Nail deformity and nail dystrophy

Nail abnormalities (nail disease) can be a sign of many diseases and health problems. In particular, nail dystrophy with nail deformities is a very common condition, a warning sign for many patients.

Nail dystrophy is a term used to refer to abnormalities of the shape that occur when fingernails or toenails form. This deformity may be the result of a fungal infection, a dermatological disease, or an injury. Nail deformities can occur in the nail plate, nail bed, or on the subungual vascular network.

The most common causes of this condition are two infections: psoriasis or nail fungus.
In a nail infected with a fungus, the nail will have a different color and can be replaced with a new nail. With psoriasis, the nail will have brown or yellow lesions that accumulate underneath, leading to a brittle or split condition of the nail.
Usually, nail fungus can occur due to high humidity and temperature of the foot / hand area if the patient has a habit of wearing socks and shoes often for a long time. Besides, the fungus will penetrate relatively quickly into small cuts of the skin, especially near the cuticle, causing nail deformity and nail dystrophy.
In addition to infections, nail dystrophy can also occur when nails are brittle and break easily. This is a fairly common nail disease in women, related to factors such as age, exposure to chemicals, soaps, long-term detergents... Besides these factors, nail condition brittleness can also be caused by serious diseases such as hyperthyroidism, endocrine disorders, malnutrition...
In general, there are three main causes of nail dystrophy which are summarized as follows:

Nail deformity due to nail dystrophy can lead to various changes in the fingernails/toenails, including the following:
3.1 Rough-shaped nails Usually, the nails will have a relatively smooth surface. However, if the nail surface is rough to the touch, it could be an early sign of psoriasis, arthritis or eczema.
3.2 Spoon-shaped nails A healthy nail will usually have an upward arch. Therefore, when the nail surface is concave, this is a sign that the body is suffering from iron deficiency. You can easily see now that the nail has a flattened, concave shape like a spoon.
3.3 Pale nail color Usually, the nails will be pink and this is a sign of a healthy body. When the pinkness of the nails becomes pale (some patients even have white nails), this is likely to come from anemia or heart disease, hepatopancreas...
3.4 Nails yellow In addition to fading, a yellow nail will be the most recognizable sign of onychomycosis. Not only does the color change, the nail fungus also becomes rough and thick.
In addition to nail fungus, yellow nails can also be caused by diabetes, psoriasis or thyroid disease. Rarely, yellow nails are a sign of skin cancer.
3.5 Loose and jagged nails This condition is very common in people who bite their nails a lot. Nails at this time will have to constantly suffer damage and lead to jagged nails. In addition to this physical factor, jagged nails can also be caused by onychomycosis.

3.6 Black stripes on the nail This is a sign of blood pooling under the nail caused by trauma. Besides, these black stripes can also be a sign of a malignant disease called melanoma - melanoma. The proliferation of this cell type can cause cancer and the frequent appearance of black stripes on the nail.
3.7 White spots on nails This is a common condition and not a serious problem, it can be hereditary or sometimes due to trauma to the nail bed.
3.8 Horizontal white stripes appear at the base of the nail At the base of the nail there is usually only a white semicircle. If more horizontal stripes appear, this is considered an abnormal sign.
This phenomenon can happen because essential nutrients such as zinc and protein are lacking in the body. Along with that, this sign can also be a warning of kidney disease or liver disease.
It can be said that nail dystrophy causes nail deformity is the most common, in addition, it can also lead to many other consequences. However, not all nail deformities are caused by dystrophy, but can also be caused by lack of substance, nail biting habits, etc. Therefore, treatment requires more focus on the cause of nail deformity. .