The most important function of the nail is the protection function. Nail problems are quite common. Changes in the nails occur in diseases such as psoriasis and eczema, after trauma, as a side effect of medications, and in some skin diseases. Although the most common cause of nail disorders is fungal infection, bacterial infections can also cause nail disorders.
Nail disorders in systemic diseases
- Beau lines (Horizontal Grooves): It is the horizontal chipping in the nail bed that is usually seen after trauma. It occurs after severe nutritional deficiencies, high fever and taking some medications. Horizontal lines may form on the nail, especially in chronic eczema. This corrugation is caused by the cessation of growth in the nail bed for a period of time. This groove is noticed one month after the causative event and regresses spontaneously as the nail grows.
- Onycholysis (separation of the nail from its bed):It is the separation of the tip of the nail from the nail bed. Frequently, diseases such as goiter, psoriasis, eczema, lichen and antibiotics such as tetracycline can cause this condition. Sometimes this condition can be permanent.
- Onychorrhexis (longitudinal ridges and grooves on the nail):This condition is seen in the elderly, rheumatism, vascular diseases and the skin disease we call lichen. This condition is usually permanent.
- Koilonychia (Spoon nail):The spoon-shaped nail is most commonly seen in anemia due to iron deficiency. It can also normally be seen in children. It improves with treatment or as you get older.
- Leukonychia (White spots on the nails):White spots on the nails can be seen in diseases such as kidney diseases and cirrhosis, or they can occur spontaneously.
- Pitting:It is the appearance of tiny pits on the nails. It can be seen in psoriasis, ringworm and eczema. Even if these diseases are treated, pits may remain on the nails.
Infections seen in the nail
- Onychomycosis (Nail Fungus):It is a very common disease. It is a disease. It is especially common in people with heat, humidity, trauma, diabetes and foot fungus. The nail is deformed, thickened, yellow brown in color and the base is Pain may occur.
- Paronychia:It is an infection that occurs in the form of pain, swelling and redness in the nail fold. In the advanced stage, pus develops in this section. It is a bacterial infection that can be caused by trauma and is treated with antibiotics. Chronic cases develop due to allergic and irritation eczema rather than microbial and the cuticle has disappeared. These people have the habit of picking their cuticles or are used to working in a job where their hands are constantly in contact with water. Fungal infection is often added secondarily. In treatment, contact with water should be prevented first.
- Nails disorders due to medications:Many medications can cause nail disorders. Brown and black discoloration, leukonychia, bleeding areas, Beau's lines, melanonychia, thickening, thimble nail, blue-gray, yellow, purple discoloration, paronychia, pyogenic granuloma, brittle nail, onycholysis are nail changes that can develop with the intake of various medications. Nail disorders other than pyogenic granuloma regress when cut.
- In addition, various disorders in the nails can be seen in many genetic diseases.
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