8 common nail disorders

From a cosmetic standpoint, it’s not as though your fingernails or toenails often make a statement – but when they do it is certainly worth noting. Yellowing and brittleness are all too common struggles, and more severe afflictions can even cause pain, inflammation, and ultimately lead to limitation of movement. In other words – more than meets the eye when dealing with nail disorders.

Although genetic factors and medical issues can, in some cases, be the root cause of certain frustrating nail disorders, often the best way to avoid such afflictions is to simply take good care of your nails and shield them from potential harm. If you’re eager to pass on 8 of the most frequent manicure maladies, you can follow these guardrails:

Stiffened Toenails: How To Combat Ingrowing

A sharp toenail can dig painfully into the tender skin surrounding it if it has been allowed to grow too long or is trimmed incorrectly – this is known as an ingrown toenail. It can be unpleasant and may even lead to infection if not taken care of properly.

A condition known as Onychomycosis- or nail fungus- is a cumbersome fungal infection that affects the nails. Generally more commonly observed in toenails over fingernails, the consequences of this disease include discoloration, cracking, and brittleness. Persons with diabetes or weakened immunity are considerably more likely to contract onychomycosis.

Paronychia – a type of infection that affects the skin surrounding the nails – can be the result of bacterial, fungal, or yeast infiltration. Characterized by pain, this condition may lead to the nails morphologically changes like thickness, discoloration, and deformity.

Causes and Prevention of Brittle Nails

Aging, genetics, and contact with certain chemicals can all be root causes for weak, easily-breakable nails. Those suffering from this common condition find that their nails are more difficult to trim and are often splitting or breaking.

Those suffering from clubbing have nails that are curved and thickened. This condition is often indicative of a person having a lung, heart, or liver disorder. Generally seen more in men than women, it largely affects the thumbs and big toes.

6. Sun-Kissed Claws

When a fungal infection is present, yellowing nails may be one of the symptoms, but this discoloration could also be related to smoking, medications, or diseases such as diabetes. Over time, nails with a yellow hue can become thickened, crumbly, and possibly distorted.

Those irritating pieces of skin that get caught or ripped off are known as hangnails. They can be rather sensitive and may increase chances of an infection. Hangnails are a frequent problem for people who persistently nibble on their nails or fiddle with their cuticles.

Divided Nails–Here’s What You Need to Know

Several possible causes of splitting nails exist, among them: an aridness in the nail, an experienced trauma, and the ingestion of specific medications. Those people most at risk for developing split nails tend to have a phenotype featuring weak, brittle nails.

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