When fungal infection occurs, it may cause no symptoms. However, if an associated secondary bacterial infection occurs, pain, swelling and throbbing may be the result. Typically, antibiotics are needed to clear the secondary bacterial infection. Women get so used to them that they forget to give their own nails a rest. Many women are allergic to the glue or acrylic used to cement the nails in place, says Elizabeth Abel, M.D., clinical associate professor of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Some women are also allergic to the formalin in nail polish.
Symptoms include redness, scaling, swelling and pain in the nail folds or adjacent tissue. Complications include bacterial infections and such bothersome reactions as oozing and drainage from around the nail. Fungi can travel back and forth between hands and feet. Usually, what happens is that people develop a break in their cuticles, and that's the entering point. If you think that you have a nail infection, consult a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and proper medical treatment.