Nail Diseases
There are many types of
diseases that affect the nails. Sometimes these are directly concerned with the
nails, while at other times the nail disease actually is an indication of a
deeper problem. The most common of all nail diseases is the fungal nail
infection. This type of infection is commonly found to affect both the finger
nails as well as the toe nails.
1. Fungal nail infection
This type of disease usually
affects the nail anywhere from the margin to the side. As a result of this
disease the nail becomes brittle, black, thickened and sometimes it is
completely destroyed. The treatment for this type of disease is done with
antifungal oral tablets and/ or antifungal lotion over a period of two months to
one year depending on the degree and type of infection. After the treatment is
complete it may take suite sometime for the nail to regenerate in a healthy
form.
Another form of infection caused by virus is the viral wart infection. The
treatment of this disease is only with laser surgery.
2. Paronychia
This disease’s symptoms is the inflammation of the nail folds; usually this is
accompanies with injury to the surrounding nail folds. The most common causes
for this are continuous work with water and/or nail biting. This is why you will
find paronchia affecting mostly canteen workers, home maids, cooks, etc.
Paronychia if left untreated will soon contact fungal infection which will
result in extremely painful swellings of the nail folds. It is important that
the proper treatment is done at an early stage otherwise the nail can be totally
destroyed or deformed.
This type of nail disease is treated with antibiotics (to be taken orally). You
will need to drain out the pus formed in the folds of the nails at regular
intervals to reduce the swelling and pain. Depending upon the stage of
infection, the doctor may recommend the use of antiseptic lotions that need to
be applied locally. Needless to say that water and wetting of the nails will
have to be avoided as much as possible. This is best doe by wearing protective
gloves when the need to work with water come up.
3. Psoriasis
This is another type of disease which affects the shape of the nails. You will
know that the nail is affected by psoriasis when it develops pits or it starts
getting separated from the nail bed. Sometimes the nail only becomes discolored,
while in other cases the nails thicken and develops into a very unsightly look.
Psoriasis can affect both the finger nails as well as the toe nails.
4. Nail injury
Nails can get misshapen or damaged as a direct result of injury or accident. It
is important that the nails are treated as soon as the accident or damage occurs
to prevent any disfigurement of the nail in the future. Many times the nail will
becomes black and fall off. In these cases, it will take anything between three
to six months for the nail to regenerate and look normal again.
Much care should be taken care during the formation of the new nail that no
infection affects it or the nail will grow deformed. Care should also be taken
to see that exposure to water and dirt is limited to the minimum.
There are many more types of nail diseases but the present article
does not have the scope to go into too many details. It is important to remember
however, that nails are extremely delicate with regard to infection in
particular; unless there is constant and regular nail care and proper hygiene
rules followed, the health of the nails will suffer giving your hands an
ungainly look.