What can be done for onychorrhexis of the toenails?

Your toe nails may be referred to as the mirrors of our well being mainly because a lot of health conditions will affect the health and look of the toe nails. These toenails will be affected by local problems or by wide spread issues. These local problems could be injury to the toe nail, an ingrown toenail or perhaps a corn that develops down the side of the nail sulcus. Systemic conditions could be poor circulation, and arthritis problems or possibly a lack of some nutritional requirements – all of these sorts of issues can affect the look of the nail. You can get many different health concerns that causes a wide range of different toe nail conditions.

One of those such toenail problems is a condition termed onychorrhexis. The term is derived from the Greek language, ónycho- that is for “nail” and also rhexis which means “bursting”. Onychorrhexis looks like longitudinal ridging having superficial multiple stripes or furrows that has ridges that affect the superficial layers of the toe nail plate. There might be some chipping at the distal or free end of the nail plate as a consequence of fragility of the nail. Onychorrhexis is usually a normal part of getting older and it is quite normal in older people and in these cases the appearance is generally of no consequences. Even though it is connected with getting older, it could be connected with an underpinning medical problem. Just how bad the longitudinal ridging will be will depend on exactly how much injury is done to the nail growing area within the bottom of the toenail exactly where it grows from by the underpinning medical condition which is triggering this. Onychorrhexis isn't painful however as a consequence of ridging this chipping on the distal edge of the nail plate may bring about splits in the toe nail that can become painful. Some of the health problems that could cause the toenail to go similar to this include lichen planus, skin psoriasis; iron-deficiency anaemia, inadequate circulation, rheumatoid arthritis, anorexia nervosa or bulimia, pityriasis rubra pilaris, zinc deficit and a toenail condition called trachyonychia. Picking at the toe nails or nail biting can lead to this and so might the consistent use of nail polish remover also be an issue. A tinea infection with the nail plate might also offer a very much the same appearance.

The treatment of onychorrhexis is typically not needed as there is nothing that can be done because of it as a regular part of aging. There may be some improvement in the appearance of the nail with the treatments for the underlying or associated disorder if that's the reason for the look of the toe nail. It is crucial that you take good care of the nails using frequent clipping of the toenails. When the amount of the distal edge of the toenail is maintained low and the toe nail maintained shorter, it will be not as likely that the free or distal edge of the toenail will break or crack. All concerns that might take place with the toenail is often due to local problems or systemic health conditions. It is crucial that the reason behind the issue is identified so the correct therapy may be given.

 

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