Nail Problems

Our health writer, Jackie Mitchell, talks to Dr Sweta Rai about some common issues.

IF you constantly wear nail polish or have repeated manicure treatments, perhaps it’s time to consider giving your nails a breather, as these practices can cause nail damage, discolouration and brittleness.

A fingernail is made up of different parts, such as the nail plate (hard nail surface), the nail bed (the base of the nail where the nail grows from), the cuticle and the nail folds.

Dr Sweta Rai from the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) says, “A healthy nail should have no red inflammation, a healthy cuticle and intact nail folds.

According to Dr Rai, the most commonly seen problems are brittle nails presenting as easy breakage.

“There are a multitude of reasons why people get brittle nails.

“The most common are nail biting and repeated manicure treatments such as Shellac and acrylic nails, as well as nail trauma from picking.

“Repeated manicures often damage the cuticle and, as a result, cause bacterial and fungal infection.

“Discolouration of the nails can also be caused by long-term nail polish wearing or smoking.”

Brittle nails can also be a sign of vitamin and mineral deficiency, especially biotin, selenium and zinc.

“If your nails keep breaking and you’ve done everything you can, it would be a good idea to see a dermatologist who will undertake a full history and check vitamin and mineral levels,” Dr Rai advises.

Ridging is another nail condition, often caused by trauma to the nail, and commonplace among keen hikers or runners.

“They may end up with nail dystrophy and haemorrhage (appearing as brown-black marks) in their toenails, “Dr Rai says.

“This is mostly due to the nail being rubbed repeatedly against the shoe and the nail hitting against the hard surface of a hiking boot.

“With training shoes, it’s a different impact as a runner pounds the pavement and may end up with the lifting of the nail.

“Ridges or ripples in the nails can happen naturally as we get older or it could be due to trauma.

“These ridges normally grow out in time.”

Nail problems can sometimes be a symptom of other health issues such as nail psoriasis.

“Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky patches of skin which may spread to the nails and inflame the nail bed,” Dr Rai explains.

“This can result in pitting (depressions in the nails) or ridging, so you need to contact your doctor about it.”

If you suffer from brittle, spoonshaped nails, this could be an indication of iron deficiency.

“In this case, you need to have your iron levels checked,” Dr Rai adds.

White spots on the nail could be a result of trauma to the nail, in which case they will grow out, or they could be an indication of a vitamin deficiency.

“If the condition persists, it’s best to have it checked,” she concludes.

For more information, contact the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD): www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk. ■