There is a huge variety of nail diseases. All of them are divided into two large groups - fungal and non-fungal. As a rule, the disease leads to deformation of the nail plate, a change in its color, shape, size. Such a problem brings discomfort, makes you feel insecure.
General information
More than half of all cases are fungal diseases. Doctors say that nails are a kind of mirror that gives an accurate picture of a person's he alth. Often it is by the nails that you can see that there is some kind of problem in the body. Judging by the statistics of specialized clinics, their portfolios and the photos they publish, nail diseases on the hands are most often fungal in nature. Different stages of the disease are accompanied by more or less changes.
Some nail he alth problems reflect systemic diseases. Often, the nail plates suffer if a person becomes ill with eczema, becomes infected with lichen. Possible damage to the nails with psoriasis. Regardless of the reasonany pathological condition requires adequate treatment.
Onychomycosis
Such nail diseases are explained by infection with pathological fungi. Over time, the shine of the nail plate is lost, the color is broken. Colored spots or streaks may appear in some areas. The thickness increases, deformations are observed. Nails affected by onychomycosis are characterized by crumbling, destruction. Possible complete rejection of the nail bed.
Lichen
Possible damage to the nails with lichen planus. Such a disease leads to a violation of the shade and a decrease in the thickness of the plate. The free edge is prone to delamination. Over time, separation of the nail bed is possible. The structure of the rollers is broken. Subsequently, the nails become smaller, and the surface becomes covered with ribs, cracks.
Currently, it was not possible to identify exactly why the disease develops. Doctors know that several factors have a complex effect at once, but not all of them have been identified, and those already known by many scientists are disputed as unreliable.
Psoriasis
If you study the portfolio and case histories of patients of specialized clinics, you can see a lot of expressive and not very pleasant photos. A disease of the nails on the hands, leading to a deformity that makes a strong negative impression - psoriasis. The reasons for it are not exactly established at the moment, but it is known that a complex of factors plays a role. The development of psoriasis is possible in the presence of malfunctions in the immune system.
Violation of appearance and he althnail plate is one of the early signs of psoriasis. Plaques on the skin appear much later. Medical practice shows that nail changes are often ignored, the patient turns to the doctor only at the stage of formation of large plaques on the body. This approach is wrong, because therapy is more effective the sooner it can be started. Over time, the nail matrix is more and more disturbed, and this affects the appearance.
Some Features
Psoriasis is a disease of the nails, when depressions-points first appear. The nail looks like it has been poked with something. The bed of the nail gradually separates. As the condition progresses, smoky lines may be observed. The plate becomes dry, brittle, keratosis is localized under the nails.
Secondary psoriasis leads to a change in shape, the formation of scales on the surface of the nail plate. Over time, furrows appear here, the shade becomes unhe althy. For many, psoriasis is accompanied by peeling of the nail, lamination of the plate.
Eczema
As described above, this disease is provoked by numerous factors. When the nail is damaged, the plate gradually delaminates, the anatomically correct shape is violated. The surface of the nail fades, loses its smoothness. Transverse furrows appear. The level of damage to the nail matrix determines the thickness of the plate. With this disease, foci of inflammation often appear on the nails, under the influence of which the nail skin disappears. The area is covered with cracks, non-healing wounds appear.
Harmfulfactors
Can I identify a specific nail disease from a photo? Some cases are quite characteristic, so a detailed photograph is really enough to make a preliminary diagnosis, but usually an examination by a specialist is required. In addition, the pathological condition is not always explained by the disease. For example, if the nail crumbles, breaks, exfoliates, the plate is fragile, but there is no obvious pathology, perhaps this condition is provoked by the influence of chemical factors, toxic substances, cosmetics or dirty water.
Sometimes a violation of the integrity and he alth of the nails indicates a malfunction of the thyroid gland. In the elderly, a change in the nail plate is one of the signs of age. Fragility can be provoked by chronic psoriasis. It leads to crumbling of the plate. In some cases, psoriasis is congenital. It is also accompanied by such symptoms.
Trachnonychia
This name of the nail disease is familiar to few, although the pathological condition is relatively common. Often it accompanies psoriasis, eczema, lichen, neurodermatitis. With trachnonychia, the nail plate is brittle, loses its luster, is dry, and flaky. The pathological condition can be expressed by the presence of pinpoint depressions. The free nail edge is covered with notches. On visual inspection, numerous cracks can be seen.
Onychorrhexis, onychoshisis
Such names are used to denote the condition in which the nail plate exfoliates, breaks, splits. Onychorrhexis is a term used to describethe appearance of longitudinal splits, accompanied by increased fragility. Onychoshisis is a disease of the nails, in the description of which the emphasis is on the presence of transverse violations of the integrity of the plate.
Often, both of these disorders are explained by frequent injuries. This is typical, for example, for musicians who play instruments with the use of nails. Pathological conditions are also possible in those who do manicures too often. Sometimes splitting of the plate accompanies lichen, eczema, although there are often cases of congenital disorders. Onychorrhexis is often a sign of aging.
Longitudinal furrows
Treatment of nail disease in this case is not required. As a rule, furrows are just a change in the state of the nail plate, due to the age factor. But there are cases when the condition was provoked by lichen, a metabolic disorder. Frequent and severe stress can play a role.
Sometimes longitudinal grooves can be observed on the nails of a perfectly he althy person. Combs, furrows reflect the structural features of the lower surface of the nail plate.
Canal dystrophy
Often, it is this nail disease that can be determined quite accurately from a photograph. Its characteristic feature is the area of localization. First of all, the plates on the hands and on the thumbs suffer. A wide channel is formed in the central part. Somewhat less often, such a formation is observed with an offset from the center to the outer edge.
There are cases when furrows formed aftergetting injured. A possible source of the problem is the malfunctioning of the autonomic NS. The disease is transmitted genetically; if among close relatives there were those suffering from such a pathological condition, it is highly likely that sooner or later it will manifest itself in a person.
Transverse furrows
The doctor, explaining how to determine the disease by the nails, will definitely pay attention to the fact that somatic he alth problems are often expressed by the presence of transverse stripes on the plate. In some cases, this phenomenon is provoked by external aggressive factors. The level of damage to the nail matrix can be assessed by calculating the depth of the furrow.
Often, grooves are observed if a person suffers from a skin disease. Heart attacks, chemotherapy, sudden temperature changes and hypothermia can lead to such consequences. There are cases when longitudinal furrows arose against the background of Raynaud's disease.
Nuances of state
Possible lateral damage to the nail plate. This is observed when infected with a fungus or due to fibroma under the nail.
Even a he althy nail can suddenly crack. As a rule, this is due to excessive efforts applied to the surface during manicure processing. Often the use of sharp tools leads to this.
Against the background of some pathological conditions, the thickness of the nail plate may become larger. This is often caused by a fungal infection, psoriasis. Possible changes in thickness with eczema. Sometimes an increase in thickness as part of the definition of a disease by nails suggests lichen or a wart. To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe special tests or studies.
Pincer Nail
Photo, description of the disease of the nails on the hands can be found in specialized medical reference books and portfolios of clinics involved in the treatment of the nail plate. The disease is quite unpleasant, characterized by a change in the shape of the nail. The edges of the plate grow into the tissue roller around the nail. This provokes inflammatory processes, leads to the appearance of crusts. Surfaces, the integrity of which is broken, often bleed, granulations, purulent compartments are observed. The disease is characterized by a constant heavy smell that surrounds a sick person. The patient himself suffers from severe pain. If the disease is localized on the legs, this leads to lameness. Medical statistics show that young people are more likely to worry about pincer nails.
The described disease of toenails may appear due to heredity. The probability of its development is higher, if the longitudinal curvature of the nail is strongly pronounced, the plate begins to grow obliquely. As a rule, the nail roller is slightly larger than normal, and the nail bed is narrow.
Deterioration is observed if you use narrow shoes, cut your nails incorrectly and inaccurately. A complication of the case is possible if the patient is injured. Dancers, ballerinas, athletes involved in football, basketball, boxing are more likely to develop tick nails.
Onychogryphosis
This toenail disease can appear if a person wears uncomfortable shoes, frostbitelimbs were injured. Sometimes onychogryphosis is provoked by a fungal infection or a violation of blood flow in the legs. The condition may appear in old age without accompanying pathological causes.
There are cases when onychogryphosis was congenital, if during the development of the fetus for some reason the nutrition of the nail bed was disturbed. Onychogryphosis can be localized on one leg or simultaneously on two. The main symptom is a stony structure, brownish or brown stripes along the plate, reaching a length of 3.5 cm. Twisting of the nails is possible, which makes them look like horns.
Onycholysis and onychomadesis
Onycholysis - a condition in which the plate is separated from the bed. Often this pathology is observed when infected with fungi or against the background of psoriasis. This condition is rather unpleasant - however, who can please the detachment of fingernails? What diseases can provoke pathology, doctors are still establishing. It is known for sure that detachment is possible with severe poisoning and thyrotoxicosis, against the background of eczema, injury to the area. Usually delamination starts from the free side. The plate turns white in this part.
Onychomadesis is a term that refers to the complete separation of the plate. The start of the process is at the proximal edge. It is noted that onychomadesis is characterized by a high rate of progress. Treatment of toenail or handnail disease is difficult. As a rule, thumbs are affected. The complexity of the case is that doctors still do not know exactly all the factors that provoke onychomadesis. Research has shown that thisthe condition is observed with significant malfunctions of the nail matrix.
In some cases, onychomadesis is provoked by trauma, incorrectly done manicure, the use of sharp instruments for nail treatment. There is a possibility that the pathological condition will be the result of fungal invasion, eczema, psoriasis. Possible onychomadesis with epidermolysis, sarcoidosis.
Is it fungus?
If you study medical publications and reference books, rich in photos and descriptions of toenail and handnail diseases, it becomes clear that more than half of all cases are due to infection with various fungi. But such changes are not the only ones that can provoke a pathological condition. Sometimes the cause is common skin diseases, infection of internal organs, disruption of the central nervous system, heart, blood vessels, endocrine system. Nail pathologies may indicate dystrophy, poisoning. Sometimes deviations from the norm are congenital. All of these factors lead to a violation of the integrity of the nail, similar to that characteristic of fungal invasion. Correctly identifying the root cause allows you to understand how to deal with trouble.
If the condition is caused by a factor other than fungal invasion, the use of drugs against the fungus will not be useful. Only a qualified doctor will be able to choose an adequate approach.
In medicine, cases of hyperkeratosis, paronychia, dermatitis, chromonychia, melanoma, melanonychia, pseudoleukonychia, leukonychia are known. Sometimes the cause of the violation of the integrity and appearance of the nail is the answer todrug therapy.
Injury
Perhaps, chronic trauma is one of the most common causes of a pathological condition that is not explained by fungi. It is often confused with onychomycosis. The choice of unsuccessful shoes, congenital deformity of the foot, and active physical exercises lead to chronic injury. The plate is constantly under the influence of negative factors, which eventually provokes its separation. Sometimes the reason is professional activity. For example, this is typical for people forced to work in conditions of contact with aggressive chemicals.
Handnail disease is a problem
Often a person does not even think about how often you have to use your hands during the day. Diseases of the nail plate on the fingers is a condition in which people begin to pay attention to every action performed by the hands. The discomfort is significant: many are even embarrassed to say hello, seeing that their nails are different from normal, he althy ones.
The peculiarity of the nail plates on the hands is rapid growth. With hands, a person actively performs various actions, which means that the blood flow in this area is fast. For this reason, the nail plate grows faster than on the toes, and at the same time, the risk of injury, infection, and contact with hazardous chemicals increases.
Nail diseases are a reason to consult a dermatologist and start treatment under his control. Perhaps the doctor will refer you to another specialist for additional examination. If the nails turned yellowthis allows you to suspect liver disease, have become too thin - anemia. Melanoma can cause black stripes, heart and vascular disease a red tint, and diabetes and lung disorders a yellow tint. If the nail plate is very thin, it is necessary to check the iron content in the blood.
Infection
Infections account for a large percentage of nail diseases. Possible infection with staphylo-, streptococci, fungal invasion. Ringworm affects the nails. In this case, the plate is covered with yellow stripes, whitish spots, its thickness increases. Candidiasis of the area near the nail is possible, then the integrity of the tissues is violated. Plate coverage possible. With onychomycosis, pathogenic microflora rapidly and actively multiplies on the plate. Features of manifestations depend on the composition of the microflora.
Non-infectious pathologies
Non-infectious diseases of the nails are pseudomonia, leukonychia, panaritium. In some, the lesion of the plate is detected against the background of onychatrophy, paronychia. Tissue hypertrophy is possible. The reasons are very different. Sometimes the pathological condition is explained by a lack of iron or calcium, in some cases the reason is improper or insufficiently thorough care.
Chromonychia is more common in the elderly. Its distinguishing feature is the yellowing of the surface of the nails. Hyperkeratosis is a condition in which the plate is actively growing at the cellular level. As a rule, pathology is explained by a genetic factor. Possible nail atrophy. This condition is congenital, acquired. It features a gradual decrease in thickness and a weakening of the shade.
