Diseases on the nails bring a lot of discomfort and psychological problems. On the nails, not only a fungus can occur, but also many other equally serious problems. And often they are only symptoms of some more serious diseases. If any diseases appear on the nails, this inevitably leads to a change in the structure of the nail plate. Try to find the time to visit a specialist who will help you get rid of this unpleasant ailment.
What is nail disease
If you see a shiny nail plate on your feet that has a smooth pale pink surface, then this is a sure sign that everything is in order with your he alth. Unfortunately, no one is immune from the appearance of diseases on the nails, which are the result of serious problems in the body. So, a similar problem can occur for the following reasons:
- If there are infectious fungal infections on the nails.
- This symptom may have diseases that were caused by disorders in the endocrine or nervous system.
- Could be a birth defect.
- Various injuries can also lead to disease on the toenails.
- Such diseases can even be inherited.
- Improper nutrition leads to damage to the nail plate.
- If a person does not take good care of his nails.
- Smoking harms even our nails.
- The cause of such diseases is often skin, infectious diseases.
- Harmful effect on the nail plate exposure to various chemicals.
- Avitaminosis inevitably leads to the fact that the nails, and not only, begin to break down.
What do nail diseases signal
Even by toenails, you can determine that some kind of virus has settled in the body, or an exacerbation has occurred. So, any changes on the nail plate are evidence that you should pay attention to the general condition of your body.
If you notice that your toenails have acquired a yellow tint, and moreover, blue has appeared near the bed, then consult a doctor to rule out the presence of diabetes.
The nails become white in those people who suffer from liver disease.
From oxygen starvation, toenails, and on the hands, too, acquire a blue tint.
Nailthe plate may become pale. Most likely, a person has anemia or some kind of kidney disease, which is also recommended to immediately check with a specialist.
But lung diseases manifest themselves in the form of slow growth of nails, they can also become thicker, turn yellow.
Nail fungus
Perhaps one of the most serious and common causes of nail problems is toenail fungus. Scientifically, this disease is called onychomycosis. What is it? These are pathogenic microorganisms that spread and grow quite quickly. If you do not take up the treatment of the disease immediately, then late therapy will be too complicated and lengthy. The fungus reproduces especially well at high humidity and air temperature. What are the reasons for its appearance?
- If a person neglects the rules of personal hygiene, visiting public places such as a sauna or a swimming pool.
- It is strictly forbidden to wear other people's shoes, especially without socks, because you do not know what bacteria live on the feet of strangers.
- If you work in a room with adverse conditions for a long time, then it is quite possible that foreign microorganisms on your legs will begin to grow actively.
- It happens that the fungus on the nails appears due to age-related changes.
- In addition to all of the above, diseases of the endocrine system can cause a similar ailment.
Well helps in the treatment of this disease varnish from the fungus of toenails. However, it is often quite expensive, and it is suitablenot for everyone, so it is better to buy it only after the recommendation of a specialist.
How to tell if it's a fungus
There are many signs by which you can accurately determine the presence of fungus on the nails. First of all, thickenings appear on the nails, which are simply impossible not to notice. Also, the nails begin to crack, and this causes great inconvenience and pain. The color of the nail plate can change dramatically, most often it turns yellow. Nails begin to break and exfoliate. Not only the nail plate itself is affected, but also the skin that is around. The skin begins to burn, itch, clearly visible redness appears. Also, don't be surprised if your toenail turns blue, because it can be not only the result of a blow.
As for the early stages, the nails become dull, lose their shine and he althy color, and yellow spots may even appear on the surface. If you contact a specialist in time, you can quickly and easily get rid of the fungus. To understand that the fungus has begun to progress, it is enough just to observe the changes on your nail plate. It can become a little bumpy, the tissues become very inflamed, the nail plate is completely destroyed, its shade changes. You can even see black toenails, and this will be a clear symptom of the fungus.
Platonychia
Platonychia cannot be confused with another disease, since its clear sign is a flat nail plate. The disease belongs tocurable, but only if it is not a congenital pathology. This disease does not leave any toe unattended. There are a number of reasons why platonychia can occur:
- The disease may be hereditary.
- This may be due to a malfunction of the heart.
- Pathologies in the field of endocrinology have a great influence.
- The body can be extremely lacking in protein, and this causes platonychia.
- Liver disease is also on the list of causes.
- Various leg injuries can cause this problem.
- If a person has any skin diseases, then their late therapy leads to the appearance of platonychia.
- If you get the wrong pedicure, then your nails can suffer greatly from this, and subsequently have to deal with the above disease.
You can cure a pathology only if you know exactly the cause of its occurrence, and the cause is established only under the supervision of doctors. Moreover, in order to establish exactly why platonychia arose, it is necessary to observe whether there are any other symptoms.
So, if, in addition to the fact that the nail plate became even, it also acquired a bluish tint, then the cause was VVD, gastritis, or circulatory disorders. But in the event that the nails just start to break and become dry, this means that the body lacks some vitamins, the supply of which urgently needs to be replenished.
Striated nails
It is quite simple to determine such a disease, since a transverse arcuate groove appears on the entire surface of the nail plate. There are many reasons for its appearance, you need to know about them:
- Perhaps there are some inflammatory processes in the body that give similar side effects.
- A person may be sick with some kind of infectious disease that carries such a manifestation.
- If the master did a poor-quality pedicure and injured the roller on the nails, then there is a high probability of transverse striation.
- Eczema is not a very common but possible cause.
- Even neuropsychiatric pathologies can affect the nails.
- Psoriasis is another disease that causes these additional problems.
- Measles or scarlet fever causes striation in children.
You can get rid of this disease only if you manage to overcome all the pathologies that affected its development.
Micronychia
The micro prefix itself indicates that with this disease, the human nail plate is greatly shortened. Micronichia is especially often diagnosed in those people who have a bad habit of biting their nails. The reasons for the appearance of such a disease are quite serious. And you can get rid of the disease only after passing the full course of treatment. So, the following diseases become the cause of micronichia:
- Trophoneurosis.
- Progressive scleroderma.
- Genuine epilepsy, which appeared as a result of metabolic disorders.
Ingrown toenail
Sometimes it happens that various inflammatory processes occur on the fingers, as a result of which the nail pierces the skin and can grow in. And also this happens if the toenail is cracked, and this piece is strongly stuck into the skin. It is quite difficult not to notice such a problem, since there is severe pain, swelling, pus may even be released and body temperature rises. There are several reasons why nails grow into the skin of the feet:
- If a person cut their nails incorrectly.
- If you wear tight shoes for a long time.
- After receiving various injuries, nails can cut into the skin.
- Even a simple fungal infection can be the cause.
To get rid of such an ailment, you need to go through a number of procedures. First of all, the surgeon removes that piece of the nail plate that has grown into the skin. Further, the task of the patient is to regularly make foam baths with the addition of antibacterial agents. Be sure to wash your feet and do not neglect the rules of personal hygiene. You should choose only high-quality shoes, and women should avoid high heels. It is recommended to visit only experienced and proven pedicure masters who will not make mistakes during the procedure. Sweaty feet need to be de alt with by those who face this problem, as a fungus can develop. In especially advanced cases, the doctorforced to remove some of the nail plate.
Atrophy
This disease has its own characteristics, by which it can be easily identified. The nail plate becomes thinner, longitudinal stripes appear, the shape of the nail changes. There are quite a few reasons for atrophy:
- Psoriasis is one of the most common causes of atrophy.
- A disease like lichen planus also leads to this disease.
- Deficiency in the body of vitamins A, B, C.
- Atrophy can bother people who lack iron, calcium, phosphorus or chromium in their bodies.
- It is possible that trauma to the nail plate will lead to atrophy.
- Even a fungal infection causes a similar problem.
- If the nails are exposed to harmful chemicals for a long time, they become atrophied.
- Drinking too much alcohol can damage your nails.
- Some medicines can also have this effect on nails.
- Some diseases of the digestive system have this symptom.
You can completely get rid of atrophy only if you follow a diet. In especially difficult cases, the doctor is forced to resort to the removal of the nail plate. Dermatologists prefer the following course of treatment:
- First of all, the patient should purchase drugs that increase immunity in the presence of systemic diseases.
- Medications must be prescribedcomplexes that contain many trace elements.
- A number of sedatives should be drunk.
- Be sure to use various antifungal agents.
- The patient should regularly take therapeutic baths.
Prevention of various diseases
Almost for each of the above diseases, prevention has the same points.
First of all, you should wash your feet daily and do not neglect the rules of hygiene. Try to choose only high-quality shoes that do not restrict your movements. Before going out, make sure your shoes are dry and fresh. You can not use other people's things (socks, slippers, shoes, towels), visiting places such as a bath, shower, sauna, pool. It is not recommended to even walk barefoot on the floor in an unfamiliar room. And you should also regularly undergo examinations with specialists to exclude factors that can provoke diseases on the toenails.
Granny's methods
Folk treatment for toenail fungus gives good results, so you should write down a few recipes for yourself. They will help not only to cure diseases, but also to prevent their occurrence.
If you find the first symptoms of toenail disease, then take a teaspoon of tea tree oil, half a teaspoon of orange and olive oil, and grape seed oil. All this must be mixed and moistened with a cotton swab in the mixture, and then applied to the affected nails andleave until completely dry. This procedure should be carried out twice a day.
As for traditional methods, the doctor will be able to prescribe treatment for toenails only after diagnosis. Most often, various ointments are prescribed. However, toenail fungus polish can often be used.
