What causes pain under the fingernail?
Disease description:
After finishing work, I feel pain under my fingernails—what could be causing this pain?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Gan Liqiang
Pain beneath the fingernails is commonly caused by paronychia or nail disorders. Paronychia is typically due to fungal infection; onychomycosis (e.g., “gray nail”) damages the nail bed, leading to pain beneath the nail plate. Nail disorders are often associated with cysts or joint diseases—for instance, mucous cysts located at the nail root may cause pain when they compress surrounding tissues or when the nail experiences trauma. If the underlying cause remains unclear, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist for evaluation.
