Finger problem!

[Chloe636]

This is a really random post but...

My sister bites her nails and the skin around them. On Tuesday I noticed one of her fingers was red, a bit swollen and warm to touch. She says it doesn't hurt but the skin feels a bit tight around it. She doesn't feel unwell. There is no cut on her finger it just looks like one she might have bitten a week or so ago so not recently.

Any advice? Any ideas what might be wrong?

[4getmenot]

I do this till my fingers are red raw, not just around the nail, I peel skin from all around the thumb that I have scars. Its just a thing I do when either I'm bored or nervous. You can see when I'm happy and relaxed and nothing is stressing me out because I dont have plasters round my thumbs :-) But when the skin does grow back it does feel tight, I went to docs and he gave me some cream but had to wear stupid finger bandages. I now just try and control it myself and use hand cream so I dont end up picking at the dry skin.

[peppy]

Sounds a bit like a whitlow to me Chloe, you could wikipedia it find out a bit more tho'. Sorry, can't do that red linky - thing that others seem to find so easy : - (

[Chloe636]

Thanks both.

I did a google images search on a whitlow (horrible btw - never do it!) and it looks different. My sisters finger is slightly greenish around the edge rather than white. Gross I know!

Thanks though. Think I'm going to send her to the chemist!

[SurreyGuy]

4getmenot - I do exactly the same! :o)

[4getmenot]

I cant help it, its sometimes to the point where its bleeding and so sore. Why do you do it surreyguy?

[SurreyGuy]

Same reasons as u 4getmenot. I do have "good spells" wjere I can goa couple of weeks without picking/biting, but then I start again!

[birdwoman]

Sounds like an infection to me - I used to get them - it should clear up on its own though if she squeezes it she may get some gunk out.