Diseases of the toenails

Diseases of toenails often remain not diagnosed, diagnosed incorrectly, or are not treated. This situation continues until it leads to significant pain, bad smell of the feet, nail deformities. To keep your nails healthy, you need to know the symptoms of their diseases, as well as precautions.

[1], [2]

Problems with nails

The American Podiatric Medical Association recently conducted a study with alarming results - they found that 75% of Americans have problems with toenails. Most of these problems are associated with improper foot care, and only a small part is caused by congenital defects and defects.

Human legs are one of the best engineering creations. Each leg has 33 joints, eight arches of the arch of the foot, 26 bones, more than a hundred muscles, ligaments and tendons, it all works together to distribute body weight and allow a person to make quick and deft movements. Unfortunately, many people do not pay attention to their legs - until they start to hurt. There are also 10 nails on the legs, which we do not always pay due attention to.

[3], [4]

The structure of the toenails

When we talk about nails, it is very often mistaken for a nail as a nail plate, which we cut, dye, wash and which we consider beautiful or ugly. But in fact, the nail - a much more complex natural structure than we think. From the point of view of doctors, this is an independent living organ of the human body!

The thickness of the nail on the foot, what is its area, depends directly on what a person eats, what are his hereditary characteristics, gender, type of activity, age and structure of the phalanx of fingers, of course. In addition, each nail has its own unique pattern, which no one else repeats. This drawing consists of recesses and protrusions. When a person is healthy, his toenails are smooth, without grooves, thickenings, they shine, they are almost transparent and they have an even beautiful shade.

Interesting facts about the nail plate

Translated from the Greek nails - onyx. These are skin appendages, like our hair. The nails are horny formations with a lamellar structure; they develop from the exoderm. Toenails and hands begin to form in the fetus in the womb, when he was there for almost three months. At this time, the nails grow very soon, but thoroughly.

At first, the bed near the nail grows and forms (the near-to-nail bed), then the nail cushions begin to form, and the nail plates grow and take shape only in the seventh or eighth month of the child’s development inside the mother. When a child is born, only then his nails begin to grow fully.

The nail consists of a nail bed, nail plate and nail rollers. On the nail one back roller and two lateral, or side. The nail plate is from 05 to 0.7 mm thick, and its width is 10-17 mm. The nail plate consists of horny cells, which are superimposed on each other in many layers - at least 150. They are called corneocytes. When the nail plate is formed, the corneocytes can no longer multiply because they lose their cell nuclei.

[5]

Nail rollers

What are nail rollers? This formation of the skin, which form the sinuses in the place where they go into the nail plate. And it is divided into the body of the nail, the root of the nail and the free edge of the nail, which lies under the back roller. And only a small part of the root of the nail visible to us is visible from the outside, it looks like a hole. This is a small lune in the shape of a semicircle of white.

The nails grow when the epithelial cells of the matrix (it is under the posterior roller of the nail) begin to divide. They are called onihoblasts. What is a matrix? This is part of the nail or leg area. On the state in which it is dependent on how the nail plate will develop and grow. It also depends on the matrix what the shape of the nail will be, how fast it will grow and what its structure will be.

If the matrix is damaged, the shape and structure of the nail plate changes. This threatens with the fact that the nail on the leg will grow much slower, whether waves or indentations will appear on it, in the end the nail plate may begin to collapse or disappear altogether. But if there was a serious injury to the nail, and the matrix is not damaged, then the nail will soon grow back as good as new.

[6], [7], [8], [9]

Cuticle

The nail matrix gradually passes into the nail bed, along which the nail plate moves in length. And the cuticle is formed from the stratum corneum of the epidermis, which is located on the posterior nail shaft. The cuticle serves to cover access to the nail root. If the cuticle is damaged during manicure manipulations, the root of the nail will stop growing.

Tissues around the nail

Those tissues that surround the nail are penetrated by the smallest blood vessels and a large number of nerve endings. That is why if the cuticle is damaged, blood from the tissues around the nail can often go. Damage to the nails and tissues around them requires very careful diagnosis before they become very painful.

In some cases, painful disorders of the nails are signs of the occurrence of even more serious diseases, such as diabetes, circulatory system diseases, nerves and other problems.

Infected Toenails

Sometimes what you do to keep your nails clean can do more harm than good. Improper staining, thoughtless use of lacquer with harmful substances and other abnormal measures can cause your toenails to pulsate, swell, your nails become infected and can lead to more serious foot problems, such as ingrown toenails.

The same thing happens when you cut your nails incorrectly - the toenail grows in corners, causing an ingrown nail disease.

When treating these diseases, professional help from an orthopedist or even a surgeon is recommended. In some cases, you may need to take antibiotics. In the worst case, you may have to go for a simple operation to remove a stuck nail area on the toe to cure it.

[10], [11], [12], [13]

Claws on legs

Claws on the legs - the result of flexion of the metatarsophalangeal joints of the toes. Especially in this case the middle of the bone, the so-called middle phalanx, suffers. Kogtevoobraznye fingers can be a serious problem and the reason for treatment. The sooner the claw-shaped fingers are treated, the easier they can be corrected.

Claw-shaped fingers can be deformed in two versions. The first - fingers remain mobile. The second option - the fingers can be fixed. With the mobility of the claw-shaped fingers, they can be aligned with the help of manual manipulations. If the finger joints are immobile, they hurt a lot, movements are limited, a person may need surgery. Sometimes at the same time, movements are disturbed when walking, they become painful, a large load is placed on the metatarsal bones, and even the corns and calluses appear on the footpad.

[14]

Consequences of claw-shaped fingernails

Deformations of nails that develop into claws on the toes are caused by muscle imbalances. People with flat feet are especially at risk (a condition also called pes planus), people who have suffered foot injuries, and people with concomitant chronic illnesses, are more prone to claw-shaped toes.

In patients with inflammatory diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, are at increased risk, as well as those who suffer from neuromuscular diseases, such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis.

[15]

How to diagnose claw-shaped toes?

Mutilated toes are very visible, but additional physical examination is required. Most doctors can also measure the foot for stability and flexibility of the foot, and look for signs of pain in the toes during the examination.

Doctors will also check if there is swelling, erythema (or abnormal redness of the finger or tissue under the nail), and corns.

In some cases, doctors require patients to undergo X-rays to accurately determine the position of their toes, as well as the condition of any bone, whether there is inflammation, arthritis. Blood tests may be needed to rule out diseases such as diabetes and other infections.

[16], [17], [18]

What treatment options are effective for a claw finger?

At the early detection stage, claw-shaped fingers can be corrected without surgery. When the claw of the finger is detected late and the deformation of the soft tissues that are attached to the claw has already occurred, surgery becomes necessary. There are two types of surgery to correct a twisted finger and claw-shaped nails.

Arthroplasty

This type of operation seems insignificant because it is a simple incision along the legs. The head of the proximal phalanx is used, then cut off, allowing the phalanx of the fingers to be straightened. Progressive surgery may be necessary until the doctors have achieved the right degree of straightening. If this fails, the patient may be asked to undergo arthrodesis.

[19], [20], [21]

Arthrodesis

This type of surgery is for more serious cases of a claw-shaped finger. The middle phalanges and proximal tubules are connected together. The cartilage is removed from the middle phalanx of the finger, and then the two bones are fixed together (usually removable) until they merge.

Patients who undergo arthrodesis cannot walk for a few more weeks. Like any type of surgery, arthrodesis has its own complications. Some patients suffer from infections after surgery. Some also suffer from numbness in the toes.

[22], [23]

What is ingrown nail?

Ingrown toenails dig into the skin, causing pain in the toes. The sharp, curved corners of ingrown toenails prick the skin on the outside of the legs, the punctured areas swell and become painful. Technically, any nail can become ingrown toenails, but the toes of the big toes are more susceptible to injury.

About 20% of patients have problems with an ingrown nail. Ingrown toenails occur when the skin is punctured in the corresponding area of the nail plate, as a result of penetration of foreign bodies, as well as inflammatory, infectious and reparative processes.

Ultimately, this can lead to painful and foul-smelling lesions of the areas of the fingers (most often, the nails), bacteria that have penetrated the soft tissues (hypertrophy around the nail plate).

Never underestimate ingrown nails due to infections, because if the disease is not treated quickly and correctly, then it can turn into more serious infections. In some cases, ingrown toenails progress to an abscess - a condition that requires surgery.

What are the symptoms of ingrown toenails?

Ingrown nails are characterized by pain, swelling and redness in the corner of an infected nail. In the early stages, at the end of the phalanx, the infected finger, as a rule, reddens and swells. As a rule, no channel is formed for the passage of pus at this stage. When an ingrown nail infection develops, the inflammation increases. In some cases, pus appears yellow or white.

In the worst cases, an infection due to ingrown nails can cause fever.

What causes the effect of an ingrown nail?

The most common cause of ingrown toenails is improper trimming of the nail. When you cut your nails around the edge or cut them down at the corners, they can become ingrown.

Nails should be trimmed in a straight line. Otherwise, the corners of the nail can penetrate the skin.

Very tight shoes can also cause infections due to an ingrown toenail. Narrow shoes squeeze fingers together and put pressure on nails (usually big toes), leading to their abnormal growth.

Ingrown toenails can also be caused by other factors, such as the fungal infection of the nails, which is spreading more and more. Some types of leg injuries in the area near the nails can also cause this condition.

Tests and diagnostics

Doctors, as a rule, evaluate ingrown nails based on the history of the disease. The doctor may also ask you if you have any medical problems with your toenails, if you are taking any medications for the infection, maybe you have recently had tetanus vaccinations, if you have allergies, etc.

The doctor will be able to tell if you have the effect of an ingrown nail after simple tests. If the infection looks severe, the doctor will likely check vital signs, such as body temperature, blood pressure and pulse. In some cases, the doctor may ask for urine tests. If you have diabetes, your doctor may order a blood test.

How to treat ingrown toenails?

If your ingrown toenails are still in the early stages of the disease, you can cure it yourself. It will be enough to remove the parts of the nail that dig into the skin. To do this, take small gauze swabs, or small pieces of cotton, and push them between your fingers for easy removal of the affected areas. It can be painful, so it is better to take painkillers.

It is necessary to immerse infected nails in warm water for at least four times a day. It is advisable to add antibacterial solutions to this water. You should also wash the affected area at least twice a day with regular soap and water.

Stay away from narrow shoes or high heels if you have ingrown toenails. Switch for sandals and other, more comfortable shoes.

If the condition does not improve after two to three days, this may be a signal to call a doctor who can suggest a method of surgery. The method of invasive treatment is necessary only when there is an infection on the nails. During the operation, the abscess is removed. If you have not received a tetanus vaccination in the past five years, your doctor will most likely require you to take an X-ray before surgery.

Toenail fungus

Similar names: onychomycosis, Tinea Unguium, shingles of the nails, ringworm on the nails. A nail fungus, or condition, also called onychomycosis, is a fairly common disease that destroys the affected nail (or disfigures it).

This can be caused by numerous species of fungi, such as dermatophytes (including trichophyton interdigitale and trichophyton rubrum), yeast and mold.

These fungi breed in a moist, dark, cramped environment in the shoe, and destroy keratin - a protein that makes nail structures hard when they grow. The nails of the thumb and little finger are more prone to developing toenail fungi because they are most susceptible to friction caused by cramped footwear.

What are the symptoms of nail fungus?

Yellow and thick toenails are probably infected with fungi. Some fungi with an unpleasant smell, as a rule, also infect the nails, especially on the sides. Fungal nails may eventually collapse, and sometimes begin to subside with a finger, as soon as the infection worsens its course. Some toenails become very thick, legs because of this swell inside the shoe.

In cases of chronic superficial onychomycosis, the infected nail becomes white (not brown or yellow). Its surface softens, dries and crumbles.

What causes fungal infection of toenails?

From 2 to 18 percent of people in the world have fungal nails or onychomycosis. Children are not so susceptible to this disease - only one out of 200 children and adolescents (under 18) suffers from onychomycosis. People become more vulnerable to fungus when they get older.

It is estimated that about 50 percent of people fall ill with toenail fungus at least once before they turn 70.

Fungal nails or onychomycosis are mainly associated with narrow shoes or hosiery that do not breathe. Another reason is the layering of the nails.

Nail fungi can also attack a person because of the wet floors of public changing rooms, such as the gym or pool, and shower rooms. People suffering from chronic diseases such as HIV, diabetes or cardiovascular problems are more prone to fungus.

Fungus on the nails of the feet and its diagnosis

The doctor will certainly conduct a survey to determine what could cause a nail fungus in a person. Factors such as a high level of risk when wearing tight shoes, synthetic socks, stockings, poor hygiene, participation in sports games in public gyms and locker rooms, chronic diseases, must necessarily be announced to the doctor.

The doctor will probably ask the patient if he has a genetic predisposition for psoriasis, which may look very similar to a fungal infection. Some doctors may take pieces of the nail for examination.

[24], [25], [26], [27],

How to get rid of nail fungus?

Contrary to popular belief, fungal nails hardly ever heal on their own. If treatment is not successful, their condition may gradually deteriorate, and the fungus may spread to other toenails.

Infected parts of the nail may increase. The doctor can remove as many parts of the fungal toenails as necessary. The nail can be trimmed, turned, the fungus can be dissolved. Medicinal fluids can be used independently by the patient, as a rule, twice a week, until the fungal nails become completely healthy.

Some external drugs work only for lighter infections. Oral antifungal medications are usually required if onychomycosis becomes worse.

Some antifungal drugs have side effects, so be prepared to follow a doctor's prescription and monitor your intake. Surgical removal of part of the nail, as a rule, is done when infected nails already interfere with walking and other functional activities.

[28], [29]

Injury of the nail plate

In the event of injury to the nail plate, a hematoma is often formed. This is a painful condition that occurs when bleeding develops under the nail. As a rule, this is due to the crush of tissue under the nail. The hematoma becomes a trap between the rigid structure of the nails above and the distal phalanx of the toe below.

If you hit a finger or are injured as a result of falling something heavy on your legs, you may develop a hematoma when blood accumulates under your nails. The nail becomes red, black or purple.

Pain is usually caused by a blunt trauma with a heavy object or chronic friction on the shoes. Variants of hematomas can vary from a small speck under the nail to large spots. Depending on the amount of blood under the nail, the nail plate may weaken.

But often the nail remains intact, and the blood disappears as soon as it is released outside using a nail puncture. If the hematoma is large and painful, during treatment it will be necessary to relieve pressure under the nail.

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

When to call a doctor after an injury to the nail plate:

If you have a severe injury to the nail, for example, if a heavy object fell on your feet, you should seek treatment to rule out a fracture and cure any injury to the nail bed.

• If a nail injury results in severe swelling, pain or redness of the leg.
• If there is any discharge from under the nail.
• If the nail disappears.

If you have neuropathy or any circumstance that affects healing or blood circulation, for example, diseases such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease.

If the change in nail color is represented as a linear strip or stripes running along the entire length of the nail plate. Although the band often has a normal pigment, in some cases it can be a sign of skin cancer - melanoma.

Nail injuries can not always lead to bleeding under the nail, but can affect other predictable changes. These changes may occur due to chronic friction of the nail on the shoes or in response to irritation from a fungal or bacterial infection.

Some of the most common changes

1. Thickening of the nail causes considerable damage to its growth, or the matrix of the nail.
2. Nail dystrophy - permanent changes to the nails, such as splitting or shrinking the nail in size.
3. Tearing off the nail - all or part of the nail becomes loose or disappears

[34], [35]

So how to avoid injury to your toenails?

Buy larger shoes

Trim the toenails straight, not in a semicircle, especially on the big toes, so that the nail does not grow into

Replace your shoes as often as possible and try its different brands and models until you find the shoes that best serve you.

If you are overweight, say goodbye to extra pounds, this will reduce the effect of the weight of the body on the fingers and toenails

If you notice any deformation of the nails, and feel pain during exercise, immediately stop moving.

[36]

Useful tips for keeping your nails healthy

It takes very little effort to care for your feet and keep your nails in a healthy shape. Here are some habits you can develop and follow.

Wear only those shoes that suit you. Feet need a place to breathe, no need to constrain them in fashionable, but very uncomfortable shoes.

Keep your feet dry. Make sure that after washing the areas between the toes should dry out before you put on the socks. If you have sweaty feet, you should regularly wipe them with cotton wool.

Feet need to be washed daily. A simple scrub in the shower does real miracles for the health of your feet and nails.

Use only clean socks. Never use the same pair twice to avoid nail fungus.