6 Common Nail Disorders You Should Know

You may not realise but the tiny coverings on the tips of your fingers and toes known as nails have an important role to play in your life and wellbeing.

Nails protect and support the delicate tips of your fingers and toes. They are also helpful for scratching, picking up objects and tying and untying a knot.

Nail problems are common at any age though toenail problems are typically more common during old age. Usually diet is not at fault for strange nail changes, unless there is severe malnutrition.

Here are some of the common nail problems.

1. Thickened Nails

These are more common in toenails than finge ails. Aged people are more at risk. Causes are:

• Injury
• Neglect
• Fungal infection
• Ill-fitting footwear
• Psoriasis
• Arthritis in toes
• Poor circulation

2. Lifted Nail Plate

A lifted nail plate looks white. It's caused by:

• Messy removal of artificial nails
• Nail polishes consisting of hardening agents like formalin
• Tinea (a type of fungal infection)
• Excessive cleaning under the finge ails

3. Discolouration

A healthy nail looks pink. Reasons of discolouration of nails are:

• Nicotine from cigarette smoke
• Infections
• Hair-colouring agents or nail polish
• Injury to nail bed
• Melanoma
• Certain medications such as anti-malarial medications, antibiotics and some chemotherapy drugs

4. Nail Bacterial Infection

The Staphylococcus aureus commonly causes nail bacterial infection. Usually the infection occurs in the fold of skin at the bottom of the nail (proximal nail fold).

The infection may aggravate without treatment causing inflammation and pus. It's commonly linked with candida infection, especially when it becomes chronic. Hence a prompt treatment by someone like podiatrist Sydney such as ModPod Podiatry is essential.

Activities that make a person susceptible to bacterial infections are:

• Nail biting which can make underlying tissues exposed to infection
• Overzealous focus on cuticles
• Constant wet hands

5. Fungal Infections

Fungal infections like tinea can occur in finge ails as well as in toenails and are spread from one patient to another.

The nail bed can itself be infected if it remains untreated. Therefore, it's recommended to get a finge ail fungus treatment at ModPod Podiatry.

Those who have diabetes or weakened immune system are more likely to contract fungal infection.

Symptoms of fungal nail infection vary with the cause, but generally include:

• Thickened nail plate
• Lifted nail plate from the nail bed
• Discolouration, often in streaks
• Crumbled nail plate
• Pitting and flaking of the surface of the nail plate
• Yellow, green or white smelly discharge

Nail fungal infection treatment includes:

• Topical application (straight on the nail) or oral administration of antifungal medication
• Specialized trimming, shaping and upkeep of nails by your podiatrist

6. Paronychia - Inflammation of Skin Bordering the Nail

Sometimes, the skin nearby nails can be infected with bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus. This type of infection is known as paronychia.

Symptoms of paronychia include swelling, redness and pain around the cuticle and greenish yellow discharge.

Treatment includes:

• Keeping feet as dry as you can
• Antibiotic therapy (in acute conditions)
• Applying barrier antifungal medications, creams and antiseptic lotions

Chronic paronychia is harder to treat. In such a case, the nail may become discoloured and get distorted and the skin at the site of infection may lift.

An array of microbes working together areresponsible for chronic paronychia.

Now that you know these various conditions affecting your nails, you can treat them in time and live a problem-free life.