There is a large variety of nail diseases.
Furthermore, there are also a large variety of causes for nail diseases. They range from internal problems, infection, natural causes and external damage.
What we want you to understand is that most colour changes occurring in the nails are affected by changes in the body.
When an individual is extremely tired and weakened, possibly manifesting an internal disease, it is common to see early symptoms appearing in the nails.
Here we have a medical list of nail diseases. Please look for any symptoms that appear familiar to you.
A word of warning, as explained before changes in the nail could be caused by general tiredness or lack of iron in the body. However, if the cause is internal or caused by an infection please visit a specialist as soon as possible.
Among nail disease, a couple share the same symptoms. Best to have a professional opinion on it.
| Disease name | Symptoms | How to deal/ prevention |
| Hangnail | The nail becoming loose and hanging off the base. | Application of hand creams and cuticle oil. Otherwise, hydration and oil supplements to avoid dehydration. A balanced diet and good healthcare. |
| spoon nails | Horizontal and vertical ridges appearing the surface of nails. | Vertical nails appearing on the nails are normal. Frostbite and an unhealthy blood supply also causes vertical ridges. Horizontal lines occur due to fevers, pregnancy and lack of zinc. The symptoms may belong to another disease, if you feel any pain or feel uncomfortable with the nail, it’s recommended to visit a specialist. To prevent these symptoms have a balanced diet and undergo healthy levels of exercise |
| Eggshell nails | The centre of the nail forming a dent and creating a spoon shape. | The nail becomes very fragile and requires gentle care. Extreme diets, drugs and internal diseases are thought to be the main cause. Avoid them |
| Nail-biting syndrome | Excess biting causing the nail to deform | Cover the nail until it grows a certain length. Avoid biting the nail |
| Megalonychia | The centre of the nail enlarging | Avoid nail art and care without professional advice. Apply pumice powder to polish the surface. |
| Subungual bleeding | Blood accumulating below the nail due injury and external damage | Risk of the nail peeling off. Exercise caution and avoid external injuries |
| Paronychia | Bacterial infection entering from a wound and causing reddening and inflammation | Requires the attention of a medical professional as it is an infection. Avoid external injuries. During an open wound, clean the opening and avoid further infections. |
| Disease name | Symptoms | How to deal/ prevention |
| Onycholysis | The nail becoming yellow or whitish in colour and detaches from the floorplate | Chemical substances (washing liquid) and bacterium can cause this disease. Requires medical attention, and evaluate chemical which are used in everyday life |
| Onychorrhexis | A vertical crack appearing in the nail, causing the nail to split | Care with treatment goods. Be careful with cuticle removers and nail colour removers |
| Onychomadesis | The nail detaches itself from the floorplate. The nail surface may appear white or yellow | Caused by nature, nurture, genetics, external damage, infection, drugs, skin disease etc. The proper method of prevention is unknown |
| Ungual atrophy | The nail becomes weakened, the colour of the nail darkens and eventually falls off | Shorten the nails using an emery board. Avoid the usage of soup and powder soap with strong stimuli. |
| Leukonychia | White spots appearing on the surface of the nail. Caused by damage of air bubbles in newly growing nails | Wait until the nail has grown |
| Athlete’s foot/trichophytosis | Many white atypical lumps forming on the nail. Very infectious and requires caution | diagnosis by a medical professional is required. Apply a prescribed cream. Athlete’s foot is infectious and requires quick medical attention |
| Onychogryposis | The surface of the nail becoming thick and forming a hook like shape at the end | Avoid nail care and nail art. Requires the attention of a medical professional |
| Pterygium | Overgrowth of cuticles and covering the surface of the nail | Use a hot oil manicure and use a pusher to raise the cuticle. Soften the nail to prevent damage with nail essence. Remove cuticles one by one using a knipper. Can be genetic |
| Ingrown toenails | Occurs when the nail is long and digs into neighbouring skins and causes prolonged ingrowth. Seen commonly when wearing shoes of the wrong size | Removing a section of the nail to create an artificial nail, and minimise the angle of growth. Cut the bent toenail and wear shoes with a circular tip. |
