Every person wants to look good, have neat hands. But it so happens that desire does not coincide with opportunity. I want to do a manicure, and the specialist says that you need to first cure the disease, and then bring the gloss on the nails. There are fungal and non-fungal pathogens. Only a doctor can establish this and prescribe appropriate medical treatment. A fungus is a kind of infection. How to determine the disease on the nails and how to deal with it? We will talk about this in the article below.
What can cause the appearance of the fungus?
- Fungal nail disease can be infected in the pool if you take a steam bath in the sauna. After all, sheets and towels are not always conscientiously processed in saunas.
- Often people become the culprits of their illness themselves, wearing tight shoes, as the legs begin to sweat, moisturize, and this is enough to start the development of the fungus.
- Rarely, but it also happens that a non-fungal pathogen can be inherited.
- If you transfer any infectious disease, then an ailment may appear in the form of consequences.
- Improper nutrition can cause fungal infections of the nails.
- Passion for smoking.
What symptoms can be seen with the appearance of the pathogen?
- The nail begins to change color.
- There is a thickening of the nail.
- The nail plate begins to delaminate.
- Burrs, grooves may appear.
What to do so that the nails do not hurt?
- Keep your hands clean.
- Treat your hands with special disinfectants.
- Wear only your shoes.
- Pay particular attention to your diet.
Let's look at what nail diseases are most common.
Candidiasis of the nail rolls
Candidiasis of the nail rollers is a disease of the skin and nails that occurs as a result of a yeast-like fungus infection, which belongs to the genus Candida. The occurrence of a similar phenomenon on the nail rollers is provoked by the following factors:
- violation of the integrity of the skin on the fingers;
- exposure to rollers with substances of chemical origin;
- impaired metabolism in the body;
- insufficient blood circulation in the limbs;
- prolonged use of corticosteroids and antibiotics.
The skin is usually shiny, reddened. The cushion is pillow-shaped, edematous. In this case, there are minor discharges in the form of a cheesy discharge. After some time, peeling appears on the edge of the roller on the nails, paronychia may develop, which provokes the disappearance of the nail skin. A person is worried about severe colicky pain in the phalanges near the nails.
With the development of the disease, local treatment is usually prescribed, if necessary, including immunomodulators and systemic drugs, such as Fluconazole and Futsis. In acute inflammation, it is recommended to use antimycotic agents for the treatment of fungal diseases of the nails:
- "Amphotericin B";
- Econazole
- "Isoconazole";
- "Bifonazole";
- "Naftifin";
- Miconazole, etc.
Epidermophytosis
As a rule, by epidermophytosis of nails it is customary to mean a disease characterized by spots or stripes on the nail plates, as well as increased fragility.
The presence of nail epidermophytosis should be suspected if the patient has the following symptoms of the disease:
- Yellow spots or streaks on the nails. The very first signal is the marks on the nails. With delayed treatment, yellowness spreads to the entire surface.
- Curvature and thickening of the nail. After this follows the curvature and thickening of the nail plate.
- Fragility of the nail.
If the course of the disease is left to chance, then epidermophytosis comes to the final stage, characterized by increased fragility of the nail plate. The nail begins to crumble.
Ringworm
This disease is a nail fungus that affects the nail plate (mycosis). It is quite common among the world's population. The following forms are characteristic of mycosis:
- Normotrophic form - with its progression, a change in the color of the nail is characteristic. Stripes appear that have a yellow tint. The thickness of the nail itself does not change.
- Hypertrophic form. It is characterized by a thickening of the nail plate and slight deformation. Pain is present during exertion.
- Atrophic form. This is the most dangerous nail damage. It becomes thinner, has a burgundy color and subsequently collapses completely. After rejection, the skin area is covered with loose growths.
The transmission routes of ringworm are fairly simple. It can be transmitted at home by contact with a sick person, as well as in public places. It can be pools, saunas.
Felon
This unpleasant ailment can occur in every person. This occurs due to the ingress of microbes under the nail plate. In the future, there is inflammation, which has serious complications. One of them is considered suppurative process in the area of the nail. At the initial stage, the disease can be treated conservatively. And when there are purulent discharge, the intervention will be only surgical.
The pathway of infection is often associated with microtrauma. If contaminants enter the wound, an active inflammatory process begins under the nail plate. Therefore, to avoid serious complications, it is necessary to treat the wound with an antiseptic solution and, if necessary, make a dressing. Timely assistance will help to avoid such a dangerous disease as felon nails.
Leukonechia
Leukonychia is a disease of the nails on the hands, accompanied by the formation of white spots and stripes on the nail plate. It is caused due to pathological changes in the structure of the nail, as well as some other factors:
- nail injuries;
- nail extension using low-quality materials;
- frequent use of household chemicals, reagents and paints;
- the use of certain drugs, including toxic;
- wearing tight shoes;
- fungal infection;
- systemic diseases (heart failure, cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, zinc and protein deficiency, eczema, etc.).
- hereditary diseases-syndromes: Bart-Pumphrey, Daria, Gorlin-Goltz, Bauer.
For the successful treatment of nail disease, it is necessary to eliminate its cause. First of all, it is worth balancing nutrition, using various strengthening baths for nails and nourishing creams. The use of vitamin and antifungal drugs is shown. When working with household chemicals, it is imperative to wear rubber gloves to protect nails.
Onycholysis
Onycholysis is a disease of the nails on the hands, which is expressed in violation of the integrity of the nail plate, its exfoliation from the bed of the nail. After the lesion, a cavity forms under the nail, which is similar in color to the free edge of the plate. In some cases, this cavity may be yellow, crimson, or even bluish. At first, exfoliation is small, but with improper and untimely treatment, onycholysis can lead to nail loss.
Causes:
- mechanical damage;
- allergy to chemicals;
- fungal diseases;
- dermatovenereological diseases;
- endocrine diseases;
- the use of tetracycline and fluoroquinolone preparations;
- digestive or heart problems.
In order to cure onycholysis, it is necessary to establish the exact reason for its development, for which a consultation of narrow specialists is prescribed. But in most cases, iron preparations, multivitamin complexes (containing vitamins of groups A and B), as well as calcium in food or pharmaceutical preparations are prescribed.
Melanonychia
Melanonychia is a condition of the nail plate, in which brown or dark lines form on it. There is a similar disease due to the deposition of a large amount of melanin. Often, melanonychia is not a separate disease, but a symptom. This is a common occurrence for the Negroid race, since melanin levels are much higher in this type of skin. But if melanonychia occurs on fair skin, this may be a sign of cancer.
Melanin can be deposited in the human nail plates for many reasons:
- chronic radiation sickness;
- conducting chemotherapy;
- taking antibiotics, immunosuppressants and cytostatics;
- endocrine diseases;
- the use of drugs to treat fungal infections of the nail plate.
The most significant and common symptom of melanonychia is called a changed color of the nails, their thickening (does not occur often), the appearance of brown stripes, astigmatism, and even curvature of the fingers. Melanonychia, which was provoked by the use of antibiotics or the use of chemotherapy, is not difficult to treat. Usually, doctors prescribe Hydroxycarbamide, Cyclophosphamide, or Doxorubicin.
Hyperkeratosis
With this disease, there is a rapid proliferation of cells in the upper layer of the nail, because of this, deformation is observed in the affected area. As a result of such a rapid process, formations in the nail plate are observed. This disease is not independent and most often manifests itself as a consequence of a transferred fungal disease.
The types of pathogen may be different. This is primarily streptococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and many other various types of microorganisms that live in the external environment. As a result of the lesion, the diseased nail thickens, has a light yellow color. If the lesion occurs in the leg area, then an unpleasant odor arises. This disease causes the patient many inconveniences, as a result, other complications that a person may experience are noted.
Chromonychia
This disease is not a defeat of various fungi. It is most often associated with age-related indicators and develops as a result of long-term administration of drugs. Chromonychia - this term refers to the defeat of the nail plates. They acquire a bright yellow color. Most often all nails are affected.
There are quite a few reasons. This may be due to the influence of external factors, as well as diseases of internal organs in humans. This disease is divided into several types:
- False - most often associated with the use of chemicals.
- True - this disease is considered quite serious. During it, not only the nails are affected, but also swelling on the limbs and serious deformities occur.
Forecasts of doctors are not always positive, but treatment sometimes gives a good result.
Paronychia
This is a disease that is associated with injury or exposure to chemicals. It manifests itself on the nail plate with severe swelling. In the area of the nail, inflammation occurs, which is accompanied by pain and redness.
It is not difficult to diagnose this disease, an experienced dermatologist, based on complaints and the general picture, makes such a diagnosis. The patient complains of discomfort in the periungual area. If infection occurs, an active process begins, the patient has a high body temperature and general weakness. In protracted cases suppurative process is possible. And surgery may also be required. Therefore, it is important for any injury to the skin to treat the wound with an antiseptic solution and apply a bactericidal patch.
Nail grooves
Changes in the structure of nails are often expressed in the occurrence of grooves. The main reasons for their development are:
- mechanical damage;
- dehydration;
- nail damage by fungus;
- lack of vitamins, macro- and microelements;
- conducting chemotherapy;
- taking certain medications;
- the use of rigid diets.
Most often, grooves occur as a result of functional changes, excessive deposition of salts, deficiency of vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and protein, with anemia, and also due to lack of nutrition. If the diet is complete, but the grooves still appear, this may indicate a malfunction of the small intestine and insufficient assimilation of the substances entering it.
To correct the amount of nutrients for the body, an additional intake of vitamin complexes is usually prescribed. Marine calcium also favorably affects the nail plate . Equally important is controlling fluid balance. After all, it is because of the lack of moisture that a convex groove may appear in the middle of the nail. If such treatment was ineffective, you should consult a dermatologist, onychologist, family doctor, who will prescribe another drug.
Exfoliation of nails
The reasons for the stratification of nails is associated with frequent stresses, problems in nutrition, vitamin deficiency, metabolic disorders and decreased immunity. Therefore, when this problem appears, it must be solved as soon as possible: to perform an examination and undergo a course of treatment. Immunomodulatory and multivitamin preparations are usually prescribed, and a therapeutic diet is also prescribed.
The most common causes of nail stratification:
- negative impact of household chemicals;
- unbalanced nutrition;
- improper nail care;
- hidden diseases of the body systems and its internal organs;
- insufficient amount of fluid consumed;
- mechanical damage.
Laminated nails look thinned or, conversely, thickened, scales detach from them, and even longitudinal cracks may appear. The edges of the nail plate are rough, uneven, the natural glossy gloss disappears, the color of the nail plates becomes grayish or yellowish.
If the nails exfoliate due to diseases, then it is necessary to treat them. With fungal infection, the use of creams, ointments, tablets, therapeutic baths and gels is indicated. With vitamin deficiency, special attention should be paid to the use of foods with a large number of minerals and vitamins.
Hypertrophy
The development of such a disease is often caused by external infection or hereditary factors. The nails become very hard, thickened. They lengthen and take the form of claws and lamb horns.
Nail plates usually acquire a brownish, gray, yellowish color, ribbing and stripes may also be noted. If hypertrophy affects the sides of the nails, this is called a "growing nail." In the event that inflammation of the periungual roller is added to it, we can talk about the development of paronychia. Panaritium (inflammation with the release of pus) may also occur due to a puncture of the phalanx of the finger.
The prognosis of hypertrophy of the nail plate is usually favorable if it occurs due to mechanical stress. But the situation can be complicated by disorders that occur due to rather dangerous diseases of the spinal cord or brain - paraplegia, hemiplegia, etc.
Atrophy
They began to notice how the structure of nails changed - they became thick or too thin, stripes, depressions appeared on them, color changed, grooves formed, nails lost their shine? Go see a dermatologist. This is nail atrophy - a disease of the nail plate. It happens both inborn and acquired. The reasons may be different. Congenital pathology is associated with a violation of the endocrine system, and the acquired causes are as follows:
- Various skin diseases: lichen or psoriasis.
- Deficiency of the main vitamins - A, B, C, E, which are responsible for the condition of the skin.
- Various bumps, injuries that often occur when wearing narrow-toed shoes.
- Inflammation.
- As a result of the use of antibiotics.
- There is an infection.
You can treat the disease at home, using various antifungal ointments.
The list of nail diseases (photos and descriptions of some are presented above) can be continued further. Only the most common ones are described here.