Onycholysis of nails on hands and feet: how to treat at home by alternative means

Human nails are very sensitive to various kinds of problems: with a lack of vitamins, they become dull, and with a lack of calcium, they are brittle. It also happens that the nails begin to exfoliate from their base - the bed. Such a defect is extremely unpleasant and very noticeable in appearance, which aggravates discomfort. Detachment is a disease, and it is called "onycholysis". What it is necessary to know about it, and whether it is possible to get rid of a problem?

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Epidemiology

Pathology can have an infectious and non-infectious origin. About 35-45% of diseases are caused by fungal pathogens, in other cases, another cause of the disease is diagnosed.

On the whole, onycholysis is considered to be a fairly common pathology, however, there are no exact statistics of the spread.

[5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]

Causes of the onycholysis

The most common cause of the disease doctors consider mechanical damage to the nail. The detachment often occurs when you strike the finger phalanx, when a hemorrhage forms under the nail, as well as when a nail plate is burned or "undermined" (accidentally or intentionally).

The next possible cause is an infectious skin disease - mainly a fungal nature, or microbial. In most patients, onycholysis develops after prolonged sluggish inflammation.

Relatively rare cause is allergy. The development of nail disease in allergies is associated with prolonged contact with the allergenic substance - for example, with overreaction to latex or cleaning products.

Often, the disease is a "continuation" of other dermatological and other problems - disorders of the endocrine system, neuroses, psoriasis or eczema, diseases of the vascular system.

There is information about the development of pathology against a background of prolonged or chaotic treatment with antibiotics.

Onycholysis after gel varnish also occurs relatively often. The reasons for this phenomenon are still unknown, because the disease affects not all of the fair sex, who use gel nail polish. Presumably, the problem can be the use of poor-quality materials, as well as in the incorrect correction and hypersensitivity of the girl's body to the effects of chemical components and to the process of drying the coating with ultraviolet light.

Similarly, onycholysis can develop from shellac, or from a remedy for its removal. Fortunately, such disease passes independently after the termination of use of provoking nail procedures.

Traumatic onycholysis

As the name suggests, traumatic onycholysis develops under the influence of various kinds of injuries - both mechanical and chemical or physical damage.

Mechanical onycholysis can be the result of strikes on the nail phalanx, bruises, squeezing, etc.

Chemical onycholysis is the result of exposure to various chemicals, detergents and cleaners, solvents, etc.

Physical onycholysis arises under the influence of ultraviolet or other irradiation, high or low temperatures.

[12], [13]

Risk factors

Given all the possible causes of the disease, we can identify a number of factors that can lead to its development:

• injuries of fingers and nails, wearing uncomfortable shoes;
• various dermatological diseases;
• systemic diseases (pathology of blood vessels, central nervous system, digestive tract);
• endocrine pathologies;
• infections (microbial, fungal);
• contact with chemicals, irradiation.

[14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21]

Pathogenesis

Pathogenetic characteristic factors of this disease can be all kinds of injuries and other disorders of the structure of the distal segment of the nail plate. Pathology in some cases can have professional features - for example, detachment often happens in washerwomen, dishwashers, etc.

Of no small importance are acute and chronic poisoning, local intoxication effects, neurotrophic problems, skin diseases, infections.

The detachment of the plate from the nail bed in most cases begins with the free side, but in some cases, there is a lateral separation. Most often the detachment is partial: under the plate a cavity is formed, which separates the nail from the soft tissues of the finger phalanx.

Is it an infectious disease?

Traumatic onycholysis is not contagious and is not transmitted from person to person. But in case the disease was provoked by a fungal or microbial infection, it can indeed go to other people on contact.

Thus, we can conclude: the detachment itself is not considered to be contagious. Contagious can be considered infectious spread - one of the probable root causes of pathology.

[22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29]

Symptoms of the onycholysis

The main characteristic symptom of the disease is the detachment of the nail plate, which often begins with the free side and is aggravated as it approaches the nail base. In most cases, the detachment is not complete and takes no more than ½ of the entire surface of the plate. The formed cavity has a light gray shade: the nail is not modified, its surface remains smooth. If the disease is caused by fungi or bacteria, then the nail can change its shape, and the surface becomes tuberous and uneven.

The first signs of the disease can be as follows:

• Formation of a void under the nail;
• the boundary of the empty zone is uneven;
• the color of the plate may vary in color: for example, after a trauma, the nail may become crimson or bluish;
• skin, located under the fingernail, sometimes thickens;
• the shape of the nail plate can remain the same, or change.

Pathology is not accompanied by pain: pain is possible only with the attachment of a secondary infectious lesion.

Onycholysis of the nails on the legs is usually found on the thumb, as most pathologies are caused by improperly selected and tight shoes. Clinically, the disease is practically not manifested. Only with close examination can you see the presence of voids under the fingernail. In advanced cases, fungus can attach to the onycholysis: itching, discomfort, unpleasant foot odor.

Onycholysis of the nails on the hands in most cases occurs as a result of improper nail care - for example, after improper or poor-quality application of a gel of lacquer or shellac. Nails at the same time look far from the best way, but no painful feelings a person does not feel.

Onycholysis in pregnancy

Detachment of nail plates often occurs in pregnant women. This can be explained by many reasons:

• intensive hormonal restructuring in the body;
• decreased immunity;
• deficiency of individual vitamins and minerals;
• edema and weight gain, which creates an additional burden on the lower limbs.

To eliminate onycholysis, pregnant women are advised to confine themselves to local treatment without resorting to oral medication. Medicines of systemic action can have a negative impact on the development of the fetus, as well as become a threat to the further normal course of pregnancy.

It is preferable to take vitamin complexes designed specifically for pregnant women, as well as to perform external treatment with ointments or alternative means.

Onycholysis in the child

The disease can occur in patients of any age, and children are no exception. In a child, onycholysis can indicate a disorder of systemic functions - for example, on digestive disorders, endocrine system. Often, "fault" is the wrong diet or vitamin deficiency in the diet.

Often detachment occurs in children who have a habit of gnawing their nails. Also, the push to develop the pathology can serve as strong experiences, conflicts, depressive states.

However, the most common cause of detachment is fungal infection. The child can catch a fungal infection in the pool, a sports locker room or on the beach.

Since the causes of the disease can be many, it is necessary to accurately identify the exact cause of the doctor. He will appoint the right treatment.

You can not ignore the appearance of detachment of the nail plates in the child: this may indicate a serious violation of the internal organs.

Stages

Onycholysis proceeds through the stages:

• stage of the development of the disease;
• stable stage without progression;
• the stage of stunting of the dystrophic process;
• stage of regression;
• full recovery.

[30], [31], [32], [33], [34]

Forms

Onycholysis is complete, or partial. With partial damage, the cavity is formed only on a separate site of the nail. But, as the disease can be aggravated, the process can spread to the entire nail surface.

[35], [36], [37], [38]

Complications and consequences

Onycholysis, of course, does not represent any danger to the life of the patient. The disease can even go on independently, provided that the provoking factor is eliminated. However, if the detachment is caused by the action of an infectious agent, then in the absence of treatment, the infection can spread and gradually capture all the nails, both on the upper and lower limbs.

Nails that are infected with the infection, eventually become unattractive, brittle, discolored, which affects the quality of everyday life.

If the disease is accompanied by a fungal lesion, then it can spread, in addition to the nails, also on the skin of the feet and / or palms.

[39], [40], [41], [42], [43], [44], [45], [46]

Diagnostics of the onycholysis

For diagnosis and treatment of the disease you need to see a dermatologist. If a dermatologist discovers specific causes of the disease, he can refer the patient to a follow-up examination to an endocrinologist, a gastroenterologist therapist or an allergist.

In order not to make a mistake with the choice of treatment, it is very important for the doctor to determine the cause of the disease correctly. To do this, he will first carefully examine the affected nails, interview the patient about his complaints and symptoms.

Analyzes are prescribed in order to identify the causative agent of infection - for example, to determine the presence of fungus, streptococcus or staphylococcus. In addition, a general blood test can be assigned to assess the performance of the entire body, as well as to identify the inflammatory process.

Instrumental diagnostics for nail pathologies is rarely used, which may depend on the expected cause of the detachment.

[47], [48], [49], [50]

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis is most often performed with other dystrophic nail processes:

• gapalonichia - softening of the nails;
• brittle nails against beriberi;
• onyhomadezis - a complete detachment of the nail;
• onyorexis - longitudinal cleavage of the nail;
• onychosis - transverse cleavage of the nail;
• trahnonichia - roughness and peeling of the plate;
• nail usury - wear of the free side of the plate.

In addition, the disease should be distinguished from mycosis, Bowen's disease, red flat lichen, from psoriasis of the nails.

Differences in onycholysis from the fungus are significant, although in some cases, the differentiation of diseases can be difficult:

• The nail fungus is transmitted from person to person, and non-infectious onycholysis is not contagious;
• the detachment of the nail, as a rule, is not accompanied by a significant change in color and shape of the plate: the fungus also makes the nail coarse and cardinally changes its color;
• with a fungus, patients complain of a feeling of itching and irritation, and with a normal detachment, there are no such symptoms;
• when the fungus changes the smell of the feet;
• fungus will never appear as a result of injuries.

Diagnosis can present some difficulties if a person simultaneously has onychomycosis and onycholysis - such situations, by the way, are often. In this case, laboratory tests will be required.

Treatment of the onycholysis

The scheme of treatment of the disease depends on its cause. But, in any case, an integrated approach is applied - and this especially applies to progressive and slow pathologies.

How quickly to cure onycholysis? The doctor can give some advice on this. For example, he advises to limit contact with chemicals, with detergents and cleaning preparations, and also use protective fingertips or gloves. In addition to proper careful nail care, the doctor will prescribe the drugs of local and systemic action.

As a systemic influence can be used physiotherapy, drugs to improve biobalance, vascular protectors. It can be recommended the reception of beer yeast, amino acid and vitamin complex preparations.

When the disease is an additional intake of such vitamins and trace elements:

1. vitamins A, E, ascorbic acid, β-carotene (trigger the recovery processes in tissues);
2. vitamins belonging to group B (accelerate metabolic processes, improve the work of the nervous system);
3. preparations containing calcium, iron, sulfur, copper, zinc.

Aevit with onycholysis is taken orally, and is used externally. For oral administration, one capsule is sufficient daily for 2-3 weeks. For external use, the Aevit capsule should be pierced with a needle and the contents (oily solution) applied to the surface of the nail and cuticle, massaged for a couple of minutes, involving about 1 cm into the process and the skin outside the nail. The course of such procedures is 2-3 weeks , then you should take a break.

Medications

Oral drugs with nail detachment are prescribed relatively rarely, mainly with infectious lesions. For example, in the presence of a fungal infection, tablets are required almost always: the treatment regimen in such a situation should be combined in order to get rid of the fungus definitively.

If there is an infection, the doctor usually recommends one of the following antifungal medicines:

• Griseofulvin.

The drug is taken in an amount of 250 mg, twice a day. Duration of admission is determined individually and can be 1 year and even more.

• Intraconazole.

The drug is prescribed following this scheme:

1. 200 mg twice a day, for a week;
2. after three weeks, the treatment is repeated;
3. three weeks later the course is repeated a third time.

• Terbinafine.

The drug can be used with onychomycosis on the nails of the hands and feet. The treatment regimen consists of taking 250 mg daily, for 12-24 weeks.

• Fluconazole.

The drug is usually taken on 150-300 mg once every 7 days, for half a year or more.

These drugs are usually well tolerated, side effects are rare.

Ointments with onycholysis of nails

External preparations are used for the edge detachment of the nail. Solcoseryl's ointment helps, which improves local blood flow, strengthens blood vessels, reduces oxygen starvation of tissues and allows them to quickly recover.

Use and other ointment preparations. For example, to prevent or treat a microbial infection, a heliomycin ointment or an emulsion of Synthomycin is prescribed: these preparations are rubbed into the site with a detached fingernail in the morning and in the evening.

A good and quick action has an ointment Vishnevsky. If you do not take into account the not very pleasant smell of this remedy, you can identify a lot of its beneficial properties: ointment heals the damage throughout the month, with regular use. The effect of the ointment is due to the content of birch tar, castor oil and xerobes in it.

If the detachment is caused by the influence of a fungal pathogen, the doctor will prescribe antifungal drugs. It can be Intraconazole, Mycospores, or Batrafen. The leader among such medicines is Exoderyl - it is used, both in the form of a liquid, and in the form of a cream.

Exoderate from onycholysis is distributed throughout the affected area in the morning and at night. Duration of use varies: for example, with the defeat of nails on hands, the minimum course of therapy is six months, and with lesions of the lower limbs - 6-12 months. If the infection is stable, or is widespread, then antifungal medicines are given for ingestion.

Levomekol with onycholysis is used in the presence of bacterial infection. The ointment is applied to the skin and nail treated with antiseptic, covered with a gauze napkin on top and fixed with a bandage or plaster. Levomekol destroys germs and helps restore the affected skin. It is desirable to spend the procedure before going to bed, within a week. Longer use of this ointment is not recommended.

Trays for nails with onycholysis

Effective means for curing the detachment of nails, especially at the initial stages of the development of the disease and under the condition that there is no infectious agent, is considered the use of all kinds of trays. This can be a bath with warm water with the addition of vegetable oil and lemon or orange juice (in equal proportions). Also no less effective are 4% baths with sea salt, with decoction of needles or infusion of chamomile.

An excellent effect gives a gelatin solution. To make it, mix one tablespoon of gelatin in a glass of warm water. Keep fingers in this solution for about 30-40 minutes.

To strengthen the nails, it is useful 2 times a week to hold trays with a grapefruit extract or a decoction of the rhizome of calamus. The duration of this procedure is a quarter of an hour.

Treatment of onycholysis with iodine

There are several ways to treat nail detachment with iodine.

• Take a cotton swab, dipped in an iodine solution and processed the affected nails, in the morning and in the evening.
• Prepare a bath: in hot water (three liters) pour in 1-2 tsp. Iodine, lowered the affected fingers and steamed them for 10-15 minutes. After that, the damaged parts of the nail are removed with scissors, and the skin under them is treated with hydrogen peroxide. The procedure is carried out every day.
• Mix iodine and table vinegar in equal amounts. The resulting mixture is processed nails, daily, for 14 days. The repeated course is carried out only 10 days after the previous one.

The use of iodine will give the first results in just a few weeks, and the total duration of treatment is usually 2-4 months.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Physiotherapy involves the use of iontophoresis, diathermic procedures, phonophoresis using vitamins retinol and tocopherol. Therapy is carried out in courses that include 10 to 15 sessions, with breaks of 5-6 weeks.

If, in addition to detachment, there is thickening of the nail plate, then apply a special patch with keratolytic. It helps to soften the coarsened nail zones, which facilitates their further removal.

Alternative treatment

Propolis is recognized as an additional means, which is successfully used by many patients. For several nights in a row, the nails should be lubricated with 20% alcohol tincture of propolis. It is advisable to lubricate only the nail itself, without touching the closely located skin.

Positive effect on the healing process and sea salt. One tablespoon of salt should be diluted in a glass of warm water. In this solution, it is necessary to place the damaged fingers and hold for up to 20 minutes. After such a bath it is important to wipe your hands well, and on wax nails it is desirable to additionally apply wax.

It's great if these methods are used simultaneously. By the way, many patients noticed that the disease passes much faster, if you take a daily tincture or tea on the basis of Leonurus or Valerian root. The complex approach leads to the fact that the damaged tissues are restored more intensively.

And more: it is not necessary to hide illness, hiding fingernails or nails under a layer of a varnish. This will worsen the pathology and delay the onset of recovery. It is desirable that the damaged surface is open to air.

[51]

Tea tree oil from onycholysis

Tea tree oil is considered to be the strongest antiseptic agent with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

The use of this oil in the detachment of the nail plates consists in daily rubbing it into the affected area, and it is necessary to rub several times a day - up to 6-7 times. When applying the oil, it is recommended to drop a small amount of it and under the plate.

The duration of such treatment can be different. Since such a remedy is harmless, many people use it until the disease is completely healed and rid of.

On average, the use of oil lasts about three months.

Herbal Treatment

A good effect is a compress made from the leaves of aloe. Aloe has a pronounced anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antimicrobial action, prevents the spread of infection, eliminates the unpleasant odor (possesses deodorizing properties).

Aloe can be used for detachment of infectious and non-infectious origin. It is preferable to use long-term, lower leaves, the age of which exceeds two years.

The plant leaf is cut off, washed under running water, cut lengthwise, divided into parts. Each of the parts is applied with a cut to the affected nail, the top is fixed with a bandage or an adhesive plaster.

For the necessary effect, it is enough if the plant will be held on the nails for about half an hour. After the procedure, the compress is removed, the skin and nail plates are not washed, and further processed with a nutrient, for example, cream.

The duration of such treatment: minimal - 14 days, maximum - three months.

Outer and inside it is recommended to use natural fungistatic and fungicidal agents - onions and garlic.

For auxiliary treatment, a collection of juniper berries, sage leaves, yarrow, eucalyptus, chamomile, calendula, birch and poplar buds is used.

Affected exfoliated areas are treated with chlorophyllipt or tincture of calendula.

Homeopathy

The most effective at detachment of nail plates are such homeopathic preparations as:

• Silicon 30-6-3;
• Graphite 6-3;
• Acidum fluoride 6-12;
• Causticum 3;
• Thuya 3x;
• Conium 3;
• Natrum 6-30.

Drugs are taken three times a day, alternating between each other on days (at least two drugs).

Doses are determined individually, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient and concomitant diseases.

Contraindications: individual hypersensitivity to medications (rare).

Surgery

Removal of the nail, as one of the methods of treating its detachment, is not always justified. In most cases, the disease also occurs with the use of conservative therapy, with the use of external and internal drugs.

Removal of the nail is advisable to carry out to increase the effectiveness of antifungal or antibacterial therapy: in the absence of the affected nail part, external medicines will be able to penetrate the skin and into the foci of infection in greater concentration.

To date, doctors are increasingly resorting to the removal of the nail by surgical intervention. This operation is quite painful and in the future can lead to a change in the shape of newly grown nail plates.

Surgical resection of onycholysis can be replaced by a gradual "dissolution" of the nail. For this, special external preparations are used, which includes urea. In addition, with small pathological lesions, painless "grinding" of the nail plate is possible, but this requires the presence of a special grinding apparatus. Often the affected nail is "removed" with a laser.

Prosthetic nails with onycholysis

Prosthetics of nails - this, in fact, one of the types of nail build-up. Prosthetics help to get rid of only aesthetic problems. It is possible only if there is at least a small part of the natural nail plate (it is necessary for fixation). If there is no finger nail at all, then it is impossible to perform such a procedure.

Prosthesis is not recommended for psoriasis, diabetes, local inflammation, as well as for fungal lesions. The fact is that the untreated infection after the prosthesis installation can be aggravated.

How is the procedure performed?

• They make a pedicure.
• Remove all affected areas on the nails.
• Prepare the rest of the nail plate for building.
• The main layer of the gel is applied and dried.
• Apply a second layer of gel, smooth and dry.
• Eliminate stickiness, file the sides of the nails.
• The surface of the nails is flattened.
• Apply a special hiding biogel, dried.
• Eliminate stickiness.
• Improve the appearance with a varnish or gel varnish.

After installing the prosthesis for him, you will need to carry out special care, which the doctor will explain to the doctor after completion of the procedure.

Prevention

Preventive measures are as follows:

• in order to avoid detachment of nails, it is necessary to observe safety measures for manicure and pedicure procedures;
• if covering or liquid nail preparations are used, care should be taken in advance about their quality;
• when using chemical detergents or cleaning agents, it is important to use additional protective gloves or fingertips;
• it is important to eat properly and fully to avoid beriberi and weakened immunity;
• in winter and spring time, you can additionally take vitamin complex preparations;
• it is necessary timely and qualitatively to treat any infectious diseases, as well as systemic pathologies of a chronic nature.

[52], [53], [54], [55], [56]

Forecast

The disease is relatively favorable. Noninfectious pathology can be stopped independently, provided that the root cause is eliminated. Infectious onycholysis requires adequate treatment: otherwise the situation may be aggravated by the formation of additional inflammatory foci, partial destruction and deformation of the nail.

Onycholysis is a complex and long-lasting illness, so you need to be patient and treat it properly, given the cause of the onset.

[57], [58], [59]