Nail Disease 1 - Paronychia
Paronychia is a bacterial infection that occurs around the nails. The area around the nail fold can be inflamed, red and swollen and resulting in pustule cuticles.
The main symptom is a painful, red, swollen area around the nail, often at the cuticle. There may be pus-filled blisters especially with a bacterial infection.
It can be caused by injury to the area eg biting off or picking a hangnail or from trimming or pushing back the cuticle. It is also common among persons with diabetes and those who have their hands in water for long periods of time. Bacteria cause the condition to occur suddenly. Nail changes may occur. For example, the nail may look detached, abnormally shaped, or have an unusual colour.

A medical practitioner can usually diagnose this condition by simply looking at the sore skin. Soaking the nail in hot water two to three times a day helps reduce swelling and pain. Antibiotics can be prescribed. In severe cases a medical practitioner may cut and drain the sore with a sharp instrument. Part of the nail may need to be removed. If it is fungal paronychia, antifungal medicine maybe prescribed.

To prevent paronychia: ✓ Care for the nails and the skin around the nails properly. ✓ Avoid damaging the nails or fingertips. Because the nails grow slowly, an injury can last for months. ✓ Do not bite or pick the nails. ✓ Protect the nails from exposure to detergents and chemicals by using protective rubber or plastic gloves, preferably with cotton liners. ✓ Keep the nails smooth and trim them weekly. ✓ Trim the toenails about once a month. ✓ Trim nails after bathing, when they are softer.

Nail Disease 2 – Tinea unguium (ringworm of the nails)
It is an infection of the nails by a fungus.
The body is a nest for a variety of bacteria and fungi. Some of these are useful to the body. Others may multiply quickly and form infections. Fungi can live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers.
Fungal infections include mold-like fungi that cause: ✓ Athlete's foot ✓ Ringworm on the skin of the body or head
Fungal nail infections are mainly seen in adults. Most often fungal infections of the feet, toenails are affected more often than fingernails.
People who frequent public swimming pools, gyms, or shower rooms and people who sweat a lot are more susceptible to these mould-like infections. The fungi that cause them thrive in warm, moist areas.
The following increase the risk of a fungal infection: ✓ Getting manicures and pedicures using utensils that have been used on other people ✓ Getting minor skin or nail injuries ✓ Having a nail deformity or nail disease ✓ Having moist skin for a long time ✓ Poorly functioning immune system ✓ Wearing closed-in footwear
Treatment
A beauty therapist should always refer this condition to a medical practitioner first for analysis and treatment. A medical practitioner can sometimes prescribe antifungal medicines to help clear the fungus.

Good general health and hygiene help prevent fungal infections. ✓ Do not share tools used for manicures and pedicures. ✓ Keep the skin clean and dry. ✓ Take proper care of nails. ✓ Wash and dry hands thoroughly after contact with any fungal infection.

Nail Disorders 1 - Onychophagy
Severe biting of the nails on the fingers and/or toes.
Nail biting is so common that it’s easy to dismiss it as just a nasty habit instead of being a nail disorder. Clients often feel embarrassed about the condition but depending on the cause, clients who suffer from chronic onychophagy may need not only the attention of a good nail tech, but also an appointment with a professional who can help with behavior modification.
Onychophagy is a sub-group of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). Onychophagy can begin because of severe stress, tension, or anxiety, but it can develop into a habit, which remains even when the stress or anxiety is gone.
The habit of nail biting can become so familiar to sufferers that they are unaware they are picking at or biting their nails until they feel pain. Some patients with chronic onychophagy bite their toenails, fingernails, and the skin surrounding their nails until they bleed. Others bite and pick until they have literally removed an entire nail. This can have a number of psychological effects, including frustration and self-loathing.
The treatment for onychophagy varies on the severity of the problem. Some patients respond to consistent nail maintenance, such as manicures, and topical applications on their nails, such as nail polish that tastes bitter, creams, or even hot sauce. Other treatments include behavior modification techniques such as a rubber band on the wrist. Every time a sufferer bites their nails the rubber band snaps. The brain associates nail biting with pain, encouraging the sufferer to quit. The effectiveness of this method is not always guaranteed.)
Several diseases of the nails can be due to genetic and hereditary symptoms whilst others may be associated with total body and skin disorders. Any of the mentioned disorders are often associated with abnormally low albumin in the blood causing complete white discolouration of the nails.
The leukonychia may be present under due to substances toxic to the cells. Leukonychia may also appear as a rare side effect of chemotherapy in certain patients. It may also be present with arsenic poisoning, renal failure, pneumonia, etc. Hereditary or Congenital leukonychia is a condition from birth. Leukonychia totally disappears in early childhood. Other causes of Leukonychia are like Hepatic Cirrhosis, Ulcerative Colitis, Anaemia, etc.
Exposure to extreme cold may also lead to development of leukonychia. Emotional stresses that affect the body physically can be attributed to leukonychia. Furthermore Onychophagia and occupational trauma may also lead to leukonychia. A crush injury to base of the nail or the nail bed may produce leukonychia.
Vitamin deficiency also causes a loss of lustre or brittle nails. Abnormally low level of protein in the blood is also a leading cause of leukonychia. Leukonychia is not at all a sign of lack of calcium or any other vitamin from the human diet. Leukonychia is found to be completely harmless. This condition is found to be much more common in fingernails than in toenails.
There is no treatment for leukonychia as such. The white marks will disappear on their own that is when the nails grow outwards. Leukonychia causes change in the colour of the nails.
For temporary purpose, a beauty therapist can disguise the disorder with nail polish. It is advisable to soften the cuticles first with warm water before the use of coloured nail polish. Green leafy vegetables, whole grains nuts, etc should be consumed in daily diet, so as to prevent the deficiency of zinc in the body, which is usually associated with white spots.