Dark spot on big toenail: Is This Black Spot Under My Toenail Cancer? | U.S. Dermatology Partners
Is This Black Spot Under My Toenail Cancer? | U.S. Dermatology Partners
Dermatologists often see patients concerned about a black spot under their nail. While it could be an indication of skin cancer, there are many other conditions that present this symptom. If you’re concerned about a black spot under your toenail, keep these details in mind and schedule an appointment with your provider right away.
Sign of Skin Cancer
There are different types of skin cancer, each named for the type of skin cell from which they originate. Most skin cancers fall into one of three categories: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
A black spot under the nail can indicate a type of melanoma called acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). These melanomas can appear anywhere on the body, including underneath fingernails and toenails. The sub-type of ALM that affects the nail is called subungual melanoma. Subungual melanoma is rare and typically involves the nail of the big toe or thumb.
It often presents as a dark spot or streak in its early stages.
“The most important warning sign of melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that changes in size, shape or color,” says Dr. Alex Jack, a certified dermatologist with U.S. Dermatology Partners Kyle. “A dark spot or streak under the nail should be looked at by a dermatologist right away, especially if you haven’t recently experienced an injury to the area.”
People who have extended or frequent exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays are at greater risk for melanoma. In fact, 90% of melanoma can be linked to exposure to UV rays. However, there are some cases that occur with little to no exposure, so never assume that you’re not at risk.
Other Skin Conditions
There are many other conditions that can present a black spot under the toenail. While it’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor, keep these skin conditions in mind before making an appointment.
Nail Trauma: If you’ve recently injured the area, the black spot under the nail may be a type of bruise referred to as a subungual hematoma.
As a result of an injury, blood pools under the nail leading to discoloration. This type of hematoma is commonly caused by stubbing a toe or from sports trauma. While painful, subungual hematomas rarely need treatment.
Nail Fungus: There are many different symptoms of nail fungus, but discoloration of the nail is usually the first sign. Some nails turn yellow, brown or green. Initially, you may only see a spot of discoloration on the nail. Nail fungus should be diagnosed and treated by a dermatologist right away to protect the integrity of the nail and to prevent it from spreading to others.
Nail Psoriasis: Psoriasis can affect both the fingernails and toenails. In some cases, it can cause the nail to become detached from the nail bed, creating a gap underneath the nail. Bacteria can enter this gap, which then produces a dark green pigment. This is frequently mistaken for melanoma under the nail. Luckily, a dermatologist can provide many treatments for psoriasis to help improve or save the integrity of the nail.
Remember, only a dermatologist can tell you if the black spot is a symptom of these conditions or skin cancer.
Diagnosing the Problem
If you’re concerned about a black spot under the nail, it’s important to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist right away. “Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to increasing the chances of curing cancer,” says Dr. Jack. “Your doctor will want to know when you first noticed the change in your skin, symptoms and your history.”
If your doctor suspects skin cancer, he or she will likely diagnose through a biopsy. The dermatologist will numb the area, then remove all or a portion of the suspicious area. The tissue is usually sent to a lab to be examined under a microscope by a dermatopathologist.
Looking to Visit a Dermatologist?
Black spots under the toenail can be concerning and shouldn’t be ignored. Are you worried about a black spot under your toenail? We can help. To learn more, contact U.S. Dermatology Partners today to make an appointment with one of our board-certified dermatologists.
We have multiple locations throughout the country, so fill out our simple online form to get in touch with us. One of our local team members will reach out to you shortly to answer your questions or schedule an appointment for you to visit us soon.
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Black Spots Under Toenail: 5 Causes of Black Toenails
Seeing your toenail suddenly or slowly turning black is definitely alarming, but there are a range of issues that can cause black spots under toenail ranging from minor to more severe.
After reading this article, if you are still unsure what could be causing your black spots under toenail, or it is causing you significant distress, you will need to schedule an appointment with your doctor to get a full assessment of the situation.
1. Poor-Fitting Shoes
This one should be easy to identify.
If you wear shoes that are way too tight, or just fit in a strange way that causes your toenail to be constantly hitting the shoe or rubbing the nail constantly – it can damage the toe enough to cause blood to build up underneath giving the nail a black appearance.
Step one here is to get yourself to the shoe store to pick up a well-fitting pair of shoes.
2. Toe or Foot Injury
Any extreme injury to the toenail or foot may lead to blood vessels to break in the area and blood to pool underneath the nail.
Think back to if you really stubbed your toe, dropped something heavy on your foot, or have just been running a lot to train for that marathon, as all of these things may lead to a toe injury that causes your nails to turn black.
This type of nail injury may come along with a feeling of pressure under the nail, and in extreme cases, you may need to see a doctor to let them drill a tiny hole and let some of the blood out.
However, in the case of minor injury which is not causing you much pain, you may be able to treat a toenail injury at home with the RICE technique:
R – Rest the foot. This means to put your marathon training schedule on hold for a few weeks to allow the nail to heal.
I – Ice the toe to help reduce any inflammation and pain that you may be having. This can be done multiple times daily, but try not to ice for longer than 30 minutes at a time.
C – Compress the area to reduce inflammation using a bandage wrapped around the toe. This may help reduce the amount of blood that ends up pooling under the nail.
E – Elevate the affected foot to reduce swelling.
3. Melanoma
The most severe form of skin cancer, melanoma, can occur anywhere you have skin on your body, your toes included.
Melanoma usually appears as a dark brown to black unusually shaped spot, and when it occurs near or under the toenails it can look like a long dark streak through the nail. With melanoma, the surrounding toe skin may take on a darkened appearance as well.
If your black spots under toenail did not come from a direct injury or obvious nail fungus, you will need to see your doctor to ensure you are not dealing with something more serious like melanoma.
If you are diagnosed with melanoma, your doctor will go over the next potential treatment options for removal.
With melanoma, early detection is key! So, don’t brush off unusual dark spots under or around your toenails.
4. Toenail Fungus
A toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a common nail affliction that can usually be safely removed with prescription therapy over a long period of time.
While most nail fungi appear as yellow to brownish discolorations, sometimes the fungus can appear dark brown to black with the buildup of debris under the nail.
Some signs that you may be dealing with a nail fungus include:
Yellow to brown to black nail discoloration
Thickened nails
Brittle, crumbly, or ragged texture
Changes in nail shape
Foul smell
If all signs are pointing to a nail fungus, you can schedule an appointment with your local doctor for treatment, or have an Online Visit with our U.
S. licensed doctors today.
Our Strut Nail Formula is a blend of multiple antifungal medications mixed into a base with a strong driving agent to make sure the ingredient get through the nail to the root of the fungus.
If you are a good candidate for treatment, your prescription nail fungus treatment can be shipped discreetly to your front door.
5. Certain Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions have been found to cause one or many toenails turning dark or black.
These conditions may include:
Diabetes
Kidney disorders
Heart disease
Anemia
You will need to speak with a doctor to make sure that the cause of your black toenails is one of these conditions and not something else like a fungus or melanoma.
If you have diabetes, you will need to see a doctor for anything happening involving your toes or feet, due to diabetics having increased risks of infection and generally worse wound healing.
In general, to help get rid of a black toenail caused by one of these conditions, the root condition would need to be improved.
When to see a doctor
Unless you know exactly what caused your toenail to turn black (you dropped a hammer on it last weekend), and it is not causing you much discomfort, it is best to have a doctor check out your black toenail to make sure nothing serious is going on.
A toenail fungus is a complicated fungal infection and often will need prescription antifungal medications to clear completely.
Bottom Line: If you don’t know why your nail turned black or you are having a lot of discomfort from the nail – go see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.
Black Spot Under My Toenail Could it Be Cancer?
Now and then, we receive emails about what black spot under the nails means. Some people are worried sick; they fear it might be cancer and are just hoping to hear otherwise.
Others didn’t attach any importance initially but as it remains longer or even gets bigger, they get curious and really want to know what the black spot under their nail is.
A black spot under a nail could mean several things. It could be an indication of skin cancer and nail injury or trauma among a number of other symptoms. If you have a black spot under your nail or someone close to you does and you are curious what it is, read further.
Indications of a black spot under a nail
Skin cancer: on rare occasions, a black spot under the nail can actually point to skin cancer. This category of skin cancer is called melanoma and can affect any part of the body. When it affects the nail, it is called subungual melanoma. It usually affects the thumb or big toe. One of its early signs is a black spot or streak beneath the nail. This spot may change color, shape, and size. If you notice a black spot under your nail and you are not sure what it is, then you should see a dermatologist for proper diagnosis. People with high exposure to UV light are at greater risk but that people who are not exposed to UV rays cannot be affected.
Keep calm, you may want to consider if it’s not any of the following conditions before seeing a dermatologist.
Nail Trauma: often, the cause of a black spot under the nail is injury or trauma to the nail and nail bed. If you notice a black spot under your nail and you have recently injured the nail, then it could be a situation called subungual hematoma. An injury or trauma causes blood to pool under the nail resulting in the black spot beneath the nail. Athletes are more affected by this situation because of repeated hitting of the toe against hard objects. Dropping heavy objects on the toe could also cause similar problems. Usually, it does not require any treatment – just give it time.
Nail psoriasis: This is another possible cause of a black spot under the nail. Both the fingernails and toenails could be affected by nail psoriasis which could cause a gap between the nail and the nail bed. When bacteria enter this gap, a black-green pigment is often formed.
It is usually mistaken for subungual melanoma but it isn’t. Several treatment options could help restore the nail’s integrity.
Nail fungus: This is the third possible cause of a black spot under the nail. It is the most common nail problem; accounts for over 50 percent of all nail problems. One of the very first obvious signs it gives is nail discoloration. It often starts with a spot beneath the tip of the nail.
Causes of Nail Fungus
There are several causes of nail fungus but one of the most critical ones is underlying health issues.
Underlying health issues such as diabetes are some of the reasons nail fungus cannot be taken lightly. They weaken or suppress the immune system hence opening the body to all kinds of infections. Hence, it is important to begin treatment as soon as noticed.
Age: Age is a high-risk factor for nail fungus. Nails typically change as we age: get thicker or thinner, drier, as well as change color.
Cracks often develop in nails, presenting microorganisms places to thrive. In addition to this, the body’s immunity is weaker hence won’t be able to fight infection as effectively as it used to.
Walking barefoot in public spaces: if you are fond of walking barefoot in a locker room or community swimming, then you are more likely to have nail fungus.
Sweaty foot or hand: fungus thrives in moist and warm environments hence wet feet and hands are good breeding grounds.
Other causes include improper nail care, family or personal history of nail fungus, etc.
Remedies
Medications
Medications are the most effective and fastest treatment options for nail fungus. However, people with certain health conditions suffer adverse effects that could be as serious as organ damages. Therefore, tests are usually first conducted before administering these medications to ascertain it is safe.
Over-the-counter products
Over-the-counter antifungal products are made for topical treatment of nail fungus.
They are mostly composed of natural ingredients hence are safe for usage by all. Though they may not be as fast as medications, they are very effective. How long it will take to treat nail fungus also depends greatly on how fast your body heals.
Home Remedies
These are the last categories of nail fungus treatment options. They are typically common household items rich in antifungal properties. They are cheap and easy to find. Though treatment may take longer, nail fungus will be eradicated. Home remedies include:
Tea tree oil: this is a very common essential oil with Australian origin. It is a very powerful oil loaded with antifungal properties. It is perhaps the most effective home remedy and is used as an active ingredient in several over-the-counter products. When properly diluted and used in little quantities, tea tree oil is very safe for usage.
Apple cider vinegar: this home remedy works by altering the pH of the infected area hence choking nail fungus.
It can be applied directly or used for foot or hand soaking.
Garlic: This is another very common and cheap household item with numerous health benefits including boosting immunity. It is also effective in the treatment of nail fungus.
Coconut oil: this gentle oil holds great therapeutic benefits. It can be used both internally and externally to treat nail fungus.
A black spot under the nail raises a wide range of concerns. While many fear it could be cancer or an indication of other underlying health issues, various causes have been highlighted above with remedies.
Black spot under toenail melanoma pictures – The Podiatry Times
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1. Black spot under toenail melanoma pictures
Black Toenail: Common Causes. If your toenail turns black, it’s most likely a bruise under the nail, technically called a subungual hematoma.
You can get it from stubbing a toe or from footwear …
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-toenail-color-causes
2. Black spot under toenail melanoma pictures
Last reviewed by Dr. Raj MD on August 14th, 2018. This is a very rare form of cancer and will typically occur on your big toe or thumb under the nail but can affect any nail on your foot. It is most commonly found in people who are of Asian and African-American descent. Of all melanoma cases this type accounts for only five percent.
https://healthool.com/subungual-melanoma/
3. Black spot under toenail melanoma pictures
A black spot under the nail can indicate a type of melanoma called acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). These melanomas can appear anywhere on the body, including underneath fingernails and toenails. The sub-type of ALM that affects the nail is called subungual melanoma. Subungual melanoma is rare and typically involves the nail of the big toe or …
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usdermatologypartners.com/blog/is-this-black-spot-under-my-toenail-cancer/
4. Black spot under toenail melanoma pictures
Toenail Melanoma – Symptoms, Causes and Treatments Written by: Tao Schencks – Updated Friday, September 20, 2019 If you have noticed a dark, bruised looking spot or brown streak under your toenail, keep an eye on it as it is possibly a melanoma.
https://www.painful-feet.com/symptoms/toenail-melanoma/
5. Black spot under toenail melanoma pictures
Subungual melanoma often starts as a brown or black streak under a toenail or fingernail. A person may mistake it for a bruise. The main symptoms associated with subungual melanoma are the following:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319100
6. Melanoma
Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer, and one of the unusual places it may originate is the skin under the toenail. Most common in people with dark skin, toenail melanoma can affect any nail on the foot.
Indications that a toenail is affected by melanoma include a dark spot or streak on the nail, or an uncolored growth under the nail.
https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-toenail-melanoma.htm
7. Black spot under toenail melanoma pictures
Subungual melanoma is a type of melanoma in the nails. Unlike other types of nail melanoma that grow in the surrounding skin, this type begins in the nail matrix.
https://www.healthline.com/health/subungual-melanoma
8. Black spot under toenail melanoma pictures
A black spot on toenail may be the result of acral lentiginous melanoma, or skin cancer. Commonly seen on the big toe, this form of cancer also produces vertical borders. Black Spots Under Toenail Treatments. For a black spot under toenail treatment, you may be able to use topical, over-the-counter products to cure the underlying cause.
https://www.doctorshealthpress.com/general-health-articles/black-spot-on-toenail-causes-treatment/
9. Black spot under toenail melanoma pictures
Subungual melanoma is a rare form of cancer that develops underneath the fingernail or toenail.
Toenail fungus occurs from the overgrowth of fungi in, under, or on the nail. Learn how to tell them …
https://www.healthline.com/health/toenail-melanoma-or-fungus
10. Black spot under toenail melanoma pictures
Black Toenail Causes. There are many reasons why a toenail can turn a black color, one of the most common ones being the physical injury or trauma to the respective toenail. It is important to understand that the characteristic black color is caused by the collection of blood under the nail bed.
https://healthh.com/black-toenail/
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1. Psoriasis
widespread, and can develop from any of the other types. Fingernails and toenails are affected in most people with psoriasis at some point in time. This…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psoriasis
Black spot under toenail
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location unknown
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Canada
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Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response.
It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first …KG
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Dear Dr. Mitnick,
Thank you so very much for taking your time to answer my question. You have greatly relieved my anxiety related to the continual tingly I feel in my feet. I will share your response with my podiatrist next week. God bless you for having this question and answer page on your website! Most gratefully,
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a mom
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7 nail symptoms and conditions you shouldn’t ignore
You have access to important clues about your health right at the tips of your fingers.
Nails can signal everything from lung conditions to anemia, the American Academy of Dermatology notes.
Common nail conditions and symptoms
- Brown vertical stripes on nails
- Breaking and brittle nails
- Nails with ridges
- White spots on nails
- Yellow nails or cuticles
- Horizontal ridges in nails
- Splitting, bleeding or inflamed skin around nails
“A lot of times we’ll learn in training that the nails can be a window into your health because they can sometimes be an indicator of some underlying medical problems,” noted NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar.
“Lots of things can be detected in the nail,” said Dr. Phoebe Rich, director of the Nail Disorder Clinic at Oregon Health and Sciences University and a dermatologist at the Oregon Dermatology and Research Center.
Related
Here are seven nail symptoms and what to do next:
1. Symptom: Brown vertical stripe on the nail
This may be a sign of melanoma. While you may think the deadliest type of skin cancer always shows up as a mole or dark spot, it can actually start in the nail.
Only about 1 percent of all melanomas in Caucasians occur in the nail, but if you’re African-American, 20 percent of melanomas start there, Rich said.
“In more advanced cases, it can spread on to the cuticle area or the skin around the nail. That’s an ominous sign — it’s means it’s growing and spreading,” she noted.
Hormones and certain medications can also make pigmented bands in the nails, but be especially watchful for nail cancer symptoms, such as a brown or dark stripe that goes from the cuticle out to the free edge of the nail, especially one that’s getting wider.
If you have brown fingernails and the discoloration is round, as opposed to linear, it could be another condition. For example, brown spots on nails, especially if they’re pitted, could be a sign of nail psoriasis.
Course of action: Get any brown pigmentation on your nail checked out by a dermatologist.
Related
2. Symptom: Brittle nails
This common problem can happen because of an issue with your diet or the chemicals your hands are exposed to.
Nails are formed in the nail matrix, the root of the nail. If you are malnourished or lack certain nutrients, your body doesn’t have the material to make good nails, Rich said. That’s why people with eating disorders can notice problems with nails. Brittle nails can also indicate iron-deficiency anemia or thyroid diseases.
Remember: Nails are made of keratin, a protein. A common myth is that calcium plays a role.
“I see this all the time. People come in and say, ‘I’m taking a lot of calcium so my nails should be strong,’” Rich noted. “Calcium makes bones strong, but doesn’t have anything to do with making nails strong.”
If your body has the material to create the perfect nails, harsh chemicals can still break them down as they grow. Think of nails as a brick wall: the chemicals can remove the mortar that holds the bricks together, Rich said. That can include detergent water and nail polish remover.
Course of action: Make sure you are eating a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of protein.
Avoid using harsh chemicals on your nails. Even acetone-free polish remover can make your nails brittle if you use it too often and too much, Rich said.
Related
3. Symptom: Ridges on nails
Vertical lines on nails — or ridges — are common as you get older. Most people eventually get them.
“They’re kind of like wrinkles in the nail,” Rich said. She discourages patients from buffing or filing the ridges smooth because that thins the nail.
Deep horizontal ridges or depressions, known as Beau’s lines, are more alarming. They indicate something caused the nail to stop growing temporarily. Triggers can include high fever, chemotherapy, a serious illness, major surgery, blood transfusion, a car accident or any major stress to your system, Rich noted. You can have a series of parallel Beau’s lines that create the effect of rippled nails — or bumpy nails — if you experienced multiple episodes of stress.
Course of action: If you can’t link your deep horizontal ridges to a specific episode in your life, ask your doctor what the cause could be.
Vertical ridges are usually just a part of aging. If you want to cover them up, don’t buff, but use a ridge filler.
4. Symptom: Small white spots on nails
Many people think the spots are related to a vitamin deficiency, but that’s a myth, Rich said. The condition, called punctate leukonychia, is actually due to some kind of minor trauma when the nail is being formed.
Course of action: Wait — the spots will vanish as the nails grow out. You’ll see them for a while because it takes about six months to grow a new fingernail from start to finish.
5. Symptom: Yellow nails
Very yellow nails that are thick and slow growing may be associated with lung problems, Rich noted. If you have yellow nail syndrome, you may also experience excessively curved nails and see them separate from the nail bed.
Course of action: See your doctor.
6. Symptom: Series of horizontal depressions on the thumb
That’s a classic sign of a habit tic deformity, where people chronically rub or pick the cuticle of the thumb with their index finger as the nail is being formed.
It creates a washboard-like series of horizontal depressions on the thumb nail.
“A lot of people do it when they don’t know they’re doing it,” Rich said. “We see it a lot.”
Course of action: People can fix the issue if they simply stop manipulating their thumb cuticles, Rich noted.
Related
7. Symptom: Infected, inflamed skin around the nail
This is known as paronychia and can be caused by pushing back the cuticle.
“Cuticles are really important and probably shouldn’t be pushed back,” Rich noted. “They seal the skin to the nail and keep stuff out.”
The cuticle prevents bacteria, fungus, yeast and mold from getting underneath your nail and causing an infection.
Course of action: Soak your nail in hot water two or three times a day to help reduce the swelling and pain, experts note. Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics or other medicine.
To prevent an infection, don’t use any sharp implements to cut or push back your cuticles, and don’t allow your manicurist to cut them, Rich advised.
The best way to manage cuticles is to gently rub a towel over your nails after a shower when your skin is soft to get rid of the dead skin on the surface of the nail, she noted.
Bottom line:
Nail discoloration or thickening can signal systemic health problems. Check with your doctor if you spot any changes.
Related:
7 Reasons for Dark Skin Around Nails And How To Treat It – SkinKraft
Is the dark skin around your nails ruining your appearance? Dark cuticles or dark skin around the nails can be unsightly. But don’t fret.
Understanding the root cause behind your dark skin and following a few easy steps, can give you the pretty and healthy-looking hands you desire.
Read about the major causes behind dark cuticles. Also learn about the treatments that will help you get rid of these.
Highlights:
7 Causes For Dark Skin Around Nails
1. Weather
The weather in your city can affect your skin and body.
As hands are the most exposed and used part of your body, nails often bear the brunt of weather changes. Season changes or extreme weather conditions like extreme cold and extreme hot and humidity are triggering factors for skin darkening around your nails.
During the summers, coming in contact with direct sunlight exposes your skin to the harmful UVA and UVB rays [1]. These burn your skin and increase melanin production which darkens your skin tone. During summer, you tend to sweat more and take more showers with soap. Excessive washing and usage of soap darkens your skin around nails too.
During winter, cold winds and dry weather strips away your skin’s moisture and makes it dry, which leads to skin darkening.
2. Chemical Products
You may commonly use chemical-based products for varied household work. Regularly used products like soap, detergent, and even cosmetics have chemicals too. These are harmful and reactive and can affect your skin.
Products like nail paints and nail-paint remover may also cause allergies, due to the presence of acetone [2].
Methanol is another chemical that causes allergic reactions. Latex gloves may also lead to darkening of skin around your nails.
3. Dehydration
Drinking less water and washing hands excessively can lead to dehydration. This loss is prominent during the summer season, when your skin can lose its moisture. Being under the scorching sun may also affect your skin’s hydration. During winter, we tend to drink less water which can dehydrate us too. All of these ultimately leads to skin darkening.
4. Nutritional Deficiency
Many of you might forget to take meals on time or do not follow a healthy diet. Unhealthy eating habits, insufficient nutrition and too much junk food take a toll on your health. Lack of required nutrition leads to nutritional deficiency which can lead to several health conditions including dark cuticles around your fingernails.
5. Medical Conditions
Sometimes, bruises and cuts near your nail can darken your skin. Fungal infections like eczema and psoriasis in your hand may spread to your fingers and darken the skin around your nail.
Fungal infections can be treated with antifungal drugs like imidazole and ketoconazole.
Black cuticles around your nails can also be symptoms of underlying diseases like heart problems, kidney disease and even skin cancer. If you have other symptoms along with dark skin, visit a doctor immediately to seek medical advice.
6. Unhealthy Habits
Habits such as nail-biting or thumb sucking allow bacteria to enter your body. This may lead to many health issues. Also biting nails causes cuts and bruises that eventually darken your skin. Constantly sucking your thumb will reduce the moisture of your skin, making it dry. In both cases, you may see the cuticles around nails turning black.
7. Allergic Reaction
Certain ingredients in your cosmetic products like hand cream and moisturizers may cause allergic reactions in your hands. This can darken the skin around your nail. Some food items may also cause allergies in your body including your fingers. Some of you might also get exposed to a variety of ingredients in your work life, which may act as allergens.
As a result, the skin around your nails becomes darker.
How To Treat Dark Skin Around Nails?
1. Manicure & Pedicure
Cleaning your fingers can do wonders in treating the skin around your nails. Manicure and pedicure are also great options to treat your darkened skin. These procedures allow your nails to be cleaned, shaped and washed properly. It makes your nails strong and healthy too. Skin exfoliation done during manicure and pedicure helps to remove the dead skin cells and stimulate blood circulation.
2. Nutritious Food
Lack of Vitamin B12 and B6 is one of the primary causes of dark skin around your nails. Maintain a proper diet and take food that contains vitamin B6 and B12. Including foods such as walnuts, milk, bananas, spinach, sunflower seeds, eggs, cheese, chicken, shrimp, salmon, tuna etc. can make your skin and nails healthy and glowing.
3. Home Remedies
A. Milk Cream & Oat Scrub
Milk is enriched with moisturizing benefits.
Take some milk cream in a bowl and mix it with oats to make a highly beneficial scrub. Add a few drops of lemon and honey to it. Scrub the dark skin around your nails for a few minutes and then wash it off.
B. Lemon & Sugar Scrub
Lemon has vitamin C which works great for skin lightening [3]. Take the juice of half a lemon and mix it with crushed sugar. Scrub your skin around the nails gently. This will slowly lighten your skin and the sugar will provide moisturization to your damaged skin.
C. Buttermilk
Using your regular calamine or sandal powder as a base, mix in 2-3 drops of buttermilk. You can also add some saffron. Apply the buttermilk pack around your nails and keep it for 10 to 15 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water.
D. Tomato Slices
Tomatoes are often used to remove skin darkening. It also brightens your skin naturally. Cut a tomato into slices. Rub the slices around your nails and leave it overnight.
Practice this routine regularly to get the best results.
E. Aloe Vera Gel
This rich source of antioxidants helps in rejuvenating damaged skin. Apply it on the problem areas, every night before sleeping. It will not only lighten your skin but also soften it.
F. Potato Juice
Potato is a cleanser with pigmentation fighting abilities. It can even out your skin tone. Take the juice of one potato and apply it on your fingers. Leave for at least 15 minutes and wash off with water.
Tips To Prevent Dark Skin Around Nails
1. Do not bite your nails or suck your thumbs.
2. Limit your hand washes and avoid using excessive water with hands.
3. Avoid wearing latex gloves over a long period.
4. Keep the skin around your nails moisturized.
5. Limit your usage of nail paint and nail paint remover. Stop using these if you are allergic.
6. Keep your nails clean to reduce the chances of fungal or bacterial infection.
Wrapping Up
Keeping your hands healthy and good-looking doesn’t require much effort. A few healthy habits, easy and quick treatments and tips can really help. You also need to know your skin type and choose the right products to moisturize and rejuvenate the dark area around your nails. Check out the customized range from SkinKraft which includes the “Deep Moisturizing Hand Butter”, a non-greasy and easy absorbing formula. Also know more about your skin and its needs.
Begin By Knowing Your Skin
90,000 Dark spot on the big toe – Question to the dermatologist
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What does unusual pigmentation of the toenails indicate?
Often more attention is paid to fingernails than toenails. Except, probably, only the period of “open shoes” and the beach season. However, it is important to pay attention to unusual pigmentation on the nails, be it a large blue spot or a thin brown streak, as they can signal some health problems.
If the nail turns black, this most likely indicates the formation of a bruise under the nail plate or subungual hematoma. The cause may be mechanical injury as a result of bruising, crushing, or wearing too tight shoes. First, a red bruise appears, then turns purple, dark brown and finally black. This is due to the accumulation of blood under the nail plate. After about 6-9 months, the black nail will grow back completely. However, if it’s not a bruise, tight shoes, or a dye that could stain your nail, you should see a doctor.
Black spots can be a symptom of the development of melanoma, fungal infection, chronically ingrown toenail and other diseases.
As a result of bruising, trauma to the nail plate, wearing tight shoes, when the blood vessels are not damaged, white spots and stripes may appear.
Fungus may be the cause of completely yellow toenails. The appearance of large yellowish spots at the base of the nail can be a manifestation of proximal sugungual onychomycosis. It should be noted that this disease is often noted in HIV-infected people.
If large white spots appear, and the affected nails become rough and brittle, this may indicate the development of a white superficial form of onychomycosis.
Green nails may be a manifestation of green nail syndrome caused by bacteria that live in humid environments. In this case, you must consult a doctor.
If a blue spot appears on the nail plate for no apparent reason (for example, a bruise), you should consult a doctor, because in some cases this may indicate the presence of a blue nevus under the nail.
Usually such a formation is benign, but sometimes it can begin to change towards the formation of a malignant tumor.
Vertical white lines and V-shaped serifs are a hallmark of Darier’s disease (follicular vegetative dyskeratosis), a rare inherited skin disorder.
The cause of the appearance of vertical brown stripes can be a bruise, melanoma, inflammation, fungal infection.
Based on materials from www.medicinenet.com
90,000 Black under the nail after injury
Usually, a black spot under the nail is the result of negligence and injury, it’s just that your nail was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Causes of a black spot under the nail
For example, a strong blow to the finger with a hammer will cause hemorrhage from small blood vessels (capillaries) under the nail. At first you will see blood (in addition to the sparks that will fall from the eyes), but all will end in an ugly blackening of the nail.
This color will fade away gradually, along with the growth of the nail, as a result, you will cut off all the blackness. Since the hemorrhage occurs under the nail, there is nowhere for blood to flow. It remains under the nail and darkens there. If you hit your nail very hard, it may even fall off.
If at the time of injury, blood splattered from under the nail, then you are in luck – such bleeding reduces pain and compression of tissues. Athletes, especially runners and tennis players, can get black toenails from rubbing against shoes.When the toe is rubbed against the toe of the shoe, blood flows out of the damaged capillaries, but remains under the nail, which causes quite severe pain. As already mentioned, such a hemorrhage is the result of poorly fitted shoes.
Another type of hemorrhage is located under the nails near their tips. Small capillary hemorrhages appear as thin, dark lines. Such signs of darkening occur after injuries. However, hemorrhage can also be a sign of serious illnesses such as scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), trichinosis (a disease that occurs after eating poorly processed pork), and subacute endocarditis (an infection that affects the heart valves).
Black under the nail: what to do?
The best way to relieve pain after a nail injury is to put your finger under a stream of ice-cold water or immerse it in a container of cold water with ice cubes floating in it for 20-30 minutes.
If blood is oozing from under the nail, then using gentle pressure on the nail, try to squeeze out the blood. This will reduce tissue compression.
While recovery is underway, doctors say, keep the affected area sterile and cut off excess nail so as not to accidentally hook or rip it off.If the pressure of the accumulated blood under the nail causes severe pain, then go to the doctor. He will pierce the sore nail and remove excess blood from there.
If athletic shoes are the cause of the hemorrhage, the first thing to do is go to the store and buy shoes that fit your size perfectly, according to sports medicine experts. This means that you need to buy boots or sneakers that leave some space in front of your thumb.
A doctor can provide quick relief from pain by pumping out the accumulated blood from under the nail.If you let things take their course, the color change of the nails will take place in a few months. If you notice small red and dark stripes under the nail and remember exactly that you did not hit the nail, then you should immediately go to the doctor. You may have one of the conditions described above. An exception in this sense is made by people who tend to click their nails. For treatment, they need to switch their attention and relieve tension by rolling bread balls instead of breaking their nails.
Concomitant symptoms: if the blackening of the nail is accompanied by significant swelling, deformity of the finger and impaired movement, then you may have a broken end phalanx of the toe.Consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
90,000 symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment
Melanoma of the nail is a form of malignant neoplasm that is extremely rare.
As the name suggests, the localization of the problem is the subungual area of the finger (both on the hands and on the legs).
How the disease begins and manifests itself
The development of the disease begins with the nail bed. Usually it manifests itself as a dark (brown or black) spot or stripe.Gradually, the size of the formation increases, capturing the entire nail plate, then soft tissues, finger bone. The danger of this type is that it is prone to aggressive development, and therefore it is very difficult to treat.
Causes of the disease
While other types of melanoma are often associated with excessive sun exposure, the situation is radically different here. Most often, oncology of this type develops on the toes, constantly protected from the sun’s rays. Therefore, the causes of subungual melanoma do not include sun exposure, they look like this:
- Mechanical injury to the nail.Including surgical, cosmetic options for intervention, in which the nail plate is damaged;
- chemical injuries. Usually we are talking about long-term exposure to aggressive chemicals, for example, in production;
- heredity. Up to 14% of all patients diagnosed with nail melanoma have mutations in certain genes4 90,084
- already existing neoplasms of a benign nature, for example, dysplastic nevi, which are prone to transformation into malignant ones.
90,083 physical injuries: burns, frostbite, etc .
;
Most often, this disease manifests itself in people over 60 years old. And there is another interesting fact: obviously, it depends on the race, because representatives of the Negroid and Mongoloid races suffer from the disease much more often – 40% more often than Caucasians. Among the latter at risk are fair-skinned, red-haired people, as well as people with a lot of freckles.
Types and symptoms
The classification of nail melanoma provides for two variants of the course of the disease: horizontal and vertical stages.Symptoms of the disease will depend on which species are in question.
In the horizontal stage, the patient observes a brown or black strip on the nail (under the plate). The strip is not necessarily homogeneous, it can expand, capture more of the free nail edge, and pass onto the skin.
With the vertical stage, the tumor begins to grow into the surrounding tissues, the nail deforms, it becomes fragile. As the tumor grows, the nail cracks, the surface becomes covered with bumps, and at the slightest mechanical impact it begins to bleed.In this case, the pigment can also be either brown or black.
It is important to understand that nail melanoma can be non-pigmented up to its severe stage. For this reason, until the tumor begins to spread vertically, it may not be noticed. This is typical for about 30% of cases.
Not always, but the disease can manifest itself with the following symptoms:
- burning, itching in the area of the tumor;
- a feeling of fullness;
- pain syndrome, which increases with the development of the tumor;
- decrease in limb functionality.
Common symptoms on the toenail or hand include fever, weakness, and severe weight loss. With the development of metastases, local symptoms join – those that are characteristic of diseases of the affected organs.
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How the disease progresses
Everything is individual here.There are cases when after the detection of a tumor under the nail before the appearance of metastases, it takes several years, but they can appear within a year after the discovery of the disease. But if you have the above symptoms, you should immediately contact a dermatologist-oncologist and be examined.
Stages of the disease
The classification of nail melanoma involves (like any other cancer) several stages:
- zero (in situ). At this stage, non-invasive damage by cells of a malignant nature is revealed;
- first. The thickness of the formation is either up to 1 millimeter, or up to 2, but without ulceration;
- second. It is placed if the thickness of the tumor is not more than 2 millimeters or not more than 4, but without ulceration;
- third. It is placed regardless of the size of the melanoma itself, provided that metastases are found in the regional lymph nodes;
- fourth. Assumes the presence of metastases in the internal organs.
The thickness of the formation is either up to 1 millimeter, or up to 2, but without ulceration;Obviously, the smaller the stage, the higher the patient’s chances of effective treatment and a longer life expectancy.
Diagnostics
It is not so easy to diagnose melanoma under the nail, because it often resembles other diseases or problems, for example, subungual hematomas. To exclude simpler situations and make an accurate diagnosis, doctors use dermatoscopy (examination of tissues under high magnification), as well as epiluminescence microscopy. The latter method involves examining the altered areas of tissue in a special environment.
Thanks to him, you can distinguish a benign disease from a malignant one.
Cytological studies are being carried out, and a biopsy in this case is undesirable, since it can provoke the development of metastases. Additional tissue examination is carried out after the surgery, when the tissues are removed.
If nail melanoma is not ruled out after research, marginal nail resection is performed, followed by tissue examination. When the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is shown radical surgery.
Additionally, such research methods are used as:
They are needed in order to verify the presence or absence of metastases.
How is the treatment, methods
The main treatments for under-nail melanoma include:
- Resection at the level of the middle phalanx of the finger. The mass is removed in such a way as to preserve the patient’s quality of life as much as possible;
- radiation therapy.It is performed to exclude tumor recurrence in the area of surgical scars, as well as to affect the primary lymph nodes in order to prevent the development of metastases;
- chemotherapy. Depending on the situation, it can be used before and after surgery. There are different options for programs that are selected individually;
- immunotherapy. The use of certain drugs prolongs the relapse-free period and improves the overall survival of patients with this type of cancer.
Depending on the situation, it can be used before and after surgery. There are different options for programs that are selected individually;It is assumed that gene therapy may also play a positive role in treatment.
Complications and projections
With the development of nail melanoma, the risk of metastases is very high. They usually appear in the liver and lungs. At the same time, resection does not protect 100% from these processes.
Another difficulty lies in the fact that during the operation, the functionality of the limb is always (but to varying degrees) reduced.Patients also experience psychological difficulties, since their lifestyle changes, and in the case of hand surgery, difficulties arise with the perception of their new appearance, which is difficult to hide from others.
In the absence of metastases, the five-year survival rate of patients is about 60%, but if there are already metastases, the average survival rate fluctuates at the level of 7-8 months. Specific timing depends on individual characteristics, as well as the size, thickness of the tumor and other factors.
Disease prevention
Prevention of subungual melanoma can be:
- protection of nails of hands and feet from physical, chemical injuries, exposure to aggressive chemicals;
- observation of existing benign neoplasms (nevi) and their timely removal.
90,083 additional examinations of those people who have cases of melanoma among close relatives;
Also, do not ignore the primary signs of nail plate melanoma.In many cases, they talk about other, simpler symptoms or diseases, but you should not count on this.
Questions-answers on this topic
Can nail melanoma be non-malignant?
Melanoma of the nail plate itself is already a malignant disease.
However, signs that indicate this disease can be harmless, for example, they are often the result of a hematoma. But the doctor must find out after a thorough examination.
Signs of nail melanoma: what are they?
The first thing that should alert you is color changes, a violation of the integrity of the nail plate, and discomfort. All this can occur separately – be sure to consult your doctor.
How long does it take if the nail starts to darken before visiting the doctor?
The correct answer is not at all.As soon as you notice the slightest problems or unusual features of the nail, immediately go to a specialist for examination. It is a disease for which every week can be very valuable.
And what if not a fungus? … – SPB GBUZ “Dermatovenerologic dispensary No. 4”
Every day a large number of people with changes in the nail plates turn to a dermatovenerologist. The doctor divides diseases into 2 groups: fungal and non-fungal.
A healthy pink nail plate with a smooth surface with a natural shine. Any changes in the nail plates are a reason to consult a doctor for advice and correct diagnosis. Often, people try to diagnose themselves on their own and prescribe treatment on their own, which can lead to a worsening of the condition. Only a doctor with the necessary knowledge and experience, using additional diagnostic methods, can make the correct diagnosis with the appointment of effective treatment.
What concerns non-fungal diseases:
I. Infectious diseases – paronychia (inflammation of the periungual fold due to infection)
II. Non-infectious – – nail dystrophy (nails become flat or concave, grooves appear on the surface. More often the reason is endocrine diseases and unbalanced nutrition.
III. Other – changes in the nail plates in case of thyroid insufficiency (thinness, fragility, stratification, nails in the form of ‘drumsticks’ in diseases of the lungs, cardiovascular changes, HIV infection, changes in nails in skin diseases such as psoriasis, lichen planus.
IV. Traumatic:
– onycholysis (separation of the nail plate from the soft tissues of the finger)
– onychocryptosis (ingrown toenail) due to trauma, wearing tight shoes, heredity, improper nail treatment.
– onychoshism (transverse stratification of the nail) The nail plate becomes thinner and divides into several layers. The reasons may be unhealthy diet, trauma, lack of iron and calcium in the blood, diabetes mellitus, the use of low-quality varnishes.
– melanonychia – blackening of the nail or the formation of a brown stripe due to injury, hemorrhage in the surrounding tissues.
Let’s dwell on such a serious change as melanonychia. It deserves a serious consideration, due to the fact that it is a symptom of such a serious disease as melanoma of the nail plate. Considering that for a long enough time, no serious signs other than the appearance of dark stripes do not cause, people turn to it quite late.
Melanonychia begins with the appearance of brown spots or stripes from brown to black. Can lead to melanonychia:
- Chronic nail trauma (for example, shoes, usually 1.5 toes)
- nail infection with fungal infection (some types of fungi give a dark color)
- is rare, but with such a pathology as amyloidosis, psoriasis, limited scleroderma.
- bacterial infections
- Hemorrhage in the nail bed. A distinctive feature of melanoma is that the hematoma does not reach the free edge. BUT! The presence of blood under the nail does not exclude malignancy.
90,083 taking certain medications such as lincomycin, chemotherapy drugs, antimalarials.
Only a doctor can carry out a differential diagnosis with a correct diagnosis.
It should be borne in mind that there are a number of factors that indicate the presence of subungual melanoma:
- localization on the big toe or foot
- localization on one edge
- Sudden appearance on a previously normal nail plate and rapidly spreading darkening with fuzzy edges
- darkening without prior trauma
- appearance without prior injury
- History or family history of dysplastic nevi in people
90,083 over 60 years of age, but not always
Any changes to the nails should be consulted immediately by a doctor.
Rare localization of melanomas
10% melanomas are characterized by atypical localization – on the skin of the palms, soles, skin of the fingers and the nail bed. This type of melanoma is called acral lentigo melanoma. This type of melanoma is dangerous because it develops slowly, and it is detected quite late.
Most often people of an older age group suffer, but, recently, it has been observed in a younger age group.
Insolation is one of the provoking factors of occurrence, no less important is mechanical injury.
A favorite place for the pathology of the nail plates are the nails of the 1st and 5th fingers, since these fingers are more likely to be injured than others. The first sign of this type of melanoma is the appearance of a strip or spot from brown to black, starting from the nail fold to the free edge of the nail, as well as pigmentation on the periungual roller. In the future, the thickening of the nail plate occurs, followed by destruction and ulceration of the nail bed.
On the skin of the palms and soles, acral lentigo-melanoma is often regarded as a wart, callus, callus.On the nail plate, it is regarded as a fungal infection, subungual hematoma, nevus, ingrown nail, keratoacanthoma. Therefore, people with existing moles on their feet and palms should treat them carefully and undergo an annual examination, and people with newly formed moles should consult a doctor in a timely manner.
Ageeva S.V.
90,000 White spots on nails – causes, diagnosis and treatment
White spots on the nails (leukonychia) – a change in the nail plate, characterized by the appearance of point, strip-like or extensive white areas.White spots on the nails can be not just a harmless cosmetic defect, but indicate serious health problems. To find out the causes of white spots on the nails, it is necessary to carry out diagnostics, including a consultation with a dermatologist, a study of the spectral analysis of nails for trace elements, scraping from the nail plates for pathogenic fungi.
In order to eliminate white spots on the nails, it is necessary to influence the cause of their appearance: to avoid injury to the nail plate, undergo a course of vitamin therapy, normalize nutrition, etc.d.
General
Nails are dense corneous plates covering the dorsum of the terminal phalanges of the fingers and toes. The main function of nails is to protect the soft tissues of the distal parts of the fingers from mechanical damage. The hardness of the nail plate is provided by keratin (mainly cysteine - a sulfur-containing amino acid), and the elasticity and shine are given by layers of water and fat. In addition to sulfur, the nail plates also contain other trace elements – calcium, phosphorus, chromium, selenium, zinc, etc.etc., the presence of which makes the nails healthy.
The appearance of nails (as well as hair and skin) is not only an indicator of grooming, but also a sensitive indicator of general health. White spots on the nails, deformation of the nail plates, dyschromia, brittle or peeling nails can tell an experienced diagnostician a lot about the health of the patient in front of him.
The condition of the nails reflects the changes that have occurred in the body during the last six months – this is the period required for the complete renewal of the nail plate.Knowing the possible causes of the appearance of white spots on the nails, it is possible to carry out a kind of preliminary diagnosis of various disorders in the body.
White spots on the nails
Reasons for the appearance of white spots on the nails
Many popular superstitions and signs are associated with white spots on the nails, which have nothing to do with the true reasons for their appearance. The formation of white pigmentation is based on a violation of the process of keratinization of the nail plate, as a result of which microscopic air bubbles form between the layers of the nail.Various endo- and exogenous factors can lead to a violation of the normal keratinization of the nail plate, as a result of which specks or stripes appear, different in their shape, size and location.
The most common exogenous cause of white spots on the nails is trauma to the nail plate. In women, in most cases, mechanical damage to the nail occurs with careless removal of the cuticle, unprofessional manicure, pedicure or nail extension.In addition, coating of nails with low-quality decorative varnish, constant contact of hands with household and industrial chemicals (detergents and cleaning agents, acetone, paints, solvents, fertilizers, etc.), and the habit of biting nails have an adverse effect on the condition of the nail plate. Wearing too tight shoes contributes to the appearance of white spots on the toenails.
Very often white spots on the nails appear in people abusing strict diets, suffering from anorexia, lacking trace elements (calcium, zinc, iron) and vitamins (A, E, C).Leukonychia may indicate gastrointestinal diseases (dysbiosis, enteritis, etc.), anemia, heart failure, chronic renal failure, stress, prolonged depression.
Characteristics of white spots on the nails
Depending on the prevalence of lesions in dermatology, limited and total leukonychia are distinguished. In the first case, there is a partial violation of the keratinization of the nail plate, 1-2 nails are affected; in the second case, there is a complete defeat of one or all of the nails.In the form of white spots, point and strip-like leukonychia is distinguished. White spots on the nails can be small and multiple or large and single; white stripes – horizontal or vertical.
By the type and location of white spots on the nails, one can preliminarily judge about one or another genesis of leukonychia. So, with the traumatic nature of leukonychia, white spots on the nails are point, less often strip-like, chaotic; in these cases, total nail damage never develops. After severe nervous shocks, large single white spots usually appear in the center of the nail plate, which disappear as the nail grows back.
With leukonychia caused by alimentary factors (improper and unbalanced diet, lack of proteins), the defect looks like paired white stripes located across the nail plate.
Multiple white dotted spots on the nails indicate a deficiency of trace elements and vitamins. As a rule, other accompanying symptoms also indicate hypovitaminosis: dry skin, hyperkeratosis, cheilitis, increased fatigue, etc. Single white spots on the nails appear in the spring in most people due to seasonal hypovitaminosis.Especially pronounced leukonychia is usually observed in adolescents and pregnant women, whose body experiences increased needs for vitamins and minerals.
In people with chronic renal failure, extensive white spots are located at the bottom of the nail; the upper part of the nail plate has a healthy pinkish color. In diseases of the cardiovascular system, white spots appear on the nail plate, which acquires a bluish tint. Total leukonychia is observed in diseases of the digestive system, liver; at the same time, white spots can appear not only on the nails of the hands, but also on the legs.
Diagnosis of the causes of white spots on the nails
Health assessment based on the condition of the nail plates is a traditional diagnostic method in Chinese traditional medicine. Oriental medicine experts believe that the energy channels that open on the fingers are associated with certain internal organs. That is why the changes taking place in the body, as in a mirror, are reflected on the surface of our nails. A sign of physical and mental health are smooth, even nail plates with a matte or slightly shiny surface, pink color and regular shape.When white spots appear on the nails at the first stage, it is advisable to contact a dermatologist, who, if necessary, will recommend consultations from other specialists – a gastroenterologist, nephrologist, cardiologist, etc.
Leukonychia must be differentiated from May’s stripes arising from arsenic or thallium poisoning. These stripes are blue-white, transversely arranged and 5 mm wide.
You should also exclude onychomycosis, which, in addition to white spots on the nails, is characterized by thickening and discoloration of the nail plate, various deformations (ingrown nail, “bird” nail), crumbling and delamination of the nail. Diagnosis of fungal infections of the nails is carried out by a mycologist based on the results of scraping for pathogenic fungi from the nail plates.
Treatment of white spots on nails
Elimination of white spots on nails can only be effective if the cause of their appearance is determined.As general measures, it is recommended to avoid nervous shocks, normalize work and rest, enrich the diet with vegetables, fruits, vegetable and animal proteins. With the problem of white spots on the nails, it will be useful to take vitamins, micro- and macroelements, which will eliminate the deficiency of missing substances in the body.
In case of leukonychia not associated with general diseases, you can go to a beauty salon for local nail treatment with professional care products, therapeutic hand and foot baths, hand and foot massage.
In addition to the salon treatment at home, you can perform sea salt baths; rub a mixture of warmed olive oil with lemon juice, an oil solution of vitamin A, fish oil, nourishing creams into your nails. In case of fungal infection, course drug treatment and local treatment of nails are prescribed and carried out by a mycologist.
Prevention of white spots on nails
By themselves, old spots on the nails do not pose a threat to health. However, their appearance in some cases may indicate a serious problem in the body, so this symptom should not be ignored.It is wrong to “mask” white spots on the nails with a layer of decorative varnish. On the contrary, when they appear, you should temporarily abandon the manicure treatment of nails and undergo a diagnosis by a specialist.
Protect hands with gloves when handling chemicals. When treating your hands and feet in a salon, it is better to give preference to establishments with a good reputation, gentle procedures and well-known cosmetic brands.
Good nutrition and taking vitamins will help to avoid the appearance of white spots on the nails.With total leukonychia, first of all, it is necessary to exclude diseases of the internal organs.
90,000 14 nail defects that indicate serious diseases
What kind of remedies are not used for warts: vinegar, lavender, turmeric and castor oil for papillomas, vitamins or lotions. We figure out how effective such treatment is and whether home remedies can aggravate the situation.
What are papillomas and warts
These are small, rough-textured skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).Their appearance depends on their location on the body and the thickness of the skin. They can grow in groups or singly and have a rough surface. Sometimes a black spot is visible in the middle.
They are usually not dangerous. But they are extremely unpleasant in appearance, can be painful if located in places of friction or pressure. Warts are more common in people with weakened immune systems.
Regular ones appear on the hands, and flat ones on the face. Warts on the soles of the feet are called plantar warts.They can be painful too. When the nails on the hands and feet are affected, they are called subungual and periungual warts.
Another place where they appear is in the intimate areas. They can develop on the genitals, near the anus, and also on the inner thighs. Before treating papillomas with home remedies, be sure to check with your doctor. There have been no special studies of the effectiveness of these funds, and if used incorrectly, they may well be unsafe. At the same time, their incorrect use can be unsafe (traumatization of papillomas can lead to their malignant transformation).In addition, all formations of this kind need to be tested for cancer potential.
How to remove papillomas with castor oil
This substance has an antiviral effect, so many believe that castor oil treatment for papillomas will be effective. In addition, the oil also has anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in antioxidants, it moisturizes and soothes irritated skin.
The method of using castor oil for papillomas is simple: rub the affected area with cold-pressed oil for a few minutes and leave it on the surface.
Apply two or three times a day. It may take several weeks to a month to achieve the effect, but you can certainly get rid of them.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
This agent has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. The organic acid in apple cider vinegar destroys tissue. Soak cotton wool in vinegar and apply it to the wart.
Use an adhesive bandage to hold it in place. Throw away the cotton wool the next morning, leaving it overnight.Repeat this simple remedy for several weeks. After a few days, they will begin to turn black and very soon disappear, leaving a small mark that will gradually disappear.
2. Tea tree oil
It contains a natural antiviral compound that you can use. It is easily absorbed by the skin and kills the virus.
Dilute essential oil with water (a few drops with 2 tablespoons of water) and apply to the affected area.
Let it dry. To see results, apply it 5-6 times during the day, and also at bedtime for several weeks.
3. Oil of Oregano
It contains carvacrol, which has antiviral properties. Mix 1 teaspoon of oregano oil with 8 teaspoons of olive or coconut oil and store in a small glass bottle.
Apply a few drops of oil and leave. You can also cover the area with a tape to help secure the removal of the wart. Repeat this 4 to 6 times a day.
4. Banana peel
Its enzymes heal and help remove skin warts.It also has antimicrobial properties. Rub the banana peel over the wart for a few minutes.
You can also apply the peel directly to the surface, hold it in place with an adhesive plaster. Repeat this every day for several weeks to see results.
5. Coconut oil
Plantar, facial and even genital can be treated with coconut oil. The medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil are anti-microbial and can easily remove warts with regular oil application.
It also acts as an emollient and cleanses the skin. A warm product can be applied and massaged for a few minutes to allow the oil to be absorbed by the skin. Do not rinse off after massage. You need to do this regularly, two or three times a day.
6. Garlic
It has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties that fight viral infections. The allicin content forms a strong antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites.It will kill the virus easily.
Peel and crush a few teeth. Rub the paste over the affected area. You can also consume it orally. If you don’t like the smell, you can take the capsules three times a day for a week. Do this daily until it is removed.
7. Baking soda
Thanks to the antiseptic and strong anti-inflammatory properties present in baking soda, it helps fight viruses. Mix one teaspoon of white vinegar with baking soda to make a thick paste.Apply the paste twice a day, perhaps once in the morning and once at night.
Dissolve the baking soda in the water and soak the affected arm or leg in the solution for about 30 minutes.
Do not dry your hand or leg. Air dry your skin instead. You can also mix baking soda and castor oil to make a paste. Apply it over the top with a bandage. You can leave the paste overnight by rinsing your skin with water in the morning. Repeat this remedy for several days until the formation disappears.
8. Frankincense oil
When applied topically, it can remove scars, warts and moles due to its anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. This oil strengthens your immune system when taken internally.
Peel off the affected area, apply a drop of essential oil and cover with a bandage. Change the dressing every day and reapply a drop of oil when changing. Repeat for a week.
9. Thuja oil
It modulates the immune response to the point that warts disappear due to antiviral processes initiated by the body.This remedy works best for lesions that may smell or bleed, on the legs and genitals, and is mainly used in homeopathic treatment.
After cleaning the area, apply a drop of essential oil and cover with a bandage. Change it every day and apply a drop of oil again, changing the dressing again. Repeat every day until the formation disappears.
10. Turmeric
Its antimicrobial properties kill infection. This remedy works when applied topically.Make a thick paste by mixing turmeric powder with water.
Apply the paste and leave for 30 minutes. Rinse off with water. You can rub a lemon slice on your skin to get rid of the turmeric color. Apply once or twice a day.
11. Potato
The acids in potato juice dehydrate and kill the virus. In two to three weeks, education will decrease. Take a peeled piece of raw potato and rub it vigorously over the areas. Do this several times a day.
12. Vitamins (A, E and C)
Topical application of vitamin A can reduce warts without leaving scars.Vitamin A interferes with the viral replication process and also triggers the body’s immune response.
Open the capsule carefully and apply the oil to the wart. Leave to absorb. Use fish oil capsules if you cannot find vitamin A capsules.
Vitamin E oil is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. It speeds up the natural healing process. Remove oil from capsule and apply. Cover with a bandage all day and remove it before bed. Repeat for several weeks.
The acidity of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) will help kill the virus and shrink until it falls off or disappears. Crush two to three vitamin C tablets and add a little water to make a paste. Apply the paste and cover it with adhesive tape or tape. Use a home remedy until you see results.
13. Clove oil
The eugeniyin component in the composition is responsible for its antiviral properties. It suppresses the multiplication of the virus and eliminates the infection.After cleansing the skin, apply 1-2 drops of oil and cover with a bandage. Change your dressing and apply fresh oil every day. Repeat once a day until the formation shrinks.