We all like to free our feet from socks and closed shoes when the temperatures warm up, but this is not always a pretty sight: for example, thickened areas on the nails, curvatures of the nail plate or twists on the nail become visible. But how can something like this develop and are there any treatment options? Find out more about the causes and treatment tips for nail changes in the following tips from our expert.
Changes to the nail bed and nail plate
Let’s first look at the changes in the nail bed with a solid horny substance (a so-called pachyonychia), the nail plate itself is thin here. According to our expert Anke Niederau, the causes are very easy to define: The changes can often be hereditary, or pressure or impact due to tight and incorrect footwear are the reason for these changes. What can be done? The nail itself should not be ground down, as the nail is very thin; instead, the callus must be carefully removed. Only then can nail prosthetics be started, and wide shoes, foot exercises and orthoses are recommended to support this.
Pachyonychia is often indistinguishable at first glance from onychogryposis, which is a claw-like thickening, curvature or twisting of the nail, i.e. it is not the callus but the nail itself that forms the thickening, although a callus is often also recognizable on the underside of the nail deformities. The nail is often discolored and barely adheres to the nail bed, but rather grows upwards. This is often caused by a lack of care, but there may also be health reasons. The recommended treatment is to remove or mill off the nail areas that grow over the edge of the toe step by step to a normal nail thickness. However, such nails are often brittle or even mycotic, i.e. caused by a fungus. In the case of nail fungus, for example, special care should therefore be taken and the affected areas should be treated preventively or directly, e.g. with antibacterial and antiviral agents.
Treatment and tips for dealing with nail thickening
Nail thickenings are often referred to as wooden nails, as they are as hard as wood and also resemble it visually; so-called grypothic nails. Not only are they unsightly, but it is crucial to have them checked by an expert. The symptoms: The nail loses its transparency, shape and flexibility. Wooden nails often also appear with a fungal infection (athlete’s foot or nail fungus). Here too, it is important to gradually remove these excess areas and reduce the pressure or possible friction on these areas, but also to pay attention to and treat possible mycoses. Hygiene is crucial and incredibly important. This is especially true for people with diabetes.
What to do if nail deformation occurs?
One form of nail deformation that is comparatively easy to treat is ingrown nails (known as unguis incarnatus), where the nail grows into the surrounding tissue. This is often caused by shoes that are too tight or an incorrect nail cut where the nail is shortened too deeply. Nail correction braces help to slowly lift the nail again without detaching it from the nail bed, as do the right shoes and stockings. Here too, as with all of the above measures, it is strongly recommended that you consult an expert and have it professionally treated.
If you have unsightly nails, it’s only natural to embellish them with color or nail polish. But be careful! Conventional, non-breathable polishes can exacerbate nail problems! Especially in the case of nail fungus, a sealed-off atmosphere under the nail acts like a “greenhouse”. The fungus can spread again unhindered. In such cases, only a breathable nail polish should be used.
If you have any questions, please send us a message to info@ocean-pharma.de. Our experts will be happy to help you.