Signs of diseases in the appearance of the nails. What nails say about your health

Everything is important in a person's appearance: nails are also part of the image. It’s not enough just to do a manicure and pedicure (some even ignore these procedures), you need to follow healthy state nail plate. Modifications and fungal diseases of nails with varnish will not be veiled.

What do sore nails look like?

Prerequisites

When it comes to nail health, for some reason, many people think only of fungal spores. Although this is just one of the reasons due to which the nail plate can deteriorate.

Therefore, before proceeding with treatment, the doctor must conduct an examination. It is the diagnosis that determines the way to fix the problem. Until then, don't waste your money on medications so as not to complain later that the therapy did not bring the expected results.

The reasons due to which the nails on the hands and feet are affected imply 2 directions:

  • diseases of fungal origin;
  • non-fungal nail disease.

Each species has its own characteristics, which will determine the diagnosis. A common feature is also traced: in any case, deformation and a specific change in the nail occur. To notice the initial stage of the disease, you need to know the anatomical features of a healthy organ.

Nails - an indicator of health

An experienced doctor knows how important the diagnosis of diseases is. Especially in the early stages, when the disease is just emerging. Nails do not hurt for no reason. They are an indicator of the state of other organs.

At healthy person the nail plate is even, smooth and has a pinkish tint. External forms may vary and are often hereditary. Oriental doctors can even determine the character of a person by the shape of a nail.

What are the forms of nails

By general view plates are possible health diagnostics. You can clearly identify diseases by nails, if you regularly monitor their condition:

  • If suddenly the nail began to change its usual bulge or shape, you should pay attention to the vital systems in your body (hormonal abnormalities, problems with the thyroid gland, heart or intestines).
  • The nail plate has become thinner or has acquired an ugly concavity - a reason to check the blood. Suddenly the body lacks iron.
  • Layering may be the result external factors(for example, frequent contact with chemicals). But, most likely, this is a signal of a lack of calcium in the body. If the burrs began to bother, then there is a slight dehydration.
  • Healthy pinkish nails have been replaced by redness or cyanosis. It is worth paying attention to the heart, blood vessels and the entire circulatory system.
  • Blueness in the shade of nails will indicate malfunctions in the nervous and digestive systems. Excessive whiteness is a sign of liver disease.
  • Especially painful look nails painted in yellow. There may be 3 reasons: lack of vitamins (A, E), lack of protein or fungal infection.
  • Nails are considered beautiful if the holes are clearly visible on them. True, such people are a minority - in the bulk, this feature is expressed only on the thumbnail. When the wells undergo changes, this is also worth paying attention to:
  1. The holes may become smaller. The reason for this is problems with blood circulation, pressure surges and nicotine addiction.
  2. The complete disappearance of the holes will tell you about the strong emotional fatigue of the body (stressful situations) and a sharp decrease in immunity.
  3. Excessively enlarged holes can be harbingers of heart attacks and strokes. If we are talking O thumb then wait for mental disorders.

Painful holes on the nails

  • Few people pay attention to white dots and stripes under the nail plate, considering them to be a consequence of an unnoticed minor injury. In fact, this may be the body's reaction to stress or an inappropriate diet. If the color of these spots begins to change to yellow, then this will indicate a fungal nail disease.
  • Yellowish, often fading to brown tint, spots along the edge of the nail plate are nothing more than a manifestation of psoriasis.
  • especially close attention you need to pay attention to your health when the nail plate loses its beautiful smoothness of the surface:
  1. If dimples and other depressions appeared, serious problems with joints.
  2. Longitudinal grooves indicate a lack of minerals and various inflammatory processes in organism. Install true reason diagnostics, which will be prescribed by a doctor, will help.
  3. The waviness of the surface of the nail is a sign of a lack of vitamin B5 and folic acid in the body.

All the factors described above, to which the nail plate reacts, should be identified and eliminated.

Nail diseases

If you do not pay attention to the diseases of the body in time and dismiss the signals that the nails on the hands and feet “give”, then, in the end, you will have to restore the entire nail plate. Cosmetical tools will not help here - you will have to turn to medical treatment.

As mentioned above, nail diseases can be of fungal and non-fungal origin. The most common diseases that cause pain in the nails on the hands and feet are the following:

  • Diseases of a non-fungal nature;

When the diagnosis prescribed by a dermatologist does not reveal a fungal infection in the focus of the disease, they begin to look for the cause of the modification of the nail plate elsewhere. Injuries, illnesses (including occupational), stress, malnutrition, bad habits- all this can also become a reason, from which not only the color of the nails changes, but their complete exfoliation also occurs.

  1. Leukonychia is the simplest type of disease. Sore nails in this case due to injury. The degree of mechanical impact on the plate will either appear as small white spots, or completely change the color of the nails to dull white.
  2. Kailonychia is manifested by a decrease in the nail plate. Any chronic systemic disease can provoke this: anemia, blood diseases.
  3. Onychogryphosis. It is characterized by a thickening of the nail, a change in its color. The most basic sign is the wrong direction of growth - the nail bends and becomes like a bird's beak. The reasons for this “behavior” are injuries, flat feet, tight shoes.

Disease of the nail plate - onychogryphosis on the legs

  1. Onycholysis can be a consequence of psoriasis. There is a partial or complete detachment plates from your bed.
  2. Paronychia is considered the most common of all non-fungal nail diseases. The disease is provoked by staphylococci and streptococci, which usually penetrate the nail roller when it is hit by sharp objects (scissors, needles).
  • Diseases of fungal origin:
  1. Candidiasis is a disease that manifests itself from the inside, because. the culprit is the saprophyte living in the body. Under the influence of long-term antibiotics or due to a decrease in immunity, abnormalities in work endocrine system the internal fungus is activated, manifesting itself in the form of a lesion of the nail plate.
  2. Onychomycosis - pure infection nails transmitted by contact. The source is a rather complex spore system with the ability to spread rapidly. More often it is transmitted in the bath, on the beach, or passes from sick relatives.
  3. Animals can "reward" sporotrichosis. Spores of the fungus easily and imperceptibly penetrate microcracks on the body (usually on the hands).

Infection with the fungus can also be picked up from food (canned food, potatoes, bakery and confectionery products). Fungal diseases of the nails on the hands - professional problem laundry workers.

The most common way to acquire an infection is an unprofessional manicure. The slightest microtrauma is a suitable “gateway” for the penetration of fungal spores. Applying nail polish or using a nail polish remover will only exacerbate the problem.

Nail fungus - an unaesthetic sight

Types of fungi

All nail diseases, no matter how different they are, are caused by only 2 types of fungi: yeast and mold. What spores fell on the limbs of a person can be understood by the way the disease spreads:

  • The yeast fungus primarily affects the nail fold, making it thickened. All this is accompanied by quite strong painful sensations. There is hyperemia, swelling of the infected area. Pus builds up pretty quickly. Gradually, the infection moves to the nail plate, where furrows subsequently appear.
  • Mold first penetrates under the nail. Grayish-white spots and stripes appear in the center of the plate, and a thickening is observed at the free edge.

With any type of nail fungus, the first action should be a visit to a medical institution. The doctor, having diagnosed the infection, will prescribe treatment.

True, the use of a medical spray, ointment, special varnish, etc. - the process is lengthy. And it depends not so much on the degree of damage, but on the ability of the nail itself to recover. A complete renewal of the plate will take six months on the fingers and about a year on the feet.

Fungus treatment. Video

Useful tips on the treatment of fungus are collected in this video.

The condition of the nails is a consequence of a person's attention to his body. Therefore, the sooner they discover primary signs disease, the easier it will be to treat and the shorter the course of therapy.

Healthy and beautiful nails are a sign of good overall health. Their sick appearance, on the contrary, can indicate both the absence of vitamins and the presence of certain diseases, such as diabetes.

Knowing what healthy nails look like, you can control their condition and, at the first signs of the disease, take urgent measures. In this article, we will present the most important signs of healthy nails.

The main sign of truly healthy nails may not be visible at first glance, but felt when you touch them. This is their strength and elasticity. Brittle nails indicate a lack of vitamins and minerals. To solve this problem, you should diversify your diet with various vegetables and fruits, as well as foods high in calcium and fatty acids. These include fish, milk, cottage cheese, eggs, etc. Also brittle nails does cold weather so you should always wear gloves when it's cold. In addition, varnishes and nail polish removers lead to insufficient supply of oxygen to the nails, which also leads to a loss of strength. Therefore, it is necessary to take periodic breaks for 2-3 days to give them a break from the varnish.

The tips of the nail should be white or ivory, but not yellow or mottled. The presence of white spots on the nail plate may indicate a high sugar content or a lack of zinc in the body. To exit similar situation it is also necessary to make appropriate changes in the diet. You need to include more eggs, wholemeal flour products, and sugar-lowering foods in your diet. The yellowness may be the result frequent use bright varnishes that are not completely washed off. To avoid this effect, you must first apply transparent base, and only then the varnish itself. In addition, yellowness can be a consequence of smoking.

The surface of a healthy nail should be smooth. The presence of dents and irregularities indicates a lack of vitamins. How to deal with it is described above. The appearance of various grooves can be the result of several reasons at once, among which hormonal disbalance, weakening of the nail plate, activities that cause such damage. It is necessary to deal with grooves based on the cause of their occurrence. In the case when such deformations take the form of wavy formations, they can simply be removed with a nail file or a polishing disc. If the grooves begin to crack at the end of the nail, there is nothing left but to cut them as short as possible. In the event of a sudden appearance of grooves, it is necessary to seek the advice of a therapist, since this effect may be the result of hormonal failure, metabolic disorders. It can also occur due to the intake of any medications.

Healthy nails should not exfoliate. If this happens, then they need extra care and nutrition that various cosmetic procedures such as baths and masks. To strengthen nails and prevent their delamination, baths based on sea ​​salt. She provides them essential minerals. To prepare the solution, stir 2-3 tablespoons of salt in a glass of warm water. Then dip your fingertips into the water. After 15 minutes, you can finish the procedure, wipe your nails and apply a moisturizer on them.

Another recipe to help deal with delamination - olive oil. It must be heated in a water bath to 35-40 degrees, that is, it should become slightly hot. Then it is necessary to lower the nails into it, and after 10-15 minutes remove and apply the cream. To enhance the effect, you can add a few drops of iodine to the oil.

The last sign of healthy nails, which we will talk about in this article, is their thickness. Thickening of the nail plate can occur according to the most different reasons e.g. from stress, malnutrition, low-quality cosmetics, fungal diseases. This problem must be dealt with at the first sign of its appearance. Thickening of the nail can lead to its deformation, as well as to the cessation of growth. The treatment is carried out by a specialist dermatologist. He will appoint necessary drugs and their course. In addition, you can use some folk remedies. Often, for example, a propolis or Kalanchoe mask is used, which is applied to the nail and left overnight, wrapped in a bandage.

Thus, it can be said that a number of reasons affect the health of the nails. In this regard, it should be noted that only A complex approach can help to get rid of the problems that have arisen and prevent their occurrence in the future.

In how to grow healthy nails, there are many difficulties for most girls. This is due to the fact that you have to reconsider literally your entire lifestyle: try to avoid stressful situations, worry and get upset less. The diet needs to be changed in order to make it healthier and better quality. Cosmetics for hands, varnishes and means for their removal should be used only the best. Because, for example, excessive thickening of the nail can be caused defensive reaction body on the damaging effects of varnishes or means to accelerate the growth of nails.

The above signs can be considered as a guideline, thanks to which you can grow magnificent nails. Beautiful, healthy and strong - they will become the pride of any girl.

The stratification of nails always has reasons, each of them can be the main one, eliminating which, you will get shiny, strong and healthy nails. In principle, exfoliating nails are a reason to see a doctor.

shellac coating

The fact that shellac coating today dominates in manicure business- there is no need to argue. In terms of strength and durability of the coating, it surpassed methods such as applying gel polishes and acrylic products.

Ingrown nail

The condition of an ingrown toenail can bring a lot of suffering. Once it appears, it can long years to persecute a person, depriving him of the opportunity to exist normally. Ingrown toenails can be caused by unprofessional pedicure, wearing tight shoes, and....

gradient manicure

gradient manicure- smooth color transition using varnishes of different tones. You can do this rainbow coloring, matched to your mood, at home on your own.

Nail growth

Nails grow at a rate of 2-6 mm per month, depending on the age and health of the person. On the feet, nails grow more slowly than on the hands; faster at a young age, in warm weather, during pregnancy and recovery from any injury.

Hand care at home

Have you noticed how untidy hands age a woman? Or in another way: hands give out a woman's age even earlier than her face. home care hands and, at the same time, knowledge of some of the intricacies of the problem - will help every woman to have young hands and not be embarrassed of them at any age.

Perfect nails should be of equal length and consistent with the shape of the fingers: slightly curved, smooth, even, thin at the cuticle, the edge and sides are free, looks natural. When sharpening a nail, consider it from seven angles: from the left and right side, tip down, tip up, at an angle, straight, from the side of the palm.

Characteristic changes in the nails can help in the diagnosis of many diseases. internal organs.

  • Ribbed or wavy edges are caused by uneven nail growth, usually due to injury or illness.
  • Grooves (recesses) may extend along the length of the nail. This is usually the result of disease or injury to the nail cells within or in the vicinity of the matrix. if the dents and indentations give the nail the appearance of a thimble, this is a signal warning of psoriasis.
  • Transverse grooves on the nail plate appear due to a temporary stop in the growth of nails. The reason is serious disease e.g. myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, shock, high fever. With the resumption of nail growth, the line gradually moves forward. Knowing that the nail on the hand grows from the posterior nail fold to the free edge for 3-4 months (the rate depends on age), the distance between the posterior nail fold and the line can be used to determine the duration of the disease.
  • Paired transverse stripes, parallel to the hole, most often appear in chronic kidney disease, provoking excessive excretion of proteins from the body, as a result of which their deficiency is obtained.
  • Nails in the shape of watch glasses (convex spherically) very often indicate lung disease, bronchitis or cancer.
  • spoon nails(koilonychia). The nails take on a concave shape when the nail plate softens and thins. Most often, they indicate an iron deficiency, which should be treated without fail under the supervision of a physician. Can be observed with Plummer-Vinson syndrome, Raynaud's syndrome, hemochromatosis, mechanical and chemical injuries of the nails. Besides, concave shape nails can be familial.
  • Abnormal thickening of the nail (hypertrophy). Usually caused by an internal disorder, such as a local infection.
  • Thinning of the nail plate (atrophy)- the nail loses its luster, becomes thin and sometimes disappears completely. Causes: endocrine system disorders, dermatoses, vitamin deficiency, trauma, inflammation.
  • Splitting nails. Among the reasons that caused this may be a finger injury, a careless point, or excessive use of nail thinners. fragility and splitting of nails, a change in their color indicate excessive smoking, unbalanced nutrition and direct contact with synthetic detergents. Delamination of nails also occurs due to a lack of vitamin D, silicon or calcium in the body.
  • Separation of the nail plate without separation from the nail bed(onycholysis). The exfoliated area looks white and opaque, sharply different from the pink healthy part of the nail. Occurs with thyrotoxicosis, while the first affected ring finger; the skin of the fingers is moist, hot, velvety; palms are hyperemic. Often the cause can be infections or the use of certain drugs, trauma, systemic diseases, exposure to chemical compounds.
  • Shell nail- the nail is noticeably thin, white and bends significantly more than normal nails. The nail plateau is separated from the nail bed and is bent at the free end. This deviation can be caused by chronic diseases.
  • Inflammation around the nail can be caused by bacteria, yeast fungus, non-compliance with the rules of sanitation, ingrowth of the nail into the fold of the skin.

Changing the shape of the nail:

  • index finger - diseases of the head.
  • middle finger - gastrointestinal diseases.
  • ring finger - diseases of the kidneys and lungs.
  • little finger - diseases of the genital organs.
Nail color change

Healthy nails are pink or peach in color.. Nail color change allows us to draw a preliminary conclusion about the development of pathology of internal organs.

  • Blue nails. Blue and blue gray color nails acquired under the influence of antimalarial drugs, minocycline, silver nitrate, as well as with hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease (copper accumulation in the body) and due to poor circulation.
  • bruised nail- the presence of dark, purple (almost brown or black) spots. It is usually caused by injury and bleeding in nail bed. Dried blood attaches to the nail and grows with it. Handle it very gently. Avoid pressure. The nail may be separated from the nail bed.
  • Brown or red thin stripes- longitudinal subungual hemorrhages. Most often occur after injury and are localized in the distal nail bed. Another cause is infective endocarditis, in which case the center of the nail bed is usually affected.
  • White spots.
    • Dots or dots indicate a lack of calcium and zinc in the body. They may have different shape, orientation and dimensions.
    • Small white spots that subsequently grow over the entire nail - a manifestation fungal disease. The nail becomes cloudy, dull, thickened and exfoliating. In this case, only serious antifungal therapy prescribed by a qualified dermatologist can help.
    • Color change "half to half" - the lower half of the nail acquires White color and the top stays smooth and pink. This is an occasion to consult a kidney specialist.
    • White spots are not a consequence of the disease. They can be caused by injury to the base of the nail - a blow to the nails, excessive pressure in the process of performing a manicure, etc. As the nail grows, these spots disappear.
  • Yellow nails (yellow-green). More often they are accompanied by nail dystrophy (dull, opaque, thickened, rounded, slowly growing), pathology of the lymphatic system (swelling of the fingers, ankles, face is observed) and any disease of the internal organs (most often these are diseases of the respiratory system or malignant neoplasm). May indicate a diseased liver. Lumpy yellowish nails are diabetes as well as fungal infections.
  • yellow- Brown color edges of the nail oil stains) may be due to psoriasis.
  • brown nails occurs in primary adrenal insufficiency, hemochromatosis, treatment with gold preparations, arsenic poisoning. With melanoma, not only the nail plate is stained brown, but also the nail bed with the nail fold. The moon is not visible. The nail is gradually destroyed.
  • White-pink or white-brown (two-tone) nail. The moon is not visible. It occurs quite rarely, mainly with heart failure and cirrhosis of the liver, accompanied by hypoalbuminemia, with kidney failure(uremia).
  • Expansion and tortuosity of capillaries of the posterior nail fold are found in dermatomyositis, less often in systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic scleroderma.
The consequences of manicure

Manicure, pedicure and nail extension are very delicate procedures that require high competence of the master, compliance with basic sanitary and hygienic standards, attentiveness and accuracy. Healthy nails of the client are the main evidence of the professionalism and skill of each nail service specialist.

The upper layers of the nail become thinner during processing, but this does not affect new growth nail. But as nails continue to be covered and treated with various cosmetic formulations, they can become thinner and weaker. However, this is not a constantly evolving process, and nails can grow back as healthy as they were before.

Yellowing of the nail plate from varnish.

The cause of yellowing of the nail plate is the penetration of coloring varnish pigments into the upper layers of the nail plate due to the lack of a base coat of natural nails. Characteristic for intense, saturated varnishes.

You can eliminate this yellowing with a fine abrasive (file for natural nails, glass file etc.).

  • Yellowed areas are eliminated (no deeper than 3-5 layers natural nail).
  • A base coat layer is applied containing strengthening and regenerating components (calcium, protein, etc.) or products with an optical bleaching effect are applied.
  • The prepared nail is covered with nail polish.
  • To obtain a more stable structure, it is recommended to complete the procedure with a layer of protective fixing coating.

Irregularities of the nail plate, as a result of improper washing down.

The reason for the unevenness of the nail plate is often the use of inappropriate abrasives (too hard file), washed down too deep (“heavy hand”).

You can eliminate such unevenness using leveling coatings such as Ridge Filler or special coatings with natural fiber fillers. In the event of deep grooves or a particularly deep gash, the use of natural nail wrapping systems (Nail Wraps System) is recommended. It should be remembered that deeply filed nails become more sensitive, and the application chemical substances would be difficult or even impossible.

Nail plate after removal artificial nails.

The “step” appears due to the removal of the upper layers of the natural nail plate to enhance its adhesive properties during extension. The presence of synthetics exerts some pressure on the nail plate, which helps to flatten the layered structure of the natural nail. The size of the ledge on the nail plate after the removal of artificial nails directly depends on the skill of the master, and not on the "sucking" properties of synthetics.

If for some reason the client decides to part with artificial nails, then the visible “step” that remains after extension is visually eliminated by the use of leveling coatings.

Drying of the periungual skin roller.

The cause of drying of the periungual skin roller are: edged manicure, contact with the periungual roller of chemicals used for building or for manicure.

  • In this case, the first step should be the rejection of trimmed manicure.
  • It is also necessary to regularly apply cuticle oils and moisturizing lotions for the skin of the hands, which soften the periungual fold. Professional cuticle preparations use the most liquid natural oils(for example, jojoba), so they are able to penetrate deep into the pores of the skin, retaining moisture at the cellular level. In addition, liquid oil, getting into the area between the skin and the nail plate (in the cuticle area), moisturizes it and serves as a lubricant, which contributes to faster nail growth.

Like other parts of the body, they are various diseases. Therefore, it is very important to identify the cause in time and start treatment, otherwise it can lead to irreparable consequences. Nail diseases are especially common in our time, because many people suffer from beriberi, infections and other troubles. Nail diseases can occur not only among adults and the elderly, but also among young people. Therefore, everyone needs to pay attention to care. And how to do this, we will learn below.

Structure of the nail and changes in the plate

In addition to diseases that arise due to dysfunction of various organs and infections, similar formations also appear. Nail disease on the hands with the appearance of indentations and can be observed with psoriasis, blood flow disorders, scarlet fever and many other infections. Not only a certain infection can have an impact, but also general state nail plate. This part of the body also develops from the embryo, then the nail bed, ridges, skin and the nail plate itself are formed.

Symptoms for the appearance of nail diseases are different, but can be modified, so sometimes doctors may have problems with diagnosis and treatment. All symptoms are divided into several groups, which are classified among themselves by shape, size, pigmentation.

Shape and size

If you notice that your fingers and fingernails are slightly enlarged, expanded, reminiscent of the glass of a watch, then we are talking about hippocratic nails. Often, such a disorder is observed in people who suffer from chronic diseases, such as tuberculosis, impaired work of cardio-vascular system, leukemia, blood diseases and others. Sometimes nail diseases can be hereditary and passed down from generation to generation.

Small and short fingers occur when a disease called micronychia. Moreover, it can affect not only the nail plates of the hands, but also. The first symptoms may appear in people who often bite their nails.

It has symptoms in which there is a strong thickening of the nail plate, which becomes like a bird's claw. Sometimes it is even observed that the shape becomes similar to a horn or a spiral. In this case, the color of the nail is more yellow, brown or even black. Such nail diseases are observed with prolonged wear. uncomfortable shoes, mechanical injuries and frostbite.

flat nails are also common deformities. It is often congenital in nature, but sometimes it can be acquired as an adult. This happens with psoriasis, cirrhosis of the liver.


Types of dystrophy of the nail plates

The most popular type of dystrophy is complete absence or partial absence of nails on the hands and feet. This nail disease is called anonychia. It is caused by various skin infections and bacteria.

Gapalonychia characterized by the fact that there is a softening of the nail plate, because of which they bend very easily, form cracks. The disease can also develop from infections and from exposure to pathogenic drugs.

But due to contact with acids, alkali, oil and other drugs, brittle nails may appear. Even those women who often get manicures, use acetone and other substances can suffer from this disease. In this case, the entire protruding edge of the plate breaks off.

Senile nails occur in older people when blood flow gradually decreases. Because of this, the plate becomes dimmer, maybe even yellow, gray. However, they can have different thicknesses and shapes. This nail disease develops along with other anomalies and infections.


Causes of non-fungal diseases?

The most common causes of nail disease are:

  • Poor care;
  • Injuries;
  • Improper nutrition;
  • Smoking and other addictions;
  • Heredity;
  • Psoriasis, eczema;
  • Diseases of the heart and thyroid system;

Since most of the causes depend on us, it is we who need to think about the prevention and care of the nails and skin of the hands. If you notice deep grooves, then we are talking about. But yellowness and brittleness are the result of serious violations in the functioning of the whole organism, metabolic disorders, contact with harmful substances.

What does a healthy nail look like?

If we talk about healthy nail, then it should have slightly pink color, smooth surface and have medium density. If deformation begins, then this is a signal that something is wrong in the body. After all, such an infection can eventually develop into something more serious.

How are nails related to people's health?

Nail diseases are directly dependent on diseases inside the body, so with their help you can save yourself from a more serious problem. Thus, white spots will tell you about the presence of problems with the liver, and white with pink will tell you that the kidneys are not working quite correctly. If they are yellow and slightly thickened, then you should check your liver. But the blue base indicates the presence of diabetes.

Vertical cracked nails may indicate that you are in contact with water too often, so you need to diversify your diet with food with the presence of calcium.

fungal diseases

Subfrontal infections are also common and if they are found, you should immediately consult a doctor, because more severe and chronic forms it is almost impossible to cure completely. These include the following:

  • Roller candidiasis, which is characterized by reddened and swollen skin around the nail itself. Then we can say that a fungus has already made its way under the plate and begins to spread rapidly;
  • Ringworm is also caused by a fungus. Moreover, not only the nail is affected, but the entire skin. White spots appear, which must be constantly removed from the surface. The entire infected part eventually becomes yellow and very dense;


How is the treatment?

It is worth following a few rules so that everything is fine and you do not have such problems. For example, you should not constantly file your nails and do it in different directions, because then the plate will delamination. Also, don't cut them too short. Carry out the manicure procedure only on steamed hands and at the same time do a massage. To avoid inflammation. With brittle nails, it is recommended to consume more vitamin and microelements. by the most useful products while vegetables, fruits, meat are considered.

Use less acetone, dry your hands thoroughly, and avoid biting your nails. In addition, you should forever forget about smoking and alcoholic beverages.

Only then will your hands always be healthy and well-groomed. And you will never know about nail problems and infections.

Conclusions:

Are you really satisfied with life with such a disease? With its side effects? Are you ready to endure the itch, hide your legs from others, suffer from pain, lose your nails?

Nail fungus is an infectious disease of onychomycosis caused by damage to the plates and adjacent skin by dermatophyte fungi. Another name is superficial mycosis.

The number of infected people worldwide is 10 - 20% of the total population, but only 2 - 15% of people who have symptoms of nail fungus on their hands turn to a dermatologist.

Causes of onychomycosis

Onychomycosis is transmitted in in public places and through any objects touched by the human hand. Pathogenic microorganisms and infections in increased amount live in vehicles, swimming pools, gyms, baths, toilets and on the surfaces of household utensils.

The most common superficial mycosis affects the following categories population:

- contagious disease. A patient with mycosis spreads spores of dermatophytes into the environment.

The causes of superficial mycosis are:

  • Metabolic disease.
  • Improper nail care.
  • Performing a manicure with unfinished tools that have been used by another person.
  • Skin damage from dermatological diseases or bacterial infections.
  • Long-term use of oral contraceptives.
  • Uncontrolled antibiotic treatment.
  • Wrong diet with an abundance of sweets.
  • Prolonged wearing of artificial nails (more than 3 months).
  • hereditary predisposition. All people in one way or another come into contact with microbes, but not every person gets sick with onychomycosis. A number of studies conducted by scientists have shown the following pattern: the risk of hand nail infection with a fungus is high for those people whose close relatives have encountered this problem at least once.

Onychomycosis of the hands is caused by two types of fungi: dermatophytes, or anthropophilic trichophytons, or yeast individuals of the Candida family. The main culprit of onychomycosis is red trichophyton.

Nail fungus on the hands: stages, forms and signs

Regardless of which fungus caused the disease of the nails on the hands, the pathology will manifest itself in 4 main defects.

How does fingernail fungus start?

  • The color of the plate changes.
  • thickens.
  • The structure of the nail is destroyed.
  • Mold-like spots appear.

The photo clearly shows what changes in the nails cause the fungus on the hands in the initial stage.

Modification of the nails is observed either along the edges, or it starts from the base. It depends on the activity of a particular fungus - candidal sporophyte or dermatophyte.

Depending on the area of ​​damage to the stratum corneum of the plate, specialists distinguish the proximal, superficial and distal form of onychomycosis. How to recognize the development of a fungus on the nails of the hands?

To do this, you need to know that the pathology proceeds in three stages:

Fungus under the nails is a sign of a proximal subungual form. It is caused by the fungus Candida albicans. The disease usually develops in women right hand due to its functional activity.

Onychomycosis is also classified according to the clinical course. If the disease develops according to the normotrophic type, the structure of the nail does not change. long time. However, stripes and spots will be visible from the inside and along the edges, the color of which varies from white to dark yellow. Gradually, the affected areas merge and spoil the appearance of the entire nail. The area near the lunula remains unaffected.

When onychomycosis proceeds according to the onycholytic type, the nail quickly separates from the bed from the side of the free edge. The smooth surface of the plate becomes white or whitish-yellow.

What does fingernail fungus look like? different course pathology shown in the photo. Often the patient has all forms of onychomycosis.

Treatment of onychomycosis with drugs

The speed of treatment of nail fungus on the hands depends on the severity of the disease and the accuracy of all medical prescriptions. Dermatologists and mycologists make up the course of therapy from medicines for internal and external use.

Creams, ointments, solutions are considered effective and easy-to-use remedies against fungus on the hands:

  • Mycosan.
  • Triderm.
  • Clotrimazole.
  • Lamisil.
  • Travogen.
  • Ointments nystatin and levorin.

To the most the best means for nail fungus on the hands are Lamisil cream and gel, and Terbinafine ointment and cream.

Processing of problem areas is carried out 2 r. per day. Wide spectrum the action of drugs gives the patient the opportunity to limit himself to only external treatment of onychomycosis.

For internal use, the patient is prescribed antimycotics in tablets:

  • Mycosist.
  • Nystatin.
  • Diflucan.
  • Fluconazole.

High therapeutic effect drugs due to the ability of active substances to sink into the cell membrane. But tablets of the antimycotic group are forbidden to drink during pregnancy and dysfunctions of the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract.

Preparations systemic action included in therapy in the most advanced cases. The combination of external and oral agents increases the effectiveness of treatment if the bloodstream has spread dermatophytes throughout the body. The so-called pulse treatment of onychomycosis is carried out with breaks between the developed courses. According to its principles, the patient takes the prescribed remedy for exactly 1 week, then takes a break for 2 weeks and resumes therapy.

If onychomycosis occurs in a mild form (less than 60% of the nail area is affected), doctors prescribe special varnishes, sprays and tonics.

Active ingredients medical cosmetics penetrate into the structure of the plate and create conditions under which microbes experience oxygen starvation and they die. The first result appears after 2 days from applying the varnish.

Consider how to treat nail fungus on the hands, sprays and tonics.

Hardware methods for the treatment of nail fungus on the hands

Hardware cleaning contributes to a deeper penetration of medicinal substances into the treated plate. Recovery of diseased tissues occurs 2 times faster.

An even more productive way to treat onychomycosis is laser nail treatment.

The therapeutic effect is achieved due to the deepest immersion of the laser beam into the structure of the plate. There, the beam destroys fungal spores, and after 4-10 procedures the disease recedes. Very quickly, the laser copes with the first signs of superficial mycosis. For severe injuries laser treatment accompany the course of drug therapy.

Surgical removal of the nail is prescribed when conservative measures for onychomycosis do not work. The essence of the operation is to destroy the growth zone of the nail and injure the bed. But doctors try to avoid such an event, because the removal of the nail plate has a number of contraindications and causes severe pain.

Folk remedies for nail fungus

Not only medicines, but also home procedures in the form of baths, lotions and treatment of fingers with ointments can restore beauty to hands after a fungal infection.

However folk treatment nail fungus on hands medicines will be justified if there are contraindications to taking pharmacy antimycotics. In other cases, folk remedies are best used along with pharmacological preparations.

WITH nail fungus fight well essential oils, iodine, celandine, Kalanchoe, acetic acid, Apple vinegar, tea mushroom, propolis, mint and other natural products.

Here are a few effective means from onychomycosis, which are most often used in traditional medicine.

  • Apple vinegar. The product is diluted with water at the rate of 1: 2. Every day, hands are dipped into the solution for 20 minutes. Finish off with a rinse clean water. Treatment takes 2-3 weeks.
  • Essential oil tea tree . The drug is used after a shower, applying a few drops of oil to the steamed nails. After 15 minutes, the hands are washed or the oil is left on the nails until it evaporates on its own.
  • Egg. The contents of 1 egg are mixed with a pack of butter and 100 ml of 70% vinegar. The mass is applied to the skin surrounding the affected plate, and washed off after 15 minutes. Manipulation is carried out 1 p. per day for 2 weeks.
  • alcohol, glycerin and vinegar essence . Liquids are mixed in a ratio of 2: 1: 2 (measured with a teaspoon). The composition is applied to the damaged area. The result is manifested by the formation of a new healthy surface of the nail.
  • Tea and coffee. Every evening they lower their hands into a bowl with one of the strong brewed drinks for half an hour. Sessions give an antifungal and regenerating effect. The frequency of procedures is determined by the degree of damage. On early stages onychomycosis is enough for several sessions.
  • garlic cream. The gruel squeezed out of the vegetable is combined with butter 1: 1. Every day, the ointment is applied to the diseased plate until all signs of fungal infection disappear.