From nail infections to lumps and bumps – Dr Jeff answers your health questions
DR JEFF FOSTER is The Sun on Sunday’s new resident doctor and is here to help YOU.
Dr Jeff, 43, splits his time between working as a GP in Leamington Spa, Warks, and running his clinic, H3 Health, which is the first of its kind in the UK to look at hormonal issues for both men and women.
See h3health.co.uk and email at drjeff@the-sun.co.uk.
Q) I HAD my nails done at a local nail bar and when I left the skin and cuticle on one finger felt quite tender.
Over the next couple of days that finger has become swollen and feels hard.
Is it infected?
Laura Worsley, Bagshot, Surrey
A) Nail bars are common places to pick up nail infections due to the localised trauma that can occur at the base of the nail bed.
We naturally have a thin layer of protective tissue between our finger and where the nail bed starts and in some nail treatments, this protective tissue is disrupted, either accidentally or deliberately.
Once this happens, bacteria can get in through the gap created and spark an infection.
Our hands are naturally coming into contact with lots of things, some unsanitary, and this further increases the chances of picking up an infection.
An infection at the edge of our nail bed is known as a paronychia and it can be very painful.
A lot of people often say they feel like they want to stick a pin in the swelling to relieve the pressure, but in the initial stages, most of the swelling is soft tissue inflammation and not pus.
The only treatment is with careful nail care and hygiene, and antibiotics from your doctor.
It would only be lanced in a severe case.
Q) I’M a 40-year-old man and I have a soft, fleshy feeling lump that intermittently appears on the back of my hand.
It stays there for a few days then disappears and will randomly reappear again.
When it appears my hand and arm hurt, but not where the lump is.
Should I be concerned?
Geoff Mathers Broadstairs, Kent
A) No doctor can diagnose a lump without seeing it, but the less likely to be serious if they come and go.
The most common lumps to occur intermittently on the back of the hand are ganglions.
These are fluid-filled cysts that often occur over joint lines.
When you stretch the tendon they are connected to, the lump becomes hard because the cyst is connected, and when you relax it, the lump becomes softer.
A ganglion is deep and attached to a tendon sheath so if you drain it, the fluid just refills.
If you aren’t careful cutting a ganglion out, you can damage the underlying tendon so it wouldn’t be removed in your GP practice.
Wait until the lump reappears and go and see your doctor.
If it is a ganglion you can decide whether you’d like a referral to have it removed.