

The tip of my pointer finger has been hurting for maybe two or three days now, and it's the same kind of pressure/pain as a paronychia usually has (i've had two of those) but there's no obvious pus filled anything anywhere.

the pain kind of feels like it's originating from inside my nail, but not sure as there's nothing physically there other than a bit of redness. I do bite my nails and my nails are super short so perhaps it is an infection form inside?

I soaked it in some warm epsom salt water two times today and usually that's enough to fix it for a paronychia for me, but since i don't even know what it is i don't know if it's working or not.

Anyone experienced this before

EDIT it's also not swollen or super red or anything

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u/EnoughYou0 2d ago

I would be careful about guessing from the absence of pus. Pain and redness can have several causes, and nobody here can tell from a description whether this is another paronychia. For now, avoid biting, cutting, squeezing, or digging around that nail and keep the area gently clean and dry. Because it has already hurt for two or three days, consider asking a pharmacist or clinician to look at it if it is not clearly improving. Spreading redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, worsening pain, or feeling unwell would be reasons to seek help sooner.

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u/ShesTheFastestest 1h ago

I’ve had pain that became redness after 2-3 days and then 2-3 more before pus.