A skin infection that occurs around the nails. Paronychia is fairly common. It is usually caused by injury to the area – for example, from biting off or picking a hangnail or from trimming or pushing back the cuticle.
· Bacterial paronychia is caused by bacteria. · Candidal paronychia is caused by a specific type of yeast. · Fungal paronychia is caused by a fungus other than Candida.
A bacterial and fungal infection may occur at the same time.