Find out more about common and rare skin conditions, the causes and symptoms and how we can help you treat these conditions
Discoloured, distorted or otherwise unsightly fingernails and toenails are common problems in people of all ages. Nail damage is frequently caused by injury, trauma or fungal infections. However, this may need further investigation to discover the true problem behind the condition. Nails can provide valuable clues about your overall health.
Nail Disease can often be a symptom of other skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and alopecia areata. In addition, an underlying internal condition can also be seen in the nails and might prompt further investigation (e.g. bulbous nails, known as clubbing, can result from disorders affecting the lungs, heart or liver).
Below is a list of commonly experienced nail problems:
There are many possible underlying causes of the problems mentioned above. Sometimes a diagnosis can be made without the need for any tests. Furthermore, fungal nail infections are very common; therefore a nail clipping can be taken for examination under a microscope to assess if a fungus is present. Sometimes a nail biopsy may be carried out under local anaesthetic; however this is very rarely required.
The treatment you receive will depend on the underlying cause. If your changes in the nail are due to a skin or medical condition then treatment of this problem will usually improve the appearance of the nails. However, improvements may take months to show as nails grow very slowly.
At The Skin Hospital our Speciality Clinics are run by dermatologists who have sub-specialised in a chosen condition bringing deep knowledge and specific expertise, however all dermatologists at the Skin Hospital are highly trained to treat this condition.
The Skin Hospital runs a speciality clinic dedicated to the treatment of nail disease at Darlinghurst run by Dr Johanna Kuchel.
Antifungal paints and creams may be used to treat infections affecting small parts of the nails. Topical therapies have little side effects; however, success is not guaranteed and may require many months of treatment.
Antifungal tablets (e.g. terbinafine, itraconazole, fluconazole) can be used alone or in combination with topical treatments and need to be continued for many months to have a beneficial effect. These tablets can interact with other medications and may not be appropriate in some patients. Therefore, it is important to update the treating dermatologist with your relevant medical conditions. Blood tests may be needed prior to starting treatment and during therapy.
Lasers have been shown to effectively treat fungal infection in some cases, though there is somewhat limited evidence available for this treatment. Laser treatments are available at our Darlinghurst and Westmead sites.
We have a number of Dermatologist specialising in nail disease. If you are concerned, book your appointment with The Skin Hospital.