Nail Disorders

The disorders of nails can be categorised broadly as follows:

1. Ingrown toenails are the most common nail ailment, involving the corners of the nails digging into the surrounding soft tissue, causing irritation and swelling.
   Treatment of ingrown toe nails range from temporary measures like pain killers, topical and systemic antibiotics. However in severe cases a partial or complete avulsion of the nail may be required to alleviate the symptoms.

2. Fungal infections commonly affect the toenails (and sometimes the fingernails as well), as a result of exposure to a warm, moist environment, and cause thick, brittle and distorted nails.

   Fun­gus may cause the nail to thick­en and become yel­low or brown­ish. As the fun­gus grows, foul-smelling, moist debris can be seen. Pres­sure from a thick­ened nail or the build-up of debris may make the toe painful.

   Treat­ment is best begun at the ear­ly stages of infec­tion. The accu­mu­la­tion of debris under the nail plate can lead to an ingrown nail, or to a more seri­ous bac­te­r­i­al infec­tion that can spread beyond the foot. To reduce pain asso­ci­at­ed with a thick­ened, infect­ed nail, the sur­geon may reduce its thick­ness by fil­ing the nail plate down with a sur­gi­cal burr. Fil­ing will not, how­ev­er, pre­vent the infec­tion from spreading.

   Depending on the severity a combination of oral and topical medications will be prescribed.

3. Other uncommon nail disorders are nail psoriasis, lichen planus of nails, textural changes such as pitting, beau’s lines, leukonychia, clubbing, koilonychia, mees lines etc., Many of the above nail changes are an indirect manifestation of a skin diseases or a systemic disease. Treatment of these nail disorders target treating the underlying disease.

Patients can prevent nail conditions from developing by keeping the feet clean and dry, wearing shoes that fit well and clipping toenails straight across.