Symptoms, causes and treatment of onycholysis. Tactics when exfoliating the nail

Onycholysis, or peeling of the nail. Causes and treatment of onycholysis

Onycholysis is the separation of the nail plate from the soft tissues of the finger phalanx on which the plate rests. Despite the fact that the problem seems trivial, finding out the reasons that caused the nail to detach from the nail bed and the correct treatment are extremely important.

In the presence of onycholysis, a systematic approach is important. Despite the fact that the damage to the nail plate is often even less than one square centimeter, the prescription of drugs can be systemic in nature, local treatment cannot be dispensed with.

Before prescribing effective drugs for the treatment of onycholysis, it is necessary to determine whether there is a connection between the pathology and other diseases. If it is present, the local action on the nail plate will not have the proper effect - the provocateur disease must be expelled.

Diseases in which peeling of the nail plate may occur:

pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
disruptions in the work of the cardiovascular system;
pathology of the nervous system (central and peripheral);
diseases of the endocrine sphere;
dermatovenereological diseases (eczema of various etiologies, psoriatic impression, some dermatitis and dermatoses).

Therefore, the answer to the question of which doctor treats onycholysis will logically include a list of all specialists involved in the specified pathologies.

Direct causes of onycholysis

Defoliation of the nail plate does not occur every time the patient is overcome by an ailment of one of the systems listed above. The main direct causes of the development of pathology:

depletion of trophic (nutrition) of the nail plate;
violation of innervation (nerve supply) of the plate;
lack of vitamins (most often seasonal);
regular traumatization (in particular, there is often a peeling of the nail on the big toe after an injury while playing football).

Importance of onycholysis

The problem of onycholysis is important because:

because of it, the aesthetics of the fingers, especially the hands, are disturbed - the patient will worry about how to cure peeling nails on the hands, more often than with the same pathology on the legs;
there is a risk that the nail plate can be lost altogether, if the process of its "rejection" is not stopped;
despite the fact that onycholysis is a local process, it can signal a more global pathology. which provoked the separation of the nail from its bed.

Therefore, the patient should inquire about the causes and treatment of onycholysis as soon as he notices an unpleasant change in at least one nail.

Diagnosis of the disease

It is easy to diagnose onycholysis based on clinical manifestations:

the nail plate acquires a bluish color with red and yellow tints;
in any localization of the nail, a void appears under the plate (sometimes the visual impression is that the nail in this place seems to have risen above the bed);
at the place of detachment, the nail plate loses its natural elasticity, which is felt when cutting the nail during a manicure and pedicure.

At the same time, peeling of the nail plate can be:

partial;
complete (when the nail is kept on the bed only due to "fastening" at its edges).

Tactics for onycholysis. Which doctor treats onycholysis?

For the treatment of onycholysis to be successful, it is necessary to find out and eliminate problems from the side of the stomach, heart, thyroid gland, etc., everything that could provoke peeling of the nail plate.

Knowing about such a relationship, a competent dermatologist does not ask the question of how to cure exfoliation on the hands or feet - he will definitely refer the patient to narrow specialists who will examine him and prescribe treatment.

Whatever the reason for peeling off the nail plate, in any case, a course of general strengthening agents is prescribed:

vitamins (primarily A and group B);
iron preparations;
calcium - both in the form of pharmaceuticals and in food (homemade cheese, milk).

Local therapy. Effective drugs for the treatment of onycholysis

Local treatment for onycholysis is aimed at improving microcirculation to improve blood supply to the nail. For this purpose, the following are used:

angioprotectors (drugs that strengthen small vessels);
massage (not only of the finger, the nail of which was affected, but of the entire foot - no less than to the level of the ankle joint);
physiotherapeutic procedures (UHF, microwave).

Also, local treatment is prescribed: