Ask Emma

Nail Disorders and Diseases

People often come to the salon for treatment of nail disorders and diseases. Beauty therapists and nail technicians are not qualified to diagnose and treat nail disorders and diseases. If you suspect you have this, you must attend to it promptly as it will only worsen if not attended to by a podiatrist or doctor. You should always be aware of the various infections etc. which you may be susceptible to. The following are some of the more common complaints;

PARONYCHIA:

is an infection of the nail fold. It is caused by bacteria, fungi and some viruses. The proximal and lateral nail folds act as a barrier between the nail plate and the surrounding tissue. If this seal is broken the bacterium can easily enter, resulting I infection. Pain, redness and inflammation will be present in the nail folds. People who have their hands in water for extended periods may develop this condition. Be cautions as it is contagious.

PSEUDOMANAS:

is a bacterial infection. It recognized by its green discoloration in between the natural nail plate and an artificial nail bed. People often recognize it as a mold. It is actually a by-product of the infection and is caused mainly by iron compounds. Pseudomanas thrive in moist areas. Moisture levels allow it to grow resulting in this infection. The darker the color of the nail plate, the deeper into the nail plate the infection has spread to. In some cases, the nail plate has been known to lift from the nail bed.

ONYCHOMYCOSIS:

refers to the invasion of the nail plate by a fungus. This infection can have a huge effect on the life of a person. People are often ashamed or embarrassed to expose their toes, and usually postpone treating it. Often it is caused by trauma or damage to the foot, or if a person has had athletes foot prior to the development of onychomycosis. It can be very difficult to treat. This must be seen to by a doctor or podiatrist promptly as the condition will only worsen.

TINEA UNGUIS:

is also commonly known as ringworm of the nail. It is characterized by nail thickening, deformity, and eventually resulting in loss of the nail plate.

ONYCHATROPHIA:

is where the nail plate wastes away, causing it to loose its luster, reducing in size and can even shed fully. It may be caused by injury or disease to the nail plate.

ONYCHORRHEXIS:

is where nails are weak and split vertically, peel, and sometimes have vertical ridges. This can be hereditary. The use of strong solvents etc can also cause this. Oil and paraffin treatments will re-hydrate the nail plate and improve the appearance of this, however you should always see your doctor or podiatrist to rule out any possible diseases.

ONYCHAUXIS:

is where the nail bed (base of the nail) is thickened abnormally. It is generally more common in the elderly and is characterized by its thickened and sometimes curved hooked nail. This may result in a disorder and must be seen by a doctor or podiatrist for advice. Long nails and trauma to the nail may cause this. Ensure to keep nails trimmed and attend to any injuries.

LEUCONYCHIA:

is where white lines or spots are present in the nail plate. It 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 lines / 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 may be the result of trauma, illness, malnutrition or any major metabolic condition, chemotherapy or some other damaging event. It is the result of any interruption in the formation of protein of the nail plate. This must be attended to by a doctor or podiatrist for diagnosis and treatment.

MELANONYCHIA:

are often described as nail moles. T is charcterised by vertical pigmented bands, and must be seen to by a doctor or podiatrist as they could signify a malignant melanoma or lesion. However, people with darker skins often have darker streaks and are completely normal. It is always better to put your mind at rest and have things like this seen to by a professions.

PTERYGIUM:

is where the skin protrudes over the nail plate. It is usually the result of trauma to the matrix. It can result in the loss o the nail plate. Never attempt to treat this yourself. People have often made matters worse by removing the pterygium themselves. You must see a professional about this.

PTERYGIUM INVERSUM UNGUIS:

is an where the hyponychium grows forward. You can see the live tissue firmly attached to the underside of the nail plate. It is caused by allergic reaction to solvents / acrylics, systemic, hereditary. This codition is extremely painful and should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor or podiatrist.

PSORIASIS:

can also appear on the nail as well as the skin. It leaves pitted, dry marks on the nail, and sometimes the nail will crumble. The nail plate may separate from the nail bed, and have a red / orange / brown appearance to it. This can look disastrous and must also be treated by a doctor or podiatrist.

BRITTLE NAILS:

often split vertically and often causes separation of the nail plate layers at the free edge of the nail plate. This is a very common complaint. It is a characteristic of the natural ageing process. This can occur when the nails are over exposed to water and solvents. Use vitamin e and jojoba oil on the nail and cuticle area to help to re-hydrate and thus help prevent further splitting and peeling. I recommend you do this twice daily and more if your hands are frequently in water.

VERTICAL RIDGES:

are also part of the ageing process. This is where the nail plate grows forward onto the nail bed in a ‘rail and groove’ effect. With age, we loose moisture content in out nail plates and this results in ridged nails. Re-hydrate the nails with vitamin e or jojoba oil to help prevent this.

HEMATOMA:

is the result of trauma to the nail. Ill fitting shoes is a common cause of this. The nail bed may bleed as a result of trauma. The blood is then trapped between the nail bed and the nail plate. If this is not treated by a doctor or podiatrist nail plate separation and infection may occur. In some cases the nail plate may have to be removed.

As I have constantly stated throughout this section you must seek diagnosis and treatment from either a podiatrist or doctor for any nail disease or disorder. Please don’t take these lightly as they will persist and worsen if not treated correctly. Should you notice any changes or abnormalities to the nail or cuticle area please consult your doctor or podiatrist as beauty therapists and nail technicians are not qualified to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder.

However they do work wonders in beautifying your hands and feet.

Visit the Body Beautiful Shop 

Barielle Nail Rebuilding Protein

Prices: $18 - $18 at 4 stores

Barielle Nail Strengthener Cream

Prices: $10 - $18 at 5 stores

Barielle Natural French Manicure Kit 1 Kit

Prices: $16 - $16 at 2 stores

Dermalogica Anti Bac Skin Wash 16 oz

Prices: $28 - $48 at 7 stores

Dermalogica Ultra Sensitive Face Block SPF 25

Prices: $22 - $39 at 7 stores

Dermalogica MultiVitamin Power Exfoliant Treatment Salon Size 30Caps

Prices: $155 - $253 at 5 stores

Dermalogica Treatment Foundation

Prices: $25 - $35 at 5 stores

Dermalogica Sheer Tint Moisture Spf 15 Medium 1.3

Prices: $35 - $37 at 3 stores