Giving your nails the care they deserve can have wonderful beauty-related benefits, as healthy nails can grow approximately three millimeters each thirty days. However, some conditions can bring about physical changes, including lumpy ridges, deep furrows, or fragile and fractured pieces.
Irregularities in the structure or look of the nails can be described as nail dystrophy. Such changes are caused by factors such as injuries, infections, and health problems.
Traumatic nail dystrophy, the most common form of this type of dysfunction, results from a nail injury – often caused by an untamed manicure or a stubbed toe. Such an event can potentially derail the nail matrix, the root of formation for new nails.
As the nail grows, sometimes its surface may take on an uneven texture, featuring ridges and/or grooves. In harsher cases, the nails can even become too delicate to stay connected securely and may split off. In the worst of scenarios, the entire nail may end up disappearing.
Traumatic nail dystrophy can certainly be bothersome to look at, yet it usually does not cause any agony. In fact, if your nails are causing you distress, then it might be best to consult a doctor or professional podiatrist for treatment.
Traumatic nail dystrophy can be remedied in a few distinct ways. If the condition is due to a physical injury, eventually the nail will regenerate naturally. If it is the consequence of an infection though, antibiotics may be essential to achieving resolution.
To improve the aesthetic of your nails, you can choose from two distinct approaches: filing down the ridges or using artificial nails as a covering. If the brittleness of your nails is of particular issue, taking a daily biotin supplement may be an effective solution for increasing their resilience.
If your nails have devolved to a point that causes pain and infection, surgical removal of the damaged nails may be proposed by your doctor as a last result. This solution is usually only proposed as a measure of extreme caution.
No matter the remedy chosen, perseverance is key. As robust nails will not grow back overnight, don’t expect miracles after just a short while. But with determination and a focus on care, it is possible to take your nails from their troubled state of traumatic dystrophy to a healthy-looking condition. All it requires is time and patience.