FUNGAL AND ABNORMAL NAIL TREATMENT IN CANTERBURY

Having normal nails is important, and something most of us take for granted. When nails are abnormal, they can have an impact on the quality of life both from a mechanical point of view and a cosmetic point of view.

For both of these reasons, understanding what is going on in the nail is vital to taking the next step, and that is planning the management of that nail problem.

The integrity of the nail can be influenced by a number of different things including the age of the individual, their hobbies and occupation, and their general health, as well as disease of the nail unit itself.

Common diseases affecting the nails include psoriasis and eczema, usually thought of as skin diseases; however, the nails are specialised parts of the skin and can be included in the disease process along with the skin itself.

Other causes of nail abnormalities include congenital conditions (ones you have inherited from your parents), although these are generally rare; and other acquired conditions like lichen planus, alopecia areata and fungal nail infections.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON NAIL ABNORMALITIES? 

• Brittleness: increases with age and can be associated with iron deficiency in some people.
• Roughness: common and usually of little significance.
• Pits: classical feature of psoriasis, but also found in eczema and in alopecia areata.
• Onycholysis (fungal nail infection)
• Lifting of the nail from the underlying nail bed, which can be found in psoriasis, fungal infections, overactive thyroid, lesions under the nail, associated with some medications, and sometimes without cause.
• Discolouration: white marks are common and normal, generally white nails can be found in liver disease, pale nails in anaemia, yellow nails in fungal infections, green-blue ones in pseudomonas infection, black-brown with bruising, moles or melanoma.

These are just some of the abnormalities that can be found in nails, and some of the associated causes. Other abnormalities include ridging, washboard nails, thickening, scarring and loss of nails, all with a variety of causes.

HOW ARE ABNORMAL NAILS TREATED?

Firstly, before any therapy, a diagnosis is needed. From the information above, it becomes clear that a full history of the problem is needed, plus examination, and then blood tests, nail samples and an X-ray, if indicated.

Once the picture is clear as to the cause(s), treatment can be planned as appropriate. This may be treatment with antibiotics or anti-fungal agents to combat infection; therapy aimed at eczema or psoriasis; or surgery to a lesion of some sort.

For some nail abnormalities, there may be no effective treatment available, however, beautifying the nails, especially for women, can be advised upon.

Having abnormal nails is not pretty, and being able to disguise them may be the only short-term solution. A Consultant Dermatologist can give the best advice to help treat and and our beauty therapists have the necessary skills to help in the disguising issues, as needed.

FUNGAL NAIL INFECTIONS

Also known as onychomycosis, fungal nail infection is most commonly found in the toenails and is usually caused by a dermatophyte.

Many patients suspect that they have a fungal nail condition and don’t seek professional advice out of embarrassment. This self diagnosis can be harmful to the patient, as failure to treat the infected nails could result in the spreading or worsening of the infection.

Seeking a professional opinion can help put your mind at ease and allow you to treat your condition in a swift and effective way. In many cases genetics, lifestyle and hobbies can cause their infection, and outside opinion can help you recognise the root cause of your condition.

There are 4 patterns of nail involvement, with differing clinical considerations. It is very important to confirm the diagnosis before considering any treatment strategies going forward.

Topical therapies can be useful in some circumstances, but systemic treatment is typically needed to cure the disease. There are potential side effects from the oral drugs that are usually used, and laser therapy has become increasingly popular as this can kill off the fungi allowing the nail to recover, but without risk of systemic side effects at all.

Proof of nail infection is required before embarking on any treatment. Some GPs will carry out this test for you. Alternatively this test can be carried out in the clinic with us at the same time as your initial consultation. The test results can take up to 3 weeks to come back.

We usually carry out laser treatments at 4 week intervals and 3 treatments are initially undertaken. A topical agent is usually prescribed at the same time, partly to reduce the risk of re-infection occurring.

The experts say:
Fungal nail infections can be a debilitating condition for some suffers. Not only can it cause some discomfort and issues in daily life for sufferers, but it can have a profound effect on their confidence. For many suffers, they dread the summer months as it becomes less possible for them to wear footwear that covers their condition due to the heat. If you have seen a visible change in the look of your toenails the team at Canterbury Skin and Laser Clinic strongly suggest you seek professional help. The sooner your condition is diagnosed the sooner you can gain relief and prevent permanent damage to the condition of your toenails. Canterbury Skin and Laser Clinic has a devoted team of cosmetic professionals that are trained and well experienced at treating toenail conditions such as fungal nail infections, and are more than capable of providing the solution that you desire whilst providing the highest standard of patient care to you.

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