What causes nail cracking and delamination?

In daily life, if your nails crack and delaminate, you must pay attention. The main reason is onychomycosis caused by fungal infection, which not only easily leads to symptoms of cracking and delamination of nails, but also easily causes thickening and discoloration of nails, becoming particularly fragile, etc. This is also a great hazard to the health of the body. It is necessary to treat it in time with certain antifungal drugs, and strengthen prevention in daily life.

Common symptoms of onychomycosis

1. Thickening of nails: After the fungus invades the nail plate or nail bed, the keratin in the nail plate proliferates greatly due to the action of the fungus, and the accumulation of keratin causes the nail plate to thicken. The thickening of the nail plate also deepens the opacity of the nail bed. Generally, it can be 1 to 3 times thicker than a normal nail plate.

2. Uneven surface: Due to the accumulation of keratin on the deck or under the deck, and the damage of the deck, the surface of the deck becomes rough, uneven, and loses its luster. This unevenness may be either longitudinal or transverse. At the same time, it can also be understood that the main lesions of diseased nails are under the nail plate.

3. The nail plate becomes brittle and easy to break: As fungi invade the nail plate and nail bed, the keratin is dissolved under the action of keratinase, forming tiny keratin particles. The damaged nail plate lacks elasticity and toughness and becomes brittle. The keratin particles are in powdery form, easy to fall off, loose and become fragmented.

4. Nail stratification: The thickened keratin becomes dry, fragmented and brittle, and it is easy to fall off from between the nail plate and the nail bed, making the surface layer of the nail that was originally bonded to the finger flesh become hollow. That is, the nail is divided into two layers, the surface layer is separated from the finger flesh, and another thin layer of nail is separated and adheres to the finger flesh.

5. Lifting of the nail plate: Fungi and hyperplastic keratin accumulate in large quantities under the nail plate, causing the distal end of the nail plate to be significantly higher and appear lifted. At this time, the diseased nail becomes thicker, more turbid, and the discoloration is more obvious.

6. Deck atrophy: The deck is destroyed by fungal hyphae and spores. The proliferated keratin falls off from the surface in the form of fragments and is finally completely eroded, leaving only a few deck stumps.

How to take care of patients with onychomycosis in daily life

1. Prevent fungal infections

Experts say that if the nails turn green, there may be a bacterial or fungal infection, which will cause the nails to loosen. At this time, acidophilus should be supplemented, and yogurt is a good choice.

2. Do not cut the cocoon skin

When caring for onychomycosis, remember not to cut the calluses on both sides of the nails, as this can easily cause inflammation. If you have diabetes and notice inflammation on the sides of your nails, you should see a doctor because the infection can spread to other parts of your body.

3. Do not use alkaline lotion

In daily life, when washing hands, dishes or laundry, it is best not to use alkaline lotion, as it will harm your skin. Don't forget to apply skin cream after washing your hands or things.

4. Wear gloves

Doctors recommend that you wear gloves when doing housework, especially when washing dishes, doing laundry, and other tasks that involve contact with chemical detergents. Soaking your hands in excessive amounts of soapy water may cause your nails to loosen. Water makes nails swell, and when nails become dehydrated and dry, they tend to shrink, causing the nails to become loose and brittle.