Onycholysis is the progressive and painless separation of a nail from its location. The most common cause is trauma, but other factors can cause this phenomenon. Consult your doctor to determine the cause of your problem. If onycholysis occurs as a symptom of another condition, your doctor will help you treat it so your nails can heal. If, on the other hand, it was caused by an injury or by prolonged exposure to moisture or chemicals, it will likely disappear with the proper treatments and some preventative measures.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Determine the Cause
Step 1. See your doctor if you notice symptoms of onycholysis
The doctor should be able to determine the cause of the problem after examining the nails. It can also take a tissue sample from under your nails to test it for fungus or other infections. Go to the doctor if:
- One or more nails have lifted from the fingers;
- The border between the finger and the outer white part of the nail is not uniform;
- A large part of the nail is dull or discolored;
- A nail is deformed, with indentations or bent edges.
Step 2. Tell your doctor what medications you are taking
Some medicines can cause the nails to react when exposed to the sun, causing them to stick out of the fingers. Drugs from the category of psolarenes, tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones are the ones that cause this problem most often. Tell your doctor about your prescriptions and over-the-counter medications you are taking to rule out this potential cause.
Step 3. Tell your doctor if you have a history of psoriasis or other skin problems
Tell him if you have been diagnosed with psoriasis in the past, as it can lead to onycholysis. If not, tell your doctor about any skin problems you have recently noticed. Symptoms of psoriasis include:
- Dry, cracked, or bleeding skin
- Red patches on the skin
- Silver flakes on the skin;
- Skin that itches, burns, or hurts.
Step 4. Report all recent injuries to your hands and feet to your doctor
Trauma to the fingers can cause progressive and painless onycholysis. Tell your doctor if you have injured yourself near your nails. Include impact injuries and puncture injuries with cut or torn toenails.
Injuries range from minor accidents, such as hitting your toe against a table, to more serious ones, such as pinching your fingers in a car door
Step 5. Consider all possible environmental causes
Exposure to stressful agents can damage nails, leading to onycholysis over time. Consider your cleaning and hygiene habits, as well as physical activity, to understand what may be causing it. Environmental or occupational factors include:
- Prolonged periods in the water (for example, swimming or washing dishes often);
- Regular use of nail polish, artificial nails or acetone;
- Frequent exposure to chemicals, such as cleaning products;
- Walk in closed heeled shoes.
Method 2 of 3: Treat Onycholysis
Step 1. Trim the nail to prevent further trauma
Fingernails separated from the fingers are vulnerable to other injuries. Ask your doctor if he can remove the separated part of the nail in the clinic. Doing this on your own can lead to more serious pain, infection, or injury.
If you have an infection under your toenail, removing it allows you to apply the drug directly to the bare finger
Step 2. Use antifungal medication if onycholysis is caused by a fungus
Before the nail can grow back, you need to get rid of the fungi and bacteria that are underneath it. If you are diagnosed with such an infection, your doctor will prescribe an antifungal medication to take orally or topically. Take the medicine exactly as directed until a new healthy nail begins to grow.
- You should take the medications by mouth for 6-24 weeks depending on the severity and nature of the infection.
- Creams or ointments should be applied to the finger daily, and improvements are usually slower.
- Oral medications are usually more effective than topical medications, but they come with other risks, such as liver damage.
- Get a follow-up visit after 6-12 weeks of treatment.
Step 3. Ask your doctor about possible treatments for psoriasis
This condition is a common cause of onycholysis and can be treated in many different ways. Discuss options with your doctor to decide which one is most effective for you. Choices include:
- Oral medications such as methotrexate, cyclosporine and retinoids;
- Topical treatments such as corticosteroids, synthetic vitamin D, anthralin, calcineurin inhibitors, salicylic acid and topical retinoids;
- Phototherapy treatments, such as UVB phototherapy, narrow band UVB phototherapy and excimer laser therapies;
- Alternatively, natural treatments such as aloe vera, fish oil and topical applications of mahonia.
Step 4. Ask your doctor about supplements if you are deficient in vitamins and minerals
This deficiency can make nails weak, brittle and limit their ability to regenerate after onycholysis. Ask your doctor if you should be taking supplements to help your nails return as strong as before. Iron in particular can strengthen nails.
- Biotin, a B vitamin, can also help improve the condition of your nails.
- Taking a multivitamin every day helps you make sure you are meeting the need for vitamins your body needs to stay healthy.
- Your doctor may also suggest dietary changes to increase the levels of certain minerals or vitamins.
Step 5. Treat your nails with a prescription desiccant when they get wet
To protect them from excess moisture while they heal, apply a desiccant to your feet or hands when you bathe them. Ask your doctor if they can prescribe a 3% alcohol thymol desiccant. You should apply this substance directly to the nails with a dropper or brush.
You should use desiccants for 2-3 months while your nails are healing
Method 3 of 3: Preventing Onycholysis
Step 1. Keep your nails clean and dry
Prevent bacteria and fungus from growing under your nails by washing them often throughout the day. Use a mild hand soap and rinse well. Make sure you dry them very well after washing.
Step 2. Wear the right size shoes
Shoes that are too small put pressure on the toenails and increase the likelihood of them suffering trauma. Prolonged trauma to the nails will lead to onycholysis.
Step 3. Do not wear damp or wet shoes for a long time
Wet feet can be attacked by fungi, which cause onycholysis. Wear waterproof footwear or boots if you are walking or exercising in the wet. Remove your socks and shoes after sweating to prevent bacteria from growing.
- Allow your shoes to air dry when they get wet.
- If you exercise frequently, you can purchase several pairs of sneakers to avoid wearing wet ones.
Step 4. Put on gloves when cleaning or washing
Prolonged exposure to chemicals and frequent immersion in water can cause onycholysis. Protect your hands with rubber gloves when cleaning the house, washing dishes, or doing similar activities. Gloves also protect long nails from injuries when you do housework.
Step 5. Keep your nails short and clean
Long nails retain moisture and bacteria better, so they are exposed to a greater risk of onycholysis. To prevent this, cut your nails often so they are short and neat. To do this, use a clean nail clipper and a file to make the edges smooth.
