Nail fungus is not the only disease that can appear in this structure. In this regard, it is important to differentiate between the nail plate and the skin folds that surround this plate.
What is perionixis?
This term refers to the inflammation of the proximal and lateral nail folds. This inflammation can be caused by different factors:
- Acute or sustained trauma: because a nail is embedded in the laterals or because of the reverse growth of the nail that is embedded in the proximal fold.
- Infections: due to an oozing between the fold and the nail. This suppuration can be of two types. On the one hand, whitish or candidiasis.
In either case, the inflammation is accompanied by pain and treatment is based on antibiotics on a case-by-case basis.
What processes can have manifestations in the nails?
There are some dermatological processes that can affect the nails, such as the following:
- Psoriasis
- Atopy
- Alopecia areata
- Lichen planus
- Scleroderma
- Dermatomyositis
These dermatological processes can affect the nails in the form of specific manifestations: pitting, sandpapery appearance, petechiae of the cuticle, etc.
There are also internal diseases that can affect the nails, such as:
- Pulmonary atelectasis
- Chronic renal insufficiency
- Hepatopathies
These can affect the nails in the form of red lunula, half & a half nails, horizontal bands, etc.
In the nails, verticalized pigmented bands can also occur, which are moles at the base of the nails. On the other hand, they may also show signs of trauma such as hematomas.
What is onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis is a fungal pathology of the nail plate. In these cases, there is usually an increase in the thickness of the nail with subungual hyperkeratosis and separation of the nail, which is usually accompanied by brown coloration. In some cases, whitish spots may also appear on the lateral areas of the lamina or on the back of the nail.
To treat this condition, antifungal lacquers or ointments are used, which are accompanied by keratolytics in order to reduce the thickness of the nail. It is very important to follow the cleaning recommendations of the affected parts, so that they should be trimmed and filed periodically.
When several nails are affected, it is advisable to follow an oral treatment with imidazolic derivatives that will require control of renal and hepatic function.