Diagnose Fingernail Disorders

If you think your fingernail disorder is serious, consult a doctor.

Fingernail disorders can be painful and aesthetically displeasing, or they can be dangerous and have more serious health implications. There are some self-check methods you can conduct to see whether or not your fingernail disorder is serious, and in some cases, some simple ways to prevent nail disorders. Always consult a doctor before taking any medication to treat fingernail disorders.

Instructions

Diagnosing Fingernail Disorders

1. Determine if the disorder is fungal. Fungal infections generally involve discoloration of the fingernail. If your fingernail is pink, you likely do not have a fungal infection. However, if the fingernail is yellow, dark brown or black, you may have onychomycosis, which is a fungal infection of the fingernails. Onychomycosis may also cause your fingernails to become thick to the point of discomfort. Visit the doctor if you think you might have onychomycosis, as it may spread to other parts of the body.

2. Check for nail psoriasis, especially if you have skin psoriasis. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 50 percent of people with skin psoriasis also develop nail psoriasis. Like onychomycosis, nail psoriasis will make your nails appear yellow or yellowish pink. However, psoriatic nails differ because air bubbles may also develop under the fingernail, which will eventually cause the fingernail to fall off if not treated. The nail will not thicken like it will if you have onychomycosis, but will flake off in yellowish patches.

3. Check for brittle and splitting nails. These are generally characterized by nails slitting down the middle or by nails becoming thinner to the point of pain. There are two general causes of brittle and splitting nails. The first is from the nails being constantly exposed to water and dried, and the second is due to a vitamin deficiency. A quick way to diagnose this is to see if your toenails have the same problems as your fingernails. If your toenails are fine, chances are this problem is not due to a vitamin deficiency. To avoid brittle and splitting nails, do household chores involving water with gloves, and use nail polish with nylon fibers as a base before applying other nail products.

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