There are many types of diseases that affect the nails. Sometimes these are directly concerned with the nails, while at other times the nail disease actually is an indication of a deeper problem. The most common of all nail diseases is the fungal nail infection. This type of infection is commonly found to affect both the finger nails as well as the toe nails.
Fungal nail infection
This type of disease usually affects the nail anywhere from the margin to the side. As a result of this disease the nail becomes brittle, black, thickened and sometimes it is completely destroyed. The treatment for this type of disease is done with antifungal oral tablets and/ or antifungal lotion over a period of two months to one year depending on the degree and type of infection. After the treatment is complete it may take suite sometime for the nail to regenerate in a healthy form.
Another form of infection caused by virus is the viral wart infection. The treatment of this disease is only with laser surgery.
Paronychia
This disease’s symptoms is the inflammation of the nail folds; usually this is accompanies with injury to the surrounding nail folds. The most common causes for this are continuous work with water and/or nail biting. This is why you will find paronchia affecting mostly canteen workers, home maids, cooks, etc. Paronychia if left untreated will soon contact fungal infection which will result in extremely painful swellings of the nail folds. It is important that the proper treatment is done at an early stage otherwise the nail can be totally destroyed or deformed.
This type of nail disease is treated with antibiotics (to be taken orally). You will need to drain out the pus formed in the folds of the nails at regular intervals to reduce the swelling and pain. Depending upon the stage of infection, the doctor may recommend the use of antiseptic lotions that need to be applied locally. Needless to say that water and wetting of the nails will have to be avoided as much as possible. This is best doe by wearing protective gloves when the need to work with water come up.
Psoriasis
This is another type of disease which affects the shape of the nails. You will know that the nail is affected by psoriasis when it develops pits or it starts getting separated from the nail bed. Sometimes the nail only becomes discolored, while in other cases the nails thicken and develops into a very unsightly look. Psoriasis can affect both the finger nails as well as the toe nails.
Nail injury
Nails can get misshapen or damaged as a direct result of injury or accident. It is important that the nails are treated as soon as the accident or damage occurs to prevent any disfigurement of the nail in the future. Many times the nail will becomes black and fall off. In these cases, it will take anything between three to six months for the nail to regenerate and look normal again. Much care should be taken care during the formation of the new nail that no infection affects it or the nail will grow deformed. Care should also be taken to see that exposure to water and dirt is limited to the minimum.
There are many more types of nail diseases but the present article does not have the scope to go into too many details. It is important to remember however, that nails are extremely delicate with regard to infection in particular; unless there is constant and regular nail care and proper hygiene rules followed, the health of the nails will suffer giving your hands an ungainly look.