Although nail disorders are generally not a major problem and are usually easy to treat, we must be vigilant in case it is indicative of something more serious.
We use our hands for everything. For this reason, it is essential to take care of them and not forget about the nails. However, sometimes, we can suffer some nail diseases that it is important that we know how to identify in order to take the appropriate measures. In any case, you will have to go to the doctor or podiatrist to make a diagnosis and apply the corresponding cure.
Have you ever noticed brittle nails? As histopathology of the nail points out, nails can sometimes become inflamed due to an infection and this negatively affects our well-being.
Today we will discover some of the main nail diseases and, also, how we can treat or cope with them to eradicate them.
Nail diseases
In many occasions, the nails can reflect some deficits in our diet. Surely, we have ever met someone who has a calcium deficiency and their nails have white spots. This is usually known as leukonychia.
Given the presence of these spots on the nails, it would be convenient to do an analysis to rule out that we suffer from anemia. However, in some cases, nail diseases are related to some fungus or infection. Next, we will see 3 of them.
1. Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is one of the first nail diseases that we are going to talk about; it is very painful and bothersome and is caused by fungus.
To try to identify it, although we must confirm it with the doctor or podiatrist, we can observe if one end of the nail rises.
On the other hand, it is also possible to detect it if there are changes in the coloration of the nail, which may become whitish, yellowish, blackish or brownish, according to the SAS of the Junta de Andalucía.
Typically, there is a thickening of the skin fold that borders the nail, while the nails change their texture. They can become thicker or more brittle, and appear striated.
Onychomycosis treatment
Before making any decision, it is important to go to our doctor to identify which fungus is causing this nail disease. Maybe it’s a dermatophyte, a yeast, or a mold.
Depending on which fungus is causing this nail problem, the doctor may prescribe oral antifungals or a kind of chemical stripping using dressings impregnated with substances that soften the nails to eliminate that element.
In addition to the options that our doctor can give us, we could contribute to an improvement in the results using the following natural remedies, provided that the health professional authorizes it:
- Tea tree: we mix a tablespoon of olive oil with 3 drops of the tea tree. We apply to the nail for 20 days.
- Lemon: we extract its juice and immerse the affected part for a few minutes. We will also do this for 20 days.
2. Ingrown toenail
Suffering from an ingrown nail is another of the most common nail conditions. This usually happens on the feet, but also on the fingernails.
The edges of the sides of the nail sink into the skin causing a lot of pain and, in most cases, an infection. Sometimes this arises from a blow, a fall, playing certain sports, or cutting your nail too much.
Before trying to manipulate the nail, if it is very bad, we must go to the doctor or podiatrist so that he can tell us how we can proceed.
Possible solutions for ingrown nails
- Medical intervention: some ingrown nails require a small intervention to prevent the infection from worsening.
- Cut the nail: it is better to do it straight, never oval, to prevent it from getting embedded in the skin.
- Antibiotics: They can be prescribed by the doctor, but we can use natural antibiotics to try to lower the inflammation and alleviate the infection.
- Saltwater baths: filling a bucket with water and 5 tablespoons of sea salt, and leaving the nails resting for about 20 minutes, can relieve discomfort.
3. Flaking of the nails
The last of the nail diseases is flaking. The nails come off in thin layers like scales. Sometimes this can indicate thyroid problems or lack of hydration.
Also, we have to take into account what products we clean because they can cause this disease.
Flaking treatment
As in the previous situations, we must go to the doctor for diagnosis and treatment. So we will rule out if we have a vitamin deficiency. However, we can take into account the following recommendations as habits to try to avoid flaking:
- Consume plenty of fluids, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
- Do not use low-quality enamels.
- Use specific enamels to avoid the appearance of scales.
- We must not cut scales or rip them off.
Have you ever suffered from any of these nail diseases? We recommend consulting with a professional in case the problem is frequent.