Nail disorders can cause embarrassment, but some changes in appearance can suggest serious medical problems. Fungal infections are the most common cause, while bacterial nail disease, psoriasis, and onycholysis can also occur. Severe or sudden changes should be checked by a doctor, as they could be a sign of autoimmune disease, cancer, or other serious conditions.
People are generally a little particular about how their hands look. Everyone sees them, whether through a gesture, a shake, a pat on the back or a form of emphatic expression. This being the case, nail disorders, regardless of the cause, can lead to embarrassment. In some cases, however, a change in the appearance of the nails can suggest a serious medical problem.
Most nail disorders are easily diagnosed and treated. The most common form results from fungal infections. Yellowish nails can be caused by yeast or mold and are easily treated with over-the-counter or prescription antifungal ointments and creams. There is a small chance that yellow nails indicate a respiratory disorder, but this type of yellow nail syndrome is rare.
Bacteria that has infiltrated a cut around the cuticle causes another type of nail disorder. Known as paronychia, bacterial nail disease will be exemplified by a red, inflamed infection. If left untreated, a person with this disorder may notice pus or blood oozing from the nail. Both topical and oral antibiotics are normally used to treat paronychia.
The fabled “heartbreak of psoriasis” can also apply to nails, causing dimpling, yellowing, and brittle edges. In some severe cases, the nail may eventually fall off. This is similar to nail onycholysis, where the nail separates completely from the underlying nail bed. Onycholysis is normally the result of an injury in which the nail is broken, but it can rarely be a precursor to anemia.
When nail complaints appear very quickly or seem particularly severe, you should be cautious and visit your family doctor or dermatologist. While most nail ailments are just that, they can sometimes be harbingers of serious medical problems. Pitted nails might just be pitted nails, but they could also be a sign of chronic dermatitis or an autoimmune disease. If the nail begins to curve around the fingertip — called a “club” — there’s a small chance of liver, cardiovascular, or inflammatory bowel disease.
If one notices a black line or dot under the nail and it refuses to go away, one should not hesitate to visit the doctor. Again, while the spot might just be a spot, it could also be cancerous melanoma. This form of cancer can be fatal, but if caught early it can be stopped or cured. The same can be said of nail disorders which include a dark band on the outer tip of the nail. The discoloration could be a warning of impending congestive heart failure or diabetes.
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