How to treat a mangosteen scratch infection?

Oh! Is the skin around your nails red, painful, and seems to be getting worse? Then it is possible that you have inflammation around the nail, also known as a mange infection. The good news is that this disease is quite common and easy to treat at home. Most cases of acute peritonitis go away after about 5 days. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source} In the case of chronic perineitis, you may need medical treatment to get rid of it.

Table of Contents

Safe and effective home remedies

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Soak the inflamed area in warm water or an Epsom salt solution 2-4 times a day. Although a mangosteen scratch infection can be caused by contact with water, water immersion therapy can help treat the infection. Pour warm water into a bowl or container and soak the inflamed skin for about 15 minutes several times a day until the infection clears. ^{[2] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

Dissolve half a teaspoon (3g) of Epsom salt in a small bowl of water to make a salt solution. If you like to use essential oils, you can add 2-3 drops of lavender or tea tree oil to the water.
Soaking therapy can also help ease pain and make you feel more comfortable.
Make sure the soaking water and container are clean to avoid introducing more germs into the wound.

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Trim the scratched skin with a sterilized nail clipper when the skin is tender. Wait for the inflamed skin around the nail to soften, such as after a hot bath or warm bath. Use rubbing alcohol to clean your nail clippers or clippers to kill germs and bacteria. Cut a piece of scratched skin close to the edge of healthy skin to remove a piece of skin. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Cut off a piece of scratched skin to help the wound heal faster.

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Apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment if the inflamed area is painful or swollen. Help a mangosteen scratch heal faster with bacitracin or ppymyxin B (Neosporin or Neosporin + pain reliever). Dab the ointment on the inflamed skin to kill bacteria and soothe the wound. Apply 1-3 times daily or as directed on the label until the wound heals. ^{[4] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source}

You can buy antibiotic cream at a pharmacy or online. Read and follow the directions on the product.

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Moisturize the inflamed skin to keep the wound from drying out. Regularly apply moisturizing lotion or wax (Vaseline cream) to the inflamed skin to maintain moisture in the skin. Avoid using lotions that have a high alcohol content or contain water as it will make the skin even drier. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Dry and chapped skin can increase the risk of chaffodils.

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Elevate the infected area of skin as much as possible. Lie down and elevate the infected area as often as possible throughout the day. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to source} Elevate finger or toe above heart level to help reduce swelling and pain.

Use a rolled up pillow or towel to elevate your hand or foot.

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Apply ice and take pain relievers to ease the pain. The infected area is often painful and sensitive, so you should apply ice to numb and soothe the pain. Take pain relievers according to the directions on the label to relieve pain during the infection. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Common over-the-counter pain relievers include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen.

Medical treatments

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Take antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. Some cases of periungitis are caused by a bacterial infection. If this is the case, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. Take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. ^{[8] X Harvard Medical Schop Trusted Source Go to Source}

Do not take antibiotics unless prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor can determine if your case is caused by a bacterial infection.

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Apply antifungal cream in case of a fungal infection. Many cases of peritonitis are caused by a fungal infection. Apply antifungal cream as directed by your doctor to treat the infection and heal the wound. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Your doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream, lotion, or other medication.
Follow the directions on the medicine label on how to apply the cream.

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Use topical steroid creams to treat chronic canker sores. Although antifungal creams are the mainstay in the treatment of chronic periarthritis, topical steroid creams may be more effective. ^{[10] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} Apply cream to affected skin as directed on the label to treat infection.

Topical steroid creams need to be prescribed by a doctor.
Strong topical steroids may not be indicated for pregnant and nursing women or for very young children. ^{[11] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

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Call your doctor if you have diabetes and have inflammation around your nails. Diabetes puts you at high risk for chronic perineal inflammation and can lead to serious infections. If you develop a mangosteen infection while you have diabetes, contact your doctor as soon as possible for treatment. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Also, when you go to your doctor to be diagnosed with an infection, be sure to tell your doctor that you have diabetes.

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See your doctor for pus drainage if pus accumulates around the nail. Pus around the nail is common in severe infections, but it’s important not to squeeze the pus on your own. See your doctor for proper drainage and treatment to avoid the risk of injury or infection. ^{[13] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

The doctor may also remove a small portion of the nail to help the nail heal well.

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See your doctor if the mango scratch infection persists for more than 1 week. Most cases of peritonitis clear up in about 5 days. However, if you don’t see improvement after 7 days, see your doctor’s office for treatment. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Your doctor may need to perform minor surgery to treat inflammation around the nail. ^{[15] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

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Seek emergency medical attention if the infection begins to spread. If you have a fever or if red streaks appear from the site of infection, get emergency medical attention right away. A widespread infection is a dangerous condition and needs to be treated as soon as possible. ^{[16] X Trusted Source FamilyDoctor.org Go to Source}

Prevent scratching of the mango

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Trim nails but not too short. Use a nail clipper to keep your nails short, but avoid cutting too close to the inside, otherwise you can injure your skin and lead to infection. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Make sure nail clippers are clean.
Taking care of your hands and nails is a great way to reduce the risk of mango scratches, so it’s a good idea to get into the habit.

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Wear gloves if you are exposed to water and harsh chemicals while working. If your hands are often exposed to water or irritants for a long time, wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. Remember that gloves must be the right size and clean. ^{[18] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

For example, if you work in the kitchen and have to wash a lot of dishes, you’re at risk for peritonitis. Protect your hands with rubber gloves.
Drying your hands regularly is also a useful habit to prevent peritonitis.

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Stop biting or picking at your nails. Biting or picking at your nails can injure the skin around the nail and put you at risk of a mange infection. ^{[19] X Trusted Source FamilyDoctor.org Go to the source} Furthermore, you can introduce bacteria into the wound and also cause an infection.

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Avoid pushing or cutting cuticles around the nail. The cuticle is a thin layer of skin on the lower edge of a finger or toe. When taking care of your nails, you should avoid cutting or pushing your cuticles, lest you injure the skin and risk infection. ^{[20] X Research Source}

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Change socks daily. Socks can trap moisture inside and cause inflammation around the toenails. Wear new socks every day and change them when they get wet. ^{[21] X Trusted Source FamilyDoctor.org Go to Source}

Also remember to avoid wet shoes.

Advice

Avoid over-manicuring, as this can introduce germs into the damaged skin around the nail.

Warning

Never squeeze pus on your own to avoid making the problem worse. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Steps

Safe and effective home remedies

Medical treatments

Prevent scratching of the mango

Advice

Warning

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