With curved nails, the natural angle is gone and the nails are level with the tops of the fingers. This may be Hamman-Rich syndrome, an acute interstitial lung disease (a form of pneumonia) characterized by inflammation of the lung. With advanced interstitial lung disease, clubbing and signs of heart failure may occur. It is also associated with irritable bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and AIDS.
Terry’s nails
This was named after Dr Richard Terry and appears when the fingernails or toenails appear white with a characteristic “frosted glass” appearance, without a lunula – that crescent-shaped white area of the nail. With this condition, most nails are white, except for a narrow pink stripe at the tip. It is described as a brown arc near the tips of the nails.
Terry’s nails can sometimes be attributed to aging. In other cases, they may be a sign of a serious underlying illness. This condition may be due to decreased vascularity and increased connective tissue within the nail, and often occurs in the setting of liver failure, cirrhosis, kidney failure, diabetes mellitus , congestive heart failure, hyperthyroidism, and/or malnutrition.
On mycorrhiza
This is the presence of longitudinal striations or veins on the nail and may simply be a sign of advanced age, but may also be associated with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral vascular disease, lichen plane, and Darier’s disease (large white and red streaks of the nail). A central vertical ridge or groove (as pictured) may be due to myxoid cysts that appear near the base of the nail, which are associated with osteoarthritis.
Onychorrhexa mainly affects people who suffer from the disorder. Malnutrition or poor nutrition can affect the health and growth of nails and make them brittle, any trauma or injury to the nails can also lead to onychorrhexia. Repeated injuries to the nail often lead to this condition. Those who work for long hours with soap and water are also at risk, as are those who use too much nail polish, and those who are subjected to prolonged exposure to cold. Hypothyroidism is a glandular disease that results from a deficiency in the production of thyroid hormone. Reduced thyroid production is due to an underactive thyroid gland. It is one of the main causes of onychorrhexa.
Bulimia is a condition that affects young women who become depressed after overeating and feel guilty for not controlling their eating or weight. Anorexia nervosa is another psychological illness in which the sufferer is obsessed with their weight and has the illusion of being too fat even though they are quite skinny.
The diagnosis of onychorrhexa is not complicated, as the disease has been detected primarily by physical observation of the nails. Blood tests and thyroid level exams may be recommended if the doctor suspects an underlying condition like hypothyroidism.
Medical treatment for onychorrhexa generally depends on the underlying condition. Treatment is believed to vary depending on the nature of the disease underlying onychorrhexa. Once the causes have been treated, the symptoms of onychorrhexa will soon disappear as well.
Treating onychorrhexa at home involves medications like hand creams. A cream or lotion made from natural vegetable oils will keep the hand hydrated and help heal the condition. Regular application of moisturizing products to the skin and nails will prevent these symptoms from returning.
Beau Lines
Beau’s lines are indentations that run across the nails and may initially appear in the area below the cuticle and this phenomenon was initially described in 1846 by French physician Joseph Honoré Simon Beau. Lines are caused by illnesses that affect the entire body, including malnutrition, heart attack, liver disease, serious infections like mumps, measles, scarlet fever, pneumonia, and metabolic disorders like a poorly controlled diabetes.
However, Beau’s lines can result from any disease process that is severe enough to affect nail growth. Malnutrition and cancer chemotherapy drugs can also cause Beau’s lines, as can zinc deficiency. Trauma or injury can also be a cause of Beau’s lines or nail ribs. The onset of the disease can be estimated by measuring the distance from Beau’s line to the base of the nail.
Spoon shaped nails
Spoon-shaped nails (koilonychia) are soft nails that appear hollow. The depression is usually large enough to hold a drop of liquid.
Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia or a liver disease called hemochromatosis, in which your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat.
Spoon nails may also be associated with heart disease and hypothyroidism.
Onycholysis
Nails become loose and may pull away from the nail bed. The separated part of the nail becomes opaque with a white, yellow or green tint.
Sometimes loose nails are associated with an injury or infection, but in other cases, nail separation is a reaction to a medication or consumer product like nail hardeners or adhesives. Thyroid disease and psoriasis can also cause the nail to separate.
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