What is nail Onychomycosis?
Nail onycholysis is one of the most common problems encountered in the area of the nail plate by a podiatrist. The disease may have a variety of congenital or acquired conditions. Before starting therapy, it is necessary to find out the cause. The treatment of onycholysis consists of several stages.
Onycholysis is the detachment of the nail plate from the placenta. Air bubbles form in the space between them. You can recognize it by the white color of the nail on its side, which goes deeper. Occasionally an infection may occur. Then the nail turns gray, yellow and even brown.
Causes of nail onycholysis
The causes of onycholysis can be different. In some people, genetic conditions are responsible for the appearance of nail changes. It is about various types of anatomical disorders of the fingers that affect the adhesion of the nail plate to the placenta. Onycholysis can also accompany various chronic diseases. It is observed in: psoriasis, lichen planus, alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and other autoimmune diseases. Vitamin deficiency is also a risk factor.
Onycholysis can also be the result of:
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mechanical trauma,
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contact with chemicals,
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prolonged and frequent wetting,
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use of nail varnishes and removers,
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wearing mismatched shoes.
Treatment
A person who notices symptoms of onycholysis should see a podiatrist. The specialist will collect the medical history and perform the necessary tests. It is necessary to exclude bacterial and fungal infections (in people with onycholysis there is a high risk of its occurrence) and to determine the cause of the disease. The podiatrist adjusts the therapy and its duration individually to each patient.
The treatment of onycholysis consists of several stages. These are:
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Minimizing the factors that contribute to the damage to the nail plate (e.g. giving up painting nails, purchasing properly fitted shoes).
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Complete removal of the nail plate fragment where it detached from the placenta.
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Clean the bearing with a milling cutter.
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Stimulating the placenta to regenerate.
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Application of a hydrogel or hydrocolloid dressing.
If necessary, antibiotic therapy is also used. Drugs for onycholysis are usually selected with local action. Stimulating the placenta to regenerate and changing the dressing must take place every day. The patient is allowed to do this independently at home. However, he should see a podiatrist for checkups at least once a week. The effects of onycholysis treatment largely depend on the patient's self-discipline and compliance with the recommendations of the podiatrist.