Acrylic - a transparent heat-sensitive substance used to make, among other things, false nails. Acrylic nails cover most of the nail plate; they are very hard and quite resistant to various environmental conditions. In the process of liquid acrylic nails applied to natural nails, and when they dry, false nails give the desired shape. With acrylic nails can mask their own brittle, thin nails. Artificial nails can be of any length; today they have become a popular fashion accessory - many women do buildup before the holidays, weddings, holidays - in other words, when they want to look particularly attractive.

Can fake nails acrylic harm natural nails?

If the capacity has been done correctly, acrylic nails, usually do not cause any problems. However, if they are too long or if the technology building was broken, there may be serious damage to the nail plate and nail dysplasia. The most common problem associated with acrylic nails - is a fungal infection that can begin to develop between the overhead and the natural nail (onychomycosis).

Those that has long acrylic nails, nail growth may slow down, because of what can be a serious deformation of the nail plate. As a result, there are grooves on the nails, the nails become thicker and change their color. In rare cases, the skin around the nails showing signs of dermatitis Dermatitis - what to do with the inflamed skin? . The condition can be complicated by a bacterial infection (paronychia). Proper care of your hands Hand Care - hide your age   nails and helps to prevent such problems, even if you are wearing acrylic nails.

What is a fungal infection of the nail

Fungal infection, or onychomycosis, may develop if the acrylic nail was initially not fixed, or if it is peeled off the nail plate resulting in damage. The fungus affects the nail plate, nail bed and the skin around the nail. Acrylic is an inorganic material, and it can not be infected by fungal organisms and any bacteria. But he often hides the first signs of infection, and one notices that with nails that something is wrong, only when there are serious and extremely unpleasant symptoms.

For the development and growth of the fungus requires three conditions - heat, humidity and darkness. Fungal infections most often affect the toenails because people wear closed shoes, ensuring these conditions.

If the build-up has been done properly, acrylic nails fit snugly to the natural nails, but in some cases the gaps formed between them well suited for the reproduction of the fungus. The fungus is spreading rapidly on the nail plate and may cause significant deformation of the nail.

Fungal infection Fungal infection: to prevent and defeat   nail loses its natural color and shine, it becomes thicker and brittle. Often under the nails appear powdery substance - is the result of the activity of fungi that consume keratin that makes up fingernails. If the infection is not treated, the nail will darken and eventually begins to flake off from the nail bed.

What causes fungal infection

The agents of fungal infection are dermatophytes, yeasts (such as Candida) and molds. The most common cause of onychomycosis - dermatophyte Trichophyton.

What is the relationship between the acrylic build-up and nail fungal infection

As already stated, incorrectly fixed acrylic nails are one of the factors contributing to the development of the fungal infection. Other factors might be damage to the skin around the nail, living in an environment where the air contains a lot of fungal spores (usually it happens in tropical climates), and repeated exposure to human pathogens. Fungal nail infections are often secondary infections; They can develop, for example, if a person is infected scratch nails another place - the groin or the feet.

How to treat fungal infections

To destroy the fungus causing the infection, commonly used oral medications (itraconazole and terbinafine) and medicated ointment (ciclopirox). The course of treatment lasts on average from six weeks to three months.

From natural resources can be used tea tree oil Tea tree oil Which effectively copes with dermatophytes, and yeasts.

For effective treatment, patients are advised to remove acrylic nails and do not build, at least until such time until all symptoms disappear infection. If no drugs do not help, you need to eliminate all diseases that can contribute to the development of infection - psoriasis, dermatitis, diabetes and circulatory disorders. Malnutrition (particularly, calcium and iron deficiency), so may be a cause brittle nails, because of which the fungus is easier to penetrate under the nail plate.

White spots on nails or Leukonychia (with the accent on the last "i") - this is a very common problem that most people are familiar from childhood. The appearance of these spots are not accompanied by any painful feelings, so people tend to consider them completely harmless and, in general, this is true. However, in some cases, their appearance suggests beginning malfunction in the body associated with a deficiency of certain nutrients.

Causes

• Injuries

The most common cause of white spots on the nails - a minor injury of the nail plate. In most cases they are produced as a result of damage to the base of the nail - the matrix, for example, if a man hit his finger on a hard surface, or hit it with a hammer. However, if the injury was severe, it is likely that a bruise under the nail is formed dark red or brownish color.

White patches usually appear after a minor injury, and sometimes even because of the very frequent manicure, including, for certain types of nails. Some people believe that in such cases, the white spots are formed under the fingernails - and, indeed, by visual inspection is difficult to determine exactly where the spot. In fact, however, the skin under the nail plate, which appeared as a result of damage to the spot quite well. By the way, between the time the damage or the matrix of the nail plate and the appearance of white spots on the nail takes time, so patients often forget about the injury, and believe that the stain appeared without any reasons.

• Allergic reaction

In rare cases, white spots on the nails may be the result of an allergy to the components of nail polish or nail polish remover tools.

• Zinc deficiency

Zinc is one of the substances necessary for normal functioning of the human body. The appearance of white spots on the nails may be the first and most harmless consequence of a lack of zinc. In severe cases, a deficiency leads to poor appetite, weakened immunity, hair loss, diarrhea, impotence Impotence - a female perspective on the problem And children - to the delayed development. Fortunately, the white spots on the nails zinc deficiency is usually formed when until such serious health problems is still very far away, and the lack of this substance can be easily filled.

• Protein deficiency

Most often on the protein deficiency indicates the appearance of horizontal bars in the nail plate, but sometimes it can also lead to the formation of white spots on the nails.

• Calcium deficiency

Many children on the question of why they had white spots on fingernails, their parents or grandparents confidently answered that it is caused by a lack of calcium in the body. Today, experts know that calcium deficiency - is only one of the possible causes of white spots, which is often popularly referred to as "blooming" nails.

• White superficial onychomycosis

This subtype of onychomycosis, a fungal infection that most often affects the toenails, but can sometimes spread to the nails and hands. This violation of fungal microorganisms lead to the formation of white spots, which usually appear first at the base of the nail bed, and gradually spread to the entire surface of the nail. If the infection is not treated, over time, the nail will thicken, but it becomes weaker and starts to crumble. If you suspect a white superficial onychomycosis should consult your doctor - only he will be able to accurately diagnose the disease.

In relatively rare cases, the appearance of white spots on the nails may be a sign of the following offenses:

• Liver disease such as hepatitis Hepatitis - the scourge of our time   and cirrhosis - one of the most dangerous disorders among the symptoms of which may be white spots on the nails;
• Kidney disease in some cases, lead to the formation of white or pink spots on the nails. Sometimes kidney failure Kidney failure - when treatment is vital   vast areas of nail plates become completely white;
• Anemia. This violation of the nails often become very bright, and sometimes they form white spots.

The treatment of white spots on the nails

In most cases, any treatment of white spots on the nails is not required - the nail grows gradually, and one spot simply cut or sawed using a nail file. To nail to grow up healthy and strong, they should be regularly moisturise - to do this several times a day to use lotions and hand creams, which include vitamin E. If stains persist for two months or more, and / or you have frequent New white spots appear, consult a physician.

If the appearance of white spots on the nails is caused by a calcium deficiency, you must include in your diet as much as possible of products containing this substance. Among them - a variety of dairy products (especially a lot of calcium in the hard cheese, yogurt and whole milk), sardines, soy beans, as well as calcium-fortified orange juice, soy milk, cereal porridge.

If Leukonychia developed due to lack of protein, eat foods rich in protein, such as turkey, chicken, fish (salmon, tuna), beef, tofu, legumes, yogurt, soy milk, seeds and nuts.

In addition, you must make sure that your diet as a whole has been a full and varied - only in this case, the substances that your body is not enough to be properly assimilated.

For the treatment of white superficial onychomycosis must be fairly prolonged use of antifungal drugs .  To treat this disease is very difficult: it is due to the fact that the blood circulation in the source of infection is relatively weak, the nails grow slowly, improvement becomes noticeably not once, and not all patients have the patience for long enough to carry out all the doctor's instructions .  However, modern antifungal medication gives good results - provided that treatment is carried out properly .  When white superficial onychomycosis, especially in the early stages of the disease, it is often sufficient preparations for external use .  They prescribed when the infection hit less than half the surface of the nail, and if the patient is contraindicated antifungal drugs for oral administration .  The most commonly used drugs such as amorolfine, ciclopirox, sodium pyrithione, ketoconazole (a part of the ointment Nizoral) and terbinafine (Lamisil ointment active substance) .

Features antifungal agents for external application are limited, because they can not penetrate deeply enough into the nail plate. Therefore, even a superficial onychomycosis using them is not always possible to cure. A more efficient and usually rapid acceptance is the antifungal agents in the tablets in combination with ointments. Currently, new drugs, such as terbinafine and itraconazole are increasingly used in place of older drugs such as griseofulvin. The course of treatment usually lasts for three months. The above drugs are relatively safe, although, as with any medication, they have a number of contraindications (especially heart failure Heart failure - when the heart is unable to cope with the work   and liver disease), and may cause certain side effects (e.g., nausea and abdominal pain). Before the course of treatment patients do a blood test - this allows you to make sure that they do not have any liver dysfunction.