Causes of Onycholysis
Identifying the causes of onycholysis is a critical step in treating it. The symptoms can lead to serious problems if left untreated, including gangrene and death. Luckily, there are treatments that can ease the pain and speed up recovery.
Nail injury
Depending on the type of nail and the extent of the injury, treatment for onycholysis and nail injury may involve removing the nail, cleaning the nail bed, and using topical antifungal medication. While this is usually not a quick fix, it can help you avoid recurrences of onycholysis.
The first step is to have a doctor examine your nails. This is because onycholysis and nail injury can be caused by a number of systemic and local factors.
The doctor may also order a fungal culture. This test will determine whether the condition is caused by a fungus.
If the nail is affected by a fungus, you will need to take antifungal medication for several months. A doctor may also recommend that you apply a topical antifungal lotion every day around your nail bed.
Onycholysis and nail injury may also be caused by trauma. This may occur due to a blow to the nail, impact injuries, or piercing injuries.
If you are unable to avoid trauma, you may need to consult a dermatologist. Onycholysis and nail injury can be caused by prolonged exposure to irritants, chemicals, or other substances. You may also experience an allergic reaction to nail products or products used for cleaning or maintaining your nails.
Onycholysis and nail injury can also occur if you have an underlying medical condition. If you have a thyroid condition, for instance, you may experience an autoimmune reaction to the nail. You may also develop Muehrcke’s lines, which may indicate Raynaud’s disease.
Onycholysis and nail injury are not emergencies, but they can be serious. You should see a doctor as soon as possible. They may also need to trim your nails.
Fungus
Getting a diagnosis of onycholysis is important because it can be an indication of a serious medical condition. A physician can help you determine if the problem is caused by a fungal infection, a nail injury, or an underlying medical condition.
Fungal infections cause the nail plate to peel away from the nail bed. It may take several months for the infection to clear up.
If the infection is caused by a fungal infection, your healthcare provider may prescribe antifungal medications. These medications can be topical or oral. Depending on the type of fungal infection, your doctor may also prescribe vitamin D or corticosteroids.
A doctor may perform a physical exam to determine if the infection is causing onycholysis. They will examine your nail closely and look for any other signs and symptoms. In addition, your physician will test your blood to determine if you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency. A complete blood count can help determine if you have an iron deficiency.
The doctor may also order a fungal culture, which will confirm the clinical diagnosis. A doctor can also perform a biopsy of your nail. In this procedure, a sample of the nail is scraped and sent to a laboratory for testing. If your nail has an infection, the laboratory will test the sample to determine the type of fungus causing your nail to peel off.
The doctor will also check for any other diseases that may be causing the onycholysis. Some conditions may cause the infection to spread to other nails. It is also possible for the infection to spread to your skin.
Some other diseases that may cause onycholysis are psoriasis and lichen planus. Regardless of the cause, the disorder should clear up after treatment.
Behavioral changes
Behavioral changes due to onycholysis can be a symptom of an underlying malignancy, and patients may be prescribed drugs such as chlorpromazine and oral contraceptives to treat it. A complete history of the condition can be helpful in identifying precipitating factors.
Various theories have been proposed to explain the mechanisms of behavior change. Many of these theories emphasize the role of the supportive external environment, while others focus on motivation.
Motivation is a key driver of volitional behavior. It helps individuals set priorities and allocate resources. It also allows for the processing of self-relevant information. Motivation may also focus on self-determination or enjoyment of behavioral outcomes.
Self-regulation is the process of actively controlling one’s behavior. It includes inhibiting automatic behavior and replacing it with a goal-directed response. Depending on the individual, the amount of self-regulation required may vary. It also varies over time.
Maintenance of behavior change is a challenging task. The likelihood of a person sustaining a new behavior depends on many factors, including motivation, resources, and context.
The five overarching interrelated themes from the theory-guided thematic analysis are behavioral options, resources, motivation, social context of action, and changes in self-regulation. They all reflect specific theoretical explanations of the maintenance of behavior change.
During the maintenance of a behavior change, individuals need to maintain a sense of relatedness with the new behavior. This is achieved through ongoing positive experiences related to the new behavior. Individuals also experience identity changes as a result of engaging in a new behavior.
A relapse may occur if the conditions for maintaining the new behavior are not met. The conditions can include exhaustion, lack of resources, and negative affect.
A life event is a significant event in an individual’s life. These events often relate to relationships and health.
Diagnosis
Unlike other conditions, the diagnosis of onycholysis is not always clear. A number of factors can contribute to onycholysis, including trauma, skin conditions, and systemic disease. It can also be caused by certain medications.
Onycholysis is a disease that causes the nail to separate from the nail bed. Symptoms include discoloration and a thickening of the skin underneath the nail plate. It may also appear as white, gray, or pink discoloration in the nail.
Some causes of onycholysis include tetracycline group medicines, trauma, allergic reactions, and psoriasis. In addition, a diagnosis of onycholysis can be made in patients with an underlying malignancy. A healthcare provider can determine if a malignancy is the cause of onycholysis by performing a nail-unit biopsy.
During the nail-unit biopsy, the doctor will scrape a small sample of cells from the nail. The sample will be sent to a laboratory for testing. The sample can be tested for fungus. If a fungus is found, the patient may be prescribed topical antifungal medication or pills.
If the doctor suspects an underlying malignancy, the patient may be prescribed chemotherapy. A complete blood count and thyroid test may also be performed. Symptoms of an underlying malignancy include bleeding or oozing from the nail.
Other causes of onycholysis include psoriasis, drug-induced melanonychia, scleroderma, lichen planus, and psoralen. If the onycholysis is caused by a fungus, the patient may be prescribed tea tree oil to treat the fungus under the nail. If the patient is diagnosed with a fungus, the fungus may be spread by skin-to-skin contact.
In addition to treating the fungus, treatment can also keep new nail growth attached to the nail bed. A doctor may prescribe topical vitamin D or corticosteroids to help treat the fungus.
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Health A-Z. (2022, April 26). Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/health-a-z-4014770
Harvard Health. (2015, November 17). Health A to Z. https://www.health.harvard.edu/health-a-to-z
Health Conditions A-Z Sitemap. (n.d.). EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/conditions/
