In terms of the appearance of the nail plates, a lot can be said about the person - not only about how he cares for himself, but also about his state of health. In China, some experts may even make a diagnosis by simply examining your nails.
The keratinized plates on the fingertips of the upper and lower extremities, which we call the nails, protect the
phalanges of the fingers. They are quite durable, but along with this there are many defects that affect the nail plates. Among them, not the last place is the thickening of the nails on the legs. And this problem is not only aesthetic in nature - it can be a sign of some diseases.
Normally, the thickness of the nail plate of the hands is about half mm, on the legs - up to one millimeter. A healthy nail has a slightly pink color and a smooth surface. White or yellowish color of the nail plate, the presence of furrows and a thickening of the nail - an occasion to consult a specialist to find out the cause. Most often, this trouble concerns the
big toes .
Why does a thickening of the toenails appear?The reasons can be various - from a genetic predisposition to serious diseases. We single out the most common factors:
- psoriasis of the nail plate;
- foot fungus;
- violation of blood circulation ;
- congenital pachyonchia - the so-called hereditary tendency to thicken nails;
- neuropathy - a disease of the peripheral nerves of the arms and legs;
- incorrectly selected shoes;
- malnutrition, deficiency of vitamins and minerals;
- skin diseases.
How to treat thickening of the toenails?
First of all, consult a doctor. After the examination, he will make a diagnosis, and you will undergo adequate treatment.
The nail plate can become thicker after an injury, a blow of a finger, for example. Then you should not panic - soon there will be a thickening of the toenails, treatment is not required. Another thing if a fungus is found. Then it is necessary to use antifungal drugs of both local and general action. By the way, fungus is the most common cause that creates a thickening of the toenails. Currently in the pharmacy you can find a wide variety of means to combat it, but it is better not to self-medicate - consult your doctor so as not to harm your health.
People with atherosclerosis, rheumatism, joint diseases and gout are often prone to onychodystrophy - a non-fungal infection of the nail plate. The main reason for its occurrence in such cases is a violation of the blood supply to the fingertips. In such a situation, fingertips massage and drugs to improve microcirculation will help. In other cases, non-fungal thickening of the toenails is treated by changing the diet and using special medications to improve metabolism.
If the problem is congenital pachyonychia, make soda baths and drink vitamins. In general, it is worth noting that problems with the nail plates are often the result of a weakened immune system.
Thickening of nails is a problem that you should pay attention to at the initial stage. After all, neglected forms can lead to the appearance of subungual ulcers, trauma to neighboring fingers, as well as infection of the whole organism, if it is a fungus.