Our
bodies host a variety of microorganisms, some of which are
beneficial to us. These microorganisms also include bacteria
and fungi. Fungal infections are caused by microscopic
plants that live on our skin and on the dead tissue of our
hair and nails. The following list contains the more common
nail irregularities, diseases and disorders. For information
on nail problems not listed here, please refer to the links
at the bottom of this page.
Please
be aware that Nail Technicians are only licensed to beautify
the hands, and not to diagnose or treat nail diseases.
Please seek the advice of a physician or dermatologist
for a proper diagnosis and medical treatment.
Paronychia
infections of the nail fold can be caused by bacteria, fungi
and some viruses. The proximal and lateral nail folds act
as a barrier, or seal, between the nail plate and the surrounding
tissue. If a tear or a break occurs in this seal, the bacterium
can easily enter. This type of infection is characterized
by pain, redness and swelling of the nail folds. People
who have their hands in water for extended periods may develop
this condition, and it is highly contagious.
Pseudomonas
bacterial infection can occur between the natural nail plate
and the nail bed, and/or between an artificial nail coating
and the natural nail plate. Many people have been led to
believe that the classic 'green' discoloration of this type
of infection is some type of mold. In actuality, mold is
not a human pathogen. The discoloration is simply a by-product
of the infection and is caused primarily by iron compounds.
Pseudomonas thrive in moist places; it feeds off the dead
tissue and bacteria in the nail plate, while the moisture
levels allow it to grow. The after effects of this infection
will cause the nail plate to darken and soften underneath
an artificial coating. The darker the discoloration, the
deeper into the nail plate layers the bacteria has traveled.
If the bacteria has entered between the nail plate and the
nail bed, it will cause the same discolorations and may
also cause the nail plate to lift from the nail bed.
A fungal
or yeast infection which results in Onychomycosis,
can invade through a tear in the proximal and lateral nail
folds as well as the eponychium. This type of infection
is characterized by onycholysis (nail plate separation)
with evident debris under the nail plate. It normally appears
white or yellowish in color, and may also change the texture
and shape of the nail. The fungus digests the keratin protein
of which the nail plate is comprised. As the infection progresses,
organic debris accumulates under the nail plate often discoloring
it. Other infectious organisms may be involved, and if left
untreated, the nail plate may separate from the nail bed
and crumble off.
Tinea
Unguis, or ringworm of the nails, is characterized by
nail thickening, deformity, and eventually results in nail
plate loss.
Onychatrophia
is an atrophy or wasting away of the nail plate which causes
it to lose its luster, become smaller and sometimes shed
entirely. Injury or disease may account for this irregularity.
Onychogryposis
are claw-type nails that are characterized by a thickened
nail plate and are often the result of trauma. This type
of nail plate will curve inward, pinching the nail bed and
sometimes require surgical intervention to relieve the pain.
Onychorrhexis
are brittle nails which often split vertically, peel and/or
have vertical ridges. This irregularity can be the result
of heredity, the use of strong solvents in the workplace
or the home, including household cleaning solutions. Although
oil or paraffin treatments will re-hydrate the nail plate,
one may wish to confer with a physician to rule out disease.
Onychauxis
is evidenced by over-thickening of the nail plate and may
be the result of internal disorders -- seek medical advice.
Leuconychia
is evident as white lines or spots in the nail plate and
may be caused by tiny bubbles of air that are trapped in
the nail plate layers due to trauma. This condition may
be hereditary and no treatment is required, as the spots
will grow out with the nail plate.
Beau's
Lines are nails that are characterized by horizontal
lines of darkened cells and linear depressions. This disorder
may be caused by trauma, illness, malnutrition or any major
metabolic condition, chemotherapy or other damaging event,
and is the result of any interruption in the protein formation
of the nail plate. Seek a physician's diagnosis.
Koilonychia
is usually caused through iron deficiency anemia. these
nails show raised ridges and are thin and concave. Seek
a physicians advice and treatment.
Melanonychia
are vertical pigmented bands, often described as nail 'moles',
which usually form in the nail matrix. Seek a physicians
care should you suddenly see this change in the nail plate.
It could signify a malignant melanoma or lesion. Dark streaks
may be a normal occurrence in dark-skinned individuals,
and are fairly common.
Pterygium
is the inward advance of skin over the nail plate, usually
the result of trauma to the matrix due to a surgical procedure
or by a deep cut to the nail plate. Pterygium results in
the loss of the nail plate due to the development of scar
tissue. Cortisone is used to prevent the advancement of
scar tissue. Never attempt to remove pterygium -instead,
consult a physician for advice and treatment.
NOTE:
The 'true cuticle' is often referred to as Pterygium.
If you have pterygium, it can only be treated by a physician
and should never be removed by a nail technician.
Pterygium
Inversum Unguis is an acquired condition characterized
by a forward growth of the hyponychium characterized by
live tissue firmly attached to the underside of the nail
plate, which contains a blood supply and nerves. Possible
causes are systemic, hereditary, or from an allergic reaction
to acrylics or solvents. Never use force to 'push back'
the advancing hyponychium --it is an extremely painful approach,
and will result in a blood flow. Consult a physician for
diagnosis and treatment.
Psoriasis
of the nails is characterized by raw, scaly skin and is
sometimes confused with eczema. When it attacks the nail
plate, it will leave it pitted, dry, and it will often crumble.
The plate may separate from the nail bed and may also appear
red, orange or brown, with red spots in the lunula. Do not
attempt salon treatments on a client with Nail Psoriasis.
Consult with a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment.
MMA
Damaged Nails: MMA (methyl methacrylate) is a liquid
monomer used for acrylic nails by some unscrupulous salons
even though it is considered by and prohibited by the FDA
to be a poisonous and deleterious substance. As of May 1,
1999, 23 states have banned this chemical from being used
in nail salons. MMA nails are very rigid and do not bend
or have the flexibility to break. When MMA does finally
break, it ~ill break the natural nail with it, causing severe
nail damage.
Brittle
Nails are characterized by a vertical splitting or separation
of the nail plate layers at the distal (free) edge of the
nail plate. In most cases, nail splitting and vertical ridges
are characteristic of the natural aging process. This nail
problem is also the result of overexposure to water and
chemical solvents such as household cleaning solutions.
As we age, the nail bed's natural flow of oils and moisture
is greatly reduced. This oil and moisture is the cement
that holds the nail plate layers together and gives the
plate its inherent flexibility. At the first signs of splitting
or peeling, re-hydrate the nail plate layers with a good
quality cuticle and nail oil that contains Jojoba and Vitamin
E as two of the botanical oils. Jojoba oil has a very tiny
molecule which can penetrate the nail plate surface, open
up the layers and draw the Vitamin E in after it. The molecular
structure of Vitamin E is too large to penetrate the nail
plate layers or the surface layer of the skin without the
benefits of Jojoba oil. Oil the nail plate and surrounding
cuticle at least twice daily; more if you have your hands
in water a lot. Wear gloves whenever working with household
cleaning solutions, and remember: water is considered the
'universal solvent', and is indeed a 'chemical'.
Vertical
Ridges are also characteristic of aging, although are
not limited to the aged or elderly. The nail plate grows
forward on the nail bed in a 'rail and groove' effect, much
like a train rides on its' tracks. As we age, the natural
oil and moisture levels decline in the nail plate, and this
rail and groove effect becomes apparent. Ridged nails will
improve through re-hydration of the nail plate with twice
daily applications of a good quality nail and cuticle oil
containing Jojoba and Vitamin E.
A Hematoma
is the result of trauma to the nail plate. It can happen
from simply trapping your finger or toe in the car door
to friction from improperly fitting or 'too- tight' shoes,
to a sports related injury. A hammer does a pretty good
job at causing a hematoma as well! The nail bed will bleed
due to this trauma, and the blood is trapped between the
nail bed and the nail plate. A hematoma may also indicate
a fractured bone. Many people who participate in sports
activities experience hematoma because of the constant friction
from the shoes against the toenails. Hematoma may result
in nail plate separation and infection because the blood
can attract fungi and bacteria. If several days have passed
and the blood clot becomes painful, the nail plate may require
removal so the nail bed can be cleansed.
Nail
Patella Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder involving
nail and skeletal deformities (among a host of other related
anomalies) that occurs in approximately 2.2 out of every
100,000 people. It is transmitted as a simple autosomal
dominant characteristic in the ABO blood group (Autosomal
dominant means that you only have to inherit one copy of
the gene to get it). It also means that there is no such
thing as an unaffected carrier, and NPS CAN NOT skip a generation.
In cases
where there seems to be no previous family history of NPS,
it is thought to be caused by a sporadic gene mutation (which
is probably how it began in all families at one time or
another). Once NPS is in a family, the risk of transmitting
the disorder from parent to offspring is 50% for each pregnancy,
regardless of the sex of the child, with females being affected
approximately 10% more often.
The
severity of nail dysplasia is extremely variable. Nails
may be small and concave, longitudinally grooved, abnormally
split, pitted, softened, discolored, or brittle. Toenails
are usually less affected than finger nails.
There
are others that only a trained dermatologist will be able
to diagnose and treat. Some are contagious, and some are
the result of injury or illness. Physicians will sometimes
examine your fingernails because many diseases will appear
as various changes in the nail plate. Any change in the
nail plate could be cause for concern, whether it is a simple
splinter hemorrhage that appears as a tiny black line in
the nail plate, or a drastic change. Nail technicians are
trained to beautify the hands/feet and are not allowed to
diagnose nail diseases or to treat them in the salon. For
your nail health, seek the diagnosis and recommendation
of a knowledgeable dermatologist.
