CHEMOTHERAPY AND YOUR NAIL

चेमोठेराप्य एंड यौर नील

Nails and hair are of the same nature. Chemotherapy that usually results in falling of hair affects the nails also. Extra care for nails is a must for the patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy may cause appearance of lines on the nails of the patients. Appearance of line always relates to the cycle of chemotherapy. These lines will disappear along with the natural growth of the nail. In some patients multiple lines can be seen as an after effect of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy may even cause pigmentation on nail. Discolouration of nails also is a side effect of chemotherapy. Nails may even show a tendency to brittle and the growth of nails may not be the same as in a normal person.

Take extra care of the areas around the nails and cuticles. The areas around the nails may become extremely dry and the cuticles in a loosened state. Never attempt to pull out the cuticle as it may result in serious complications. To remove the loosened parts of cuticles use a sharp, clean nail scissor.

As a result of chemotherapy, your nails may sometimes completely come out of the nail bed. Like hair, nails also will grow back in due course of time. Till your nails grow back, you will have to take extra care of the exposed part of the nail tips as these areas are highly vulnerable to infections. You have to keep this area clean to avoid infections. Keeping nails short and neatly trimmed will help you to avoid the chances for infections. Shortly trimmed nails are less prone to infections

While you clean your nails and hands, if possible, use cuticle removal creams or lotions to remove cuticles. After applying these creams you can gently push off the cuticles with the help of an orange wood stick.
You have to drop the habit of nail biting especially while undergoing chemotherapy. To avoid unconscious attempt to do so keep your nails wrapped under a piece of clean cotton cloth.

Massaging your hands and nails using a moisturizer will help you to avoid the irritation that may cause due to dryness arising out of chemotherapy.

Wear gloves while doing house hold works especially while using detergents or doing activities like dish washing as excessive contact with water may invite bacterial infections. While undergoing chemotherapy, your nails may not be able to withstand a bacterial infection.

Nail moisturizers are good to keep your nails without too much drying. You can use nail polish to protect your nails. Take care to avoid acetone based nail polish removers to avoid further drying up of the skin around the nail.
It is not safe to use artificial nails while you are under going chemotherapy. Acrylic and other artificial nails may aid in accumulation of infectious bacteria under nail.

Bring your own tools while you are approaching a beautician for manicure to avoid the complications of infections, how ever clean your beauty salon is.

Finally, never fail to see your doctor soon after you detect any sign of inflammation or infection on your nails. Failing to do this may lead you to incurable complications as the body will be weak with poor immunity after chemotherapy.

BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

Bacterial infections to the nails, a very common cause to nail deformity, can be identified by swelling, pain, discoloration of nails, appearance of pus under nails and deformation of nails. Nails may appear red in colour while infected by bacteria.

These symptoms occur when bacteria enter in to the skin that surrounds the nail. Nails are so designed by Mother Nature so as to resist any probable invasion of bacteria under normal circumstances. However cracks and other injuries to cuticles or to the skin under the nails may open a gate way to bacteria to infect the nails and the protected areas under it.

Common causes for bacterial infections

• Aggressive filing of nails using sharp metallic objects while under going manicure or pedicure. Rude file of nails cause damage to the nail bed and tips thereby creating cracks which would enable the bacteria to attack.
• Digging of the sides of the nail using sharp tools to remove dirt from the sides and under side of the nails. This can open up small cracks on the sides and underside of the nails which can result in bacterial infections and once they enter the skin it will start attacking the healthy tissues and there by causing acute pain and discomfort in the affected areas.
• External shocks and injuries resulting in cracks and breaks on the nails allows the entry of bacteria into the body thus causing infections.

Bacterial infections that affect the nail folds are clinically known as bacterial paronychia. This may cause acute pain in the affected area. Swelling, erythema and discomfort in and around the nails are the most commonly seen symptoms of bacterial paronychia. Presence of pus in the affected area is another common symptom of the disease. It is not safe to treat this condition without consulting a doctor. Bacterial paronychia some times requires drainage of the pus accumulated in the affected area.
Chronic paronychia and some other types of nail bacterial infections normally appear as a result of recurring nail-fold inflammation. Allergic reaction to the skin around the nails caused by the use of some cosmetics products, excessive dryness caused to the skin around the nails by frequent use of acetone based nail polish removers and following unscientific methods for manicure and pedicure can be cited as the most common causes that lead to chronic paronychia.

NAIL FUNGAL INFECTION

NAIL FUNGAL INFECTION

As the very term indicates fungi causes fungal infections on nails. If left unattended fungal infections get aggravated and can result in acute pain. Appearance of small spots, white or yellow in colour, is the first symptom of a fungal infection. With the spread of fungus into the deeper parts of your nail bed, nail will start to thicken. Discolouration and crumbling of nail are some other common symptoms of nail fungal infections

Wearing sweat shoes continuously for long hours and too much exposure of nails to moisture can be cited as the primary causes for nail fungal infections.

The fungi that create infections to nails are clinically known as dermatophytes. Apart from dermatophytes, yeasts and molds can also cause infections to nails.

These types of fungi live in warm moist conditions and easily get into your skin through minor cuts between your nail and nail bed while in such an environment. Swimming pools and showers are the places where you can see them commonly.

Compared to finger nails, toe nails are more prone to fungal infections as the feet often remain in moist conditions as a result of wearing sweaty socks or closed foot wears for long. It is in these conditions that the fungi like to live. Therefore, one should take utmost care to wear cottons socks during summer season thus allowing the feet to breath by wearing sandal or remaining bare footed while at home.

The recurring nature of fungal infections on nails makes it difficult to treat effectively. Medicines are available and effective if detected early.

What makes this disease more complicated is the permanent damage caused to nail and acute pain. Total negligence of this disease may ultimately lead to spreading the infection to other parts of the body.
Diabetes patients are advised to take extra care of nail fungal infection as it may lead to more serious complications than an ordinary person.

It is advisable to consult a medical practitioner as soon as you detect symptoms of fungal infection on your nail.

Usually doctors adopt the method of scraping debris from under the skin of the patients nail and send it for clinical examination for diagnosing the true cause of infection.

To treat the infection, doctors usually prescribe medicines that help to grow new nails without infection. Antifungal lacquer is available to treat nail fungal infection. This medicine is more like a nail polish and is only for external application. This will be effective only at the beginning of the infection.

Extreme stages of fungal infection may require removal of nails. Even if the infected nail is removed, it will grow again. It is however a slow process and utmost care should be taken to see that the new nail does not get infected again. It takes almost a year for the toe nail to grow back to its original stage. Finger nails however grow faster when compared to toe nails.

By take the following precautions you can prevent your self from fungal infections:

• Avoid walking bare footed in public places.
• Keep your nails clean and tidy always
• Use gloves to avoid over exposure to water
• Never bite your nails. If you have such a habit, drop it immediately.
• Choose right sized shoes and wear only cotton socks during summer season
• Avoid wearing artificial nails and nail polish for a long time.
• Make it a habit to sprinkle anti fungal powder into your shoes before you wear them.
• Avoid too much trimming of nails and cuticles.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after touching an infected area.

Treatment for Beau’s lines

Treatment for Beau’s lines

No specific treatment is available to treat Beau’s lines. Still total neglect of the Beau’s may add to one’s problems. It is better to treat the cause rather than the disease. It is therefore advisable to seek the assistance of a medical practitioner to find out the actual cause behind the problem. If it s due to malnutrition, one has to take enough care to follow a diet as suggested by the doctor to avoid the occurrence of Beau’s lines in future.
Applying antifungal lotions or creams on the affected area will be helpful to avoid the problem. If you are ready take a little care about your nails it is easy to prevent your nails from getting infected by this disease and to overcome this condition.

BEAU’s LINES

BEAU’s LINES

The linear depressions that usually appear across the finger nails are clinically known as Beau’s lines.

Causes for Beau’s lines:

1. Injury or damage to nail can lead to Beau’s lines. Injuries to a nail includes crushing of the nail or the nail bed or both, excessive picking or rubbing of the skin under the nail, problems arising out of the long term use of acetone based nail removing lotion and nail colours.
2. Prolonged diseases like pneumonia, syphilis, heart attack, coronary occlusion and hypocalcaemia can also be the reasons behind this nail disorder. This disease has also been detected in cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy as part of their treatment.
3. The symptoms of Beau’s lines are also found in patients suffering from peripheral vascular diseases and uncontrolled diabetes.
4. The symptoms of Beau’s lines have been diagnosed in new born babies and normally these signs on infants will disappear after the expiry of first month of their birth.
5. Some times Beau’s lines may appear on nail as a temporary cessation in the growth of nail due to loss of immunity as a result of prolonged diseases especially the diseases that is followed by severe fever. The beau’s lines on adult man’s nail usually disappear with the normal growth of his nail.
6. Beau’s lines may also appear on nails as a result of malnutrition. Deficiency of zinc and other essential vitamins can cause this type of nail disorder. One has to improve his regular diet to avoid further formation of Beau’s lines on nails.
7. A severe stroke that affects the growth of the nail area under the cuticle may create a temporary formation of Beau’s lines on nails.

NAIL PATELLA SYNDROME

NAIL PATELLA SYNDROME

Nail patella syndrome is a rarely seen genetic disorder. Clinically the disease is known as hereditary osteo – onychodysplasia. Only one in fifty thousand persons is seen affected by nail patella syndrome. In patients affected by nail patella syndrome the knee caps are often absent or underdeveloped. Their nails are also not properly developed and they suffer from a disability to straighten their elbows completely. Acuteness and complexity of nail patella syndrome varies from person to person
Nail patella syndrome patients are also seen suffering from various other types of orthopedic disorders. These may be in the form of dislocated elbows, club foot or abnormal growth of bones.

These patients are more prone to kidney disorders. The most commonly seen kidney disorder in nail patella syndrome is the leakage of protein through urine. In rare cases total kidney failure has also occurred. It is therefore very important for a nail patella syndrome patient to undergo a routine medical check up for early detection of probable kidney failure. The necessary clinical tests should be conducted strictly at least once in a year.

Patients with nail patella syndrome are more likely to develop glaucoma, an eye disorder, at an early stage. Therefore care should be taken by these persons to check for glaucoma through regular checkups.
Other common complications found in association with nail patella syndrome are irritable bowels syndrome, constipation and poor blood circulation to the hands and feet.

As stated in the beginning, nail patella syndrome is a genetical disorder and is hereditary in nature. It is caused by disorder to a gene called LMXIB which is found in chromosome 9. Nail patella syndrome can have no adverse effect on the intelligence of a person. It can however have a bearing on his free mobility. The most commonly seen symptoms of nail patella syndrome are orthopedic disorders and vision complains. Patients suffering from nail patella syndrome often complain about partial or complete lose of side vision. They often have to change their spectacles due to glaring variations in vision. They find it difficult to adjust to sudden light variations. Difficulties in vision often cause severe headaches. Their eyes often appear to be sore or red in colour.

LEUCONYCHIA

LEUCONYCHIA

Leuconychia, a totally harmless nail disease, popularly known as white nails is a condition where abnormal white colour appears on nails. This white colour can be total or partial. In some other cases it may even appear in straight lines. The cause for Leuconychia may be hereditary or acquired.

Leuconychia occurs very rarely on toe nails. When compared toe nails Leuconychia finger nails are more susceptible to Leuconychia. Symptoms of congenial or hereditary Leuconychia can be seen on the nails from child hood it self.

The white spots or lines that appear on nails need not be in a uniform shape or in the same place on all nails.

Tiny bubbles of air trapped under the nails can sometimes lead to this nail disorder. But it need not be as simple as this in all cases. In some cases Leuconychia seems to be associated with liver diseases. It can also be appear due to fungal infection, lymphoma and renal failure.

Patients affected with Hypoalbuminemia are also seen affected by Leuconychia in many cases. Apart from these, psychogenic stresses are also considered to be as a factor that prompts this nail disorder.

Other factors that may lead to this type of nail abnormality include leprosy, exposure to extreme cold, hepatic cirrhosis, anemia, hypoproeinemia, onychophagia and occupational trauma.

Many think Leuconychia as a sign of calcium and vitamin deficiency. In fact it has nothing to do with calcium or vitamins and so the intake or vitamins or calcium will not be helpful in curing this nail disorder.

Leuconychia does not require any treatment as such. Normally the white colour that appears on nail would disappear naturally as the nail grows. Applying nail polish can temporarily hide this disease. However wearing nail polish is not a cure to this disease. Further continuous application of nail polish is not advisable as they may trigger various unforeseen allergic reactions to the skin around the nails. It is not good for the health of the nail also.

Deficiency of zinc in the body may cause appearance of white spots on nails. Adding green leafy vegetables, nuts and whole grains in your regular diet is good to avoid zinc deficiency. Intake of Zinc supplements is also found to be effective in such cases.