Desperately Need Expert To Tend My Finger-problem

Dear Agatha,

I have a serious physiological problem that has
been bothering me. My fingernail’s beds are ugly and infected. In 2005, I had a fingernail bed infection, the kind that separates the nail from its bed. It was so serious that I had to cut off the nails from the beds. This condition continued up till last year and when it became too much, I had to cut off the nails on seven of my fingers. Unfortunately, they refused to grow properly again. They have become some sorts of embarrassment to me because I’m a
university student.

I have taken to hiding my fingers from prying eyes. Agatha, is it true that I can put artificial nail graft on them abroad through surgery and also remove some marks on my body? I haven’t seen anywhere it is done in Nigeria or can I? Why is my case different?

Chinonso.                                                                                              

 

Dear Chinonso,

From what I read about your condition, known medically as Onycholysis, you were careless in the handling of the infection.

Had you paid more attention to the infection from the beginning, you would have saved yourself from the pains and embarrassment happening to you now.

Though nail disorders are judged differently from skin diseases, symptoms and treatment vary. Onycholysis is a deformity of the nails that require medical attention sometimes.

Onycholysis is a loosening of the exposed portion of the nail from the nail bed, usually beginning at the free edge and continuing to the lunula. This nail disorder is often linked to an internal disorder, trauma, infection, nail fungi, allergy to nail enhancement products or to the side effects of drugs taken by the afflicted person. Onycholysis is a very common problem and involves a painless separation of the nail from the nail bed. Onycholysis is a warning sign of skin disease, an infection or the result of injury, but most cases are seen in women with long fingernails.

One way of determining that Onycholysis has set in is to check for signs of discolouration underneath the nail since this may occur as a result of secondary infection. The painless and spontaneous separation of the nail plate starts at the distal free margin and gradually progresses proximally. Larger portion of the nail may become opaque, get whitened or discoloured to yellow or green and this calls for medical attention.

If the cause of Onycholysis is fungal infection, mere examination alone will not be enough to tell it apart and a test for fungus may be called for. Use of strong medications like Tetracycline, Minocycline, Naproxen make a person abnormally sensitive to light and such persons are at risk of getting sunburn under the nails, which causes Onycholysis. In extremely rare cases, all the nails are affected and then it can be a sign of iron deficiency or thyroid over-activity.

If there is noticeable discolouration underneath the nail, the cause may be a secondary infection and this may require the people to take some antibiotics to rid themselves of the underlying cause. Since Onycholysis is usually painless and the separation occurs gradually, it is only in rare cases that a person may experience severe discomfort. This is linked to trauma or the setting in of active infection.

To treat the condition at home, it is recommended that a person regularly trims the nails to ensure they remain short and clean. Using a skin softening hand cream to nourish the nails and hands is of high benefit to the nails and skin.

If Onycholysis has set in due to nail biting, picking or tearing, the person can consider seeking psychological counselling to get the necessary encouragement and guidance to underlying problems to stop this behaviour.

To save you from further embarrassment on account of the ugliness of your nails, protect your hands from too much exposure to water. Water from washing clothes, plates and other house-works that require you to immerse your hands in water for too long only worsen the condition of your. Invest in quality hand gloves to help you arrest the condition of your fingers.

There are very good hospitals in the country that can successfully carry out grafting of the skin. If there is a teaching hospital where you are, go and make the necessary enquires. From there you will be appropriately directed on how to go about it.

To avoid a recurrence of the condition, be very alert to changes in your nail beds and be careful also about the kinds of nail extensions you do as well as how long you carry them. More often than not, problems to our nails come from poor handling of our hygiene as well as our health. There is a time frame attached to how long we get to wear some of the beauty enhancements women are fond of.

Good luck.