Aetiology

Most frequently chronic paronychia is seen in people who

• get their hands wet such as hairdressers, staff who wash dishes, laundry workers, cooks, fishmongers and swimmers
• suck their fingers
• aggressively trim their cuticles
• frequently comes in to contact with chemicals (e.g., mild alkalis, acids) (1)

Cases may sometimes occur in association with

• psoriasis
• eczema
• diabetes mellitus.
• as a complication of acute paronychia
• systemic drugs - retinoids and protease inhibitors (1)

Vulval candidiasis, poor peripheral circulation and working with flour e.g. in bakeries, are other predisposing causes.

Reference:

• (1) Rigopoulos D et al. Acute and Chronic Paronychia. AFP 2008; 77(3)