Do you love keeping long fingernails just like me, but you always get this disturbing pain that makes you cut them? However, you can’t just bear to see your nails short, and it makes you ask the question why do my fingernails hurt when they get long.
Your long fingernails can become painful due to too much pressure and tension from them on the nail bed or nail matrix.
However, there are numerous other reasons why your nails can become painful when they are long, from ingrown nails to nail fungus. This blog post will thoroughly discuss the primary reasons for this pain, home remedies you can do, and when to see the doctor to alleviate the discomfort.
8 Reasons Why Your Long Fingernails Hurt
Long fingernails are often admired for their beauty and elegance but can sometimes lead to discomfort and pain. The reasons behind the pain associated with long fingernails are
1. Pressure on nail bed and matrix
The tension that the nail bed and the nail matrix usually experience from long fingernails can cause pain. As nails grow longer, they pressure the sensitive nail bed underneath. This can lead to pain, especially if the nails curve or press into the surrounding skin.
When fingernails extend beyond their regular length, they exert pressure on the nail bed and the nail matrix. The nail bed contains a dense network of nerves and blood vessels, which can become compressed and irritated due to prolonged pressure.
This pressure causes discomfort and pain, as the nail bed isn’t designed to withstand prolonged contact with the nail’s harder surface.
Similarly, the nail matrix, responsible for producing new nail cells, can experience increased tension, leading to discomfort.
2. Paronychia
Paronychia caused by the presence of an ingrown nail can also be a reason why your long fingernails become painful. Long nails are more likely to curve or become misshapen, increasing the risk of nails growing into the surrounding skin and causing ingrown nails.
Ingrown nails can result in redness, swelling, sharp pain, and inflammation, all signs of paronychia. Your nails can end up becoming hot and give you throbbing pain.
3. Nail trauma
Another primary reason your longer nails can become painful is nail trauma. The tips of long nails are prone to developing microtrauma and tiny tears in the long run, which are usually painful.
Moreover, Long nails are more prone to breaking or getting caught in objects, which can result in traumatic injuries. Such injuries expose the sensitive nail bed and surrounding tissues, causing pain.
Also, engaging in activities where nails come into contact with hard surfaces or are subjected to pressure (e.g., typing or playing musical instruments) can lead to the nail plate separating from the nail bed.
4. Subungual hematoma
Subungual hematomas are injuries of the nail bed in which bleeding develops under the nail and these injuries The damage is caused by a direct blow or a crush injury to the distal phalanx, for example, getting a finger pinched in a doorway as a result of a heavy item drooping on the fingernail.
This condition usually causes pain and discoloration of the nail.
5. Psoriasis
If your nails suffer from psoriasis, it can cause your fingernails to hurt when they grow long. Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition that can affect the nails.
With psoriatic nail changes, your nails can become thickened, pitted, and prone to separation away from the nail bed. Therefore, your long nails are expected to become hurtful if you have any of these symptoms.
6. Nail fungus
Nail fungus, or nail fungal infection, is commonly found in toenails. Still, they also affect the fingernails, and the presence of this infection is also one of the reasons why fingernails become painful.
Majorly longer nails provide a great and conducive environment for bacteria and fungi to thrive, as the accumulation of dirt, debris, and moisture under the nails when they are not properly cared for can lead to infections, causing pain, redness, and inflammation.
7. Hyponychium compression
The hyponychium is the delicate tissue beneath the nail’s free edge. As nails grow long, the hyponychium can become compressed between the nail and the fingertip, causing pain and potential inflammation.
8. Hangnails
Hangnails occur when small portions of skin get a tear near the cuticle of a fingernail, and it is usually between the edge of the nail and the outer nail bed. The presence of hangnails can make your nails painful, especially when you pull or rip them off by force.
Home Remedies For Long Fingernails Pain
To alleviate the pain from a long fingernail, you can try out the following remedies at home:
- Soak your fingernail in warm water for about 20 minutes
- Apply antibiotic cream or ointment and use bandage when necessary
- Remove the hanging nail with a sterilized nail clipper or scissors
- Apply over-the-counter treatments like tea tree oil and vinegar to treat nail fungus
- Apply a cold compress and
- Take over-the-counter painkillers to alleviate the pain
How To Care For Long Fingernails
1. The first step in caring for your nail is Keeping your nails at a manageable length. Trim your nails straight across and file the edges gently to avoid sharp corners.
2. Maintain good nail hygiene by cleaning your nails regularly and gently pushing back cuticles after a shower or bath.
3. Hydrate your nails and cuticles with moisturizing creams or oils to prevent dryness and minimize the risk of painful hangnails.
4. Refrain from biting or picking at your nails, which can cause pain and lead to infections.
5. When engaging in activities that could stress or damage your nails, such as gardening or cleaning, wear protective gloves to minimize the risk of breakage or injury.
6. If you’re experiencing discomfort, soaking your fingertips in warm water can help relax the nail bed and alleviate pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can stress cause long fingernails pain?
Physical or emotional stress, certain diseases, and chemotherapy can cause white horizontal lines to appear across the nails and become painful. Brittle, peeling nails also are a common side effect of stress.
What happens if your fingernails get too long?
If you keep incredibly long nails, you are highly prone to get nail trauma as they can be easily caught in zippers, windows, or other such objects. You could strain your fingers when you type with longer fingernails. Typing texts on your phone also takes longer. Artificial nails are prone to infection if worn too long.
Conclusion
On a final note, long fingernails add extra beauty and elegance to the nail. Still, while growing out fingernails might seem like a natural process, excessively long nails can result in various discomforts and pain due to pressure, tension, nail trauma, nail fungus, hangnails, and a lot more.
Moreover, pain experienced when fingernails grow long can sometimes be linked to underlying health conditions or ailments. Iron deficiency anemia, peripheral neuropathy, nail psoriasis, ingrown nails, and fungal nail infections are some health factors contributing to the discomfort.
