Nail disease to watch out for & bull; hello healthy

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Nail function and structure

What are the functions of nails?

Nails are one of the organs in the body that protect the tips of the fingers and toes. Your fingernails can also help you pick up objects, scratch itchy skin, or simply untie knots.

Nails are made of a protein called keratin. Keratin is a protein that also forms skin and hair.

These sensitive finger and toe protectors grow from cells that multiply in the base of the nail. Then, the cells coat one another and harden. This process is known as keratinization.

How is the nail structure?

Before recognizing what diseases and problems are often experienced by nails, first identify how the structure of this finger and toe protector.

Everyone has different nail strength, thickness, and growth rate. Generally, these three factors are inherited from parents, aka genetic factors.

Nails consist of several parts, namely as follows.

• The nail matrix, where the nail grows under the skin behind the nail.
• Nail plate, visible part of the nail.
• Laluna, a crescent shape often seen at the base of the nail plate.
• The nail fold, the groove of skin that holds the nail plate in place.
• The cuticle, a thin fold of tissue over the base of the nail plate.
• Nail pads.

Types of diseases of the nails

Nail disease can happen to anyone, regardless of age and gender. Some nail disorders require treatment from a dermatologist. Meanwhile, there are many that can be treated with simple home remedies.

Here are some types of nail diseases that you need to be aware of.

1. Nail fungal infection

One of the most common nail diseases is a fungal infection of the nails. This condition, called onychomycosis, tends to occur in the toenails and is prone to diabetes or frequent wearing damp shoes.

Fungal nail infections are usually characterized by a variety of conditions, such as:

• discoloration under the nail that turns yellow, brown, or white,
• thickened toenails, and
• white patches or stains that arise on the surface of the nails.

If you experience the symptoms above, immediately consult a doctor for further treatment.

2. Nails are black

Apart from a fungal infection of the nails, discoloration of the nails to black can also be a sign that you have problems with your nails. This condition, called a subungual hematoma, results from the presence of blood on the skin underneath.

The blood on the skin underneath is usually the result of trauma from the injury. Meanwhile, the black color that appears directly on the surface of the nail and followed by painful nail growth, could be a sign of melanoma.

This one nail disease usually affects only one nail. In addition, melanoma can also cause nail lines to darken and widen. In fact, these changes can also spread around the skin of the fingernail.

3. Cantengan

As strange as the name may sound, toenails are a disorder where your nails ingrown and pierce the flesh. As a result, your fingers and toes will feel sore and swollen when pressed by an object.

Cantengan is usually caused by a variety of habits, including frequent use of narrow shoes. In addition, a yeast infection can also be a cause of fungal infections.

4. Nails dry and break easily

Nails that come off and break easily are the effect of dry nail plates from swimming or being in a dry home environment. In fact, this disease of the nails is also one of the effects of using nail polish and acetone.

This condition is usually caused by insufficient intake of vitamins A, B, and C which allows this sensitive finger protector to break easily. Other causes include exposure to chemicals in cleaning products or as part of the aging process.

If this nail damage does not improve, consult a doctor because this could be a side effect of hypothyroidism.

5. Paronychia

Paronychia is inflammation of the skin around the fingers or toenails. This condition can affect anyone because it is usually caused by a bacterial infection called Staphylococcus aureus .

In addition, this condition is more likely to occur after skin damage, especially between the cuticles or nail folds and the nail plate, occurs as a result of:

• nail biting (onychophagia),
• fingers or thumbs that are frequently sucked,
• after manicure,
• ingrown nails, as well
• use of oral retinoid drugs that cause dry skin.

If you find the skin around the nails discolored and there is swelling, immediately consult a doctor for treatment.

6. Wavy nails

Normally, the nail will grow straight forward with the tip slightly down. However, some people have experienced unusual nail growth, namely wavy nails.

Corrugated nails are divided into two types, namely vertical and horizontal. Nails that grow vertically and curve upward are usually caused by variations in the change in nail cells and are not harmful.

Even so, nails that change color and have waves in a horizontal direction usually indicate certain diseases. This condition is usually caused by skin diseases such as eczema.

Not only that, dry skin owners are also more prone to bumpy skin. In fact, people who are deficient in protein, calcium, or vitamins can also experience the same problem.

7. Nail discoloration

Some of you may not realize that the nails that were originally clear have changed color. Most cases show that the color of the nails turns yellow due to several things, namely:

• yeast infection,
• consumption of certain drugs, and
• nail psoriasis disease.

Nails that change color can also be a sign of certain diseases, such as lung damage and liver disease.

Not only yellow, but nails can also turn green-black due to drug consumption. Meanwhile, blue nails can also be a sign of Wilson's disease.

That is why you need to frequently check the health of your nails to see if there is a discoloration or not.

Signs and symptoms of nail disease

After knowing what types of nail diseases are, now is the time to recognize the characteristics of damaged nails, as described below.

1. White line on the nail

Leukonychia is the name for the appearance of white lines on the nails. This condition is not dangerous even though the term sounds serious. White streaks on the nails can be caused by minor or moderate trauma to the growing nail.

Even so, white lines on the nails can indicate a minor infection or a side effect of certain medications. In fact, there are so many white lines that appear on almost all fingernails, you should be vigilant.

These nail abnormalities may indicate a serious medical condition, including:

• Kidney illness,
• diabetes,
• disorders of the heart and liver,
• anemia, as well
• lack of vitamins and nutrients.

White vertical lines on the surface of your nails can also be a sign of stress. The reason is, when under stress, the body will react naturally to protect itself from threats, such as reducing the water content under the nails.

This aims to store sufficient water reserves. As a result, the nails become very dry and easily peel off. This condition also makes the surface of the nail rough and appears vertical white streaks.

2. Thicken nails

As you age, the growth and repair rate of nail cells will become slower. This causes a build-up of oncocytes in the nail plate which makes the nail appear thickened.

Even so, nail thickening due to aging is more commonly seen in toenails. The reason is, fingernails can grow three times faster than toenails, so the risk of thickening is smaller than that of toenails.

Apart from the age factor, there are various other conditions that cause thickened nails, including:

• yeast infection,
• psoriasis, and
• trauma.

3. Clubbing

Nail clubbing is a condition when the tissue under the nail thickens and the tips of the fingers round and swell. The nail tips then grow inward and follow the shape of the fingertips.

This nail problem is thought to result from increased blood flow to the fingertips and is not a dangerous condition. However, this can be a sign of a lack of oxygen levels in the blood and is associated with diseases such as:

• heart and kidney disease,
• lung disease, as well
• cirrhosis or cancer.

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nails

How to diagnose nail problems?

Any problem that occurs in the nails should be asked by a doctor, especially a skin specialist.

If the cause of your nail deformity is not obvious, your doctor may remove clippings and clippings from under the nail for a diagnosis. Generally, toenail infections respond to treatment more quickly than toenail infections.

What are the treatments for nail problems?

Once diagnosed, your doctor will treat your nail disease based on its causes, including:

• antibiotics for fungal and bacterial infections,
• nail fungus medication, both oral and topical, as well
• treatments for skin problems that lead to nail disease.

Home care

How to treat damaged nails at home?

In addition to getting treatment from a doctor, the following nail disease treatments can be supported by nail care at home.

• Maintain good hygiene.
• Wear gloves when washing dishes.
• Avoid harsh chemicals, such as soaps and detergents.
• Limiting exposure to chemicals, such as hair dyes.
• Reducing the use of nail polish.
• Not cleaning under the nails too often.
• Resist the urge to bite your nails.
• Cut nails with nail clippers to keep them clean.
• Make sure the shoes are the right size for air exchange.

If you have further questions, please consult with your doctor to find the right solution.