It's no secret that the first impression is very important, and even nails, or rather their condition, affect the general positive opinion. But there are many factors that affect the condition of the nails, they can exfoliate, crumble or change color. The good condition of the nails is also an indicator of the excellent functioning of the internal organs. Even if there is no dangerous pathological process in the body, the condition of the nails can tell about what elements are missing in the body.
Non-pathological causes
Why are toenails crumbling? One of the most common reasons is to wear tight, closed, and uncomfortable shoes. In it, the nails are constantly subject to mechanical stress, so the regeneration process is accelerated, there are too many new cells, the nail plate goes beyond the bed, and upward growth begins. Then, a densification and a yellow tint are clearly noticeable. In some cases, longitudinal lines, cracks appear.
Many girls after removing gel polish or false nails can not boast of the beauty of nails. As a rule, it all depends on the professionalism of the master; such mistakes are often made by beginning specialists. Girls are not recommended to save on varnish. In the case of nails, quality should come first.
A lack of iron in the body often causes the toenails to crumble and exfoliate. This is especially true for the big toe, as well as on the hands. The same symptoms can occur if a person has weakened immunity, as a rule, with deterioration of the nails, deterioration of the hair and skin condition occurs. Lack of sulfur, vitamin C, and B vitamins also negatively affects the condition of nails.
Some medications can cause a negative effect on the nail plate. Do not forget that heredity plays an important role.
Pathological causes
If the toenails crumble, the cause may be an organic disease. Problems can arise against the background of untimely treatment of the disease, if it is protracted, chronic. Along with the deterioration of the condition of the nails, a rash appears on the skin, and the hair becomes sparse and dry.
Diabetes
Many people know that diabetes mellitus disrupts the vital activity of the whole organism, other pathologies develop against the background of the disease. Toenails are no exception: they turn yellow and crumble - this is a sign of diabetic onychomycosis.
This is due to the fact that with this disease, the concentration of sugar in the blood increases, which leads to damage to blood vessels and nerve endings. On the legs, such problems occur very quickly, because they are as far away as possible from the central nervous system. In addition, a constant load is applied to the lower extremities, and wounds and cracks there heal much more slowly.
People with a diagnosis of diabetes have one more problem - often the nail grows into the surrounding tissue, and this is a huge risk of infection or the appearance of trophic ulcers. Accordingly, with this disease it is necessary to pay special attention to the legs and nails, treat them with special means. However, most of the antifungal agents negatively affect the metabolism of insulin, therefore, their use requires constant monitoring by medical professionals.
Psoriatic onychodystrophy
This, of course, is a medical name, popularly called psoriasis on the nails of hands and feet. As a rule, separately from psoriasis of the skin, such a disease does not occur. In addition to crumbling the toenail, it collapses from the inside. In a certain period of time, papules may appear on the nails, which slightly resemble yellowish puddles. These papules contain pus, which is secreted as the nail grows. Another symptom is itching, it is impossible to determine immediately where it is, it seems that it is on the fingers or under the nails. The main danger of the disease is that you can completely lose the nail plate, and before that, the person will suffer discomfort.
And the worst thing is that psoriatic onychodystrophy is incurable, all therapy is aimed only at eliminating symptoms and discomfort. But in no case can one refuse treatment, it will help reduce the risk of relapse.
Eczema
The toenail crumbles? Perhaps this is eczema. Yes, this chronic disease can occur not only on the skin, but also on the nails. However, at first eczema appears on the skin, then is transferred to the nails.
On the nail plate, the hole becomes cloudy at first, begins to peel off, becomes loose and exfoliates. The nail itself is covered with transverse grooves, cavities appear, it crumbles and breaks. Swelling appears around the nail, vesicles form, the skin cracks, peels. In advanced cases, the nail plate can completely separate from the nail bed.
This type of disease can be treated locally. Ointments containing vitamins are prescribed. You will have to follow a diet and carefully monitor hygiene. In this situation, nail extension can help. The procedure will hide not only the problem, but also align the nail plate. Naturally, the building can be carried out exclusively after a course of treatment.
Other pathological problems
In addition to the reasons described above, a toenail may crumble in other cases:
- Climax In this period of life, when the hormonal restructuring of the female body occurs, there is a serious lack of estrogen. And this is a violation of mineral metabolism, metabolism, almost all organs suffer.
- Liver disease. In such cases, the metabolism in the body is disturbed, from which the nails suffer.
- Lichen. This is a viral disease that requires medical attention.
- Intoxication of the whole organism.
But still, the most common reason that the toenail is crumbling is fungal diseases. Onychomycosis can be infected in the most unexpected place: on the beach or in the pool. Doctors are also sure that people with a genetic predisposition are more likely to be affected by this disease, that is, if the fungus is present in blood relatives, then the child has a huge risk of also getting onychomycosis.
How to treat?
If the nail on the big toe crumbles, but it is clearly known that this is not a disease, then, first of all, you should start by adjusting the diet. The menu should include the maximum number of fruits (apricots, citrus fruits), dairy products, spinach and nuts.
To achieve the maximum necessary level of iron, selenium and iodine in the body, it is not necessary to drink tablets. It is abundant in apples, seafood, beef liver, seaweed, brewer's yeast.
Wax can help rectify the situation. For the procedure, it is necessary to melt 5 or 6 tablespoons of wax in a steam bath, after cooling, immerse your hands or feet (10-15 minutes), doing this 2-3 times for 7 days. The procedure is best done before bedtime and, without cleansing the nails of wax, go to bed.
You can make baths with sea salt every day. It is recommended to treat the damaged finger daily with sea buckthorn or olive oil.
Salon treatments
What to do - toenails crumble ... Sign up for a procedure. However, before contacting a beauty salon, it is still recommended to undergo an examination to exclude any pathology.
One of the most popular procedures is paraffin therapy. It is somewhat reminiscent of a procedure with wax, which can be done at home. The salon can offer a massage course, by the way, many effective techniques have been invented for nails.
Some salons offer a course of diathermy, that is, the effect on the nails in order to improve the nutrition of blood vessels and blood circulation. Similar to a hospital procedure - ultraphoresis, salon procedures are also carried out, only with the name vitamin ultraphoresis. When processing nails, their surface is saturated with vitamin formulations.
The sealing procedure is the application of a nutrient solution to the nail and fixing it with wax. The effectiveness of the procedure can be observed for three months, then you will have to repeat everything again. What else to do if the toenail crumbles?
Spa pedicure is not a one-day procedure, but a whole complex, which involves not only visiting the salon, but also home care.
Prevention
If the toenails crumble, treatment, of course, is required, but it is best to prevent this condition. First of all, sweating on the legs and arms should be controlled. Be sure to wash your feet daily, even if they appear to be clean.
After visiting public places, especially those where there is high humidity (pool, sauna, beach), it is better to treat the limbs with a special antifungal spray.
Women should not save on cosmetics, including nail polishes. Do not forget to apply a protective agent before applying varnish. If you prefer salon procedures, then carefully choose a master so that he is responsible for the sanitization of tools.
And, of course, eat balanced, give up spontaneous snacks and fast foods, as such a diet becomes a cause of vitamin deficiency in the body.