When there is something out of the ordinary with nails on the hands or feet, it gives a lot of trouble. And it concerns both the usual for ladies problems of brittleness, and more serious cases, for example, when the nail moved away from the nail bed. In medicine, this disease is called "onycholysis". What is it, why it arises and how to deal with it, we will consider later in our article.
The symptom of the fact that the nail moved away from the nail bed is primarily a violation of the integrity of the plate itself. Also, the nail itself often changes color, a cavity is formed below it, filled with air. This process can occur both on the hands and on the legs. Initially, the withdrawal may be almost invisible, but with time, if you do not start treatment, you can completely lose the horny plate.
The reasons for the fact that the nail departs from the nail bed can be the following factors:
- non-infectious: trauma, intake of fluoroquinolone antibiotics, impaired blood supply to the limbs, and exposure to chemicals such as washing powders, detergents;
- infectious: the onset of onycholysis is associated with a lesion of the skin around the nail and the plate itself with a fungus;
- also onycholysis can develop with psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, or be a consequence of disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular, endocrine or nervous systems.
In case you notice that the nail has moved away from the nail bed, you should think about your health. To cure this disease, it is necessary to identify its causes, because they often significantly weaken the body and provoke such side effects as the occurrence of diseases of the nails and skin.
To cure onycholysis, the doctor usually prescribes general restorative therapy, which includes the intake of vitamins, preparations containing calcium and iron. In addition, if the nail has moved away from the nail bed, local procedures are mandatory: baths using potassium permanganate, applying helio-mucin ointment. In the event that the cause of the disease is a fungal infection, special antimycotic drugs may be used that cause the death of a fungal colony. Another obligatory stage of treatment is a high-quality manicure and pedicure, because if the nail departs from the skin, bacteria and other microorganisms can accumulate under it, an inflammatory process may begin that does not at all benefit the health and appearance of the patient. In such cases, to ensure sterility and proper nail treatment, the doctor may advise you to go to the beauty salon and undergo a procedure for a pedicure apparatus that is more antiseptic than conventional cosmetic care.
If you notice signs of onycholysis in yourself, do not be afraid. It is better to immediately take emergency measures: go to the doctor, start treatment and carefully take care of the nails on the hands and feet.