Nail health

Melanoma can effect nails too

Avoid Subungual Melanoma at ExtremitiesTypically when people hear the word Melanoma, they think skin cancer. Melanoma can also occur in the least expected parts of the body.

In addition to other parts of the body not generally exposed to the elements, Melanoma can be found on the palms and soles of the feet as well as underneath the fingernails and toenails.

Subungual Melanoma is a specific type of Melanoma that occurs under the nail bed, more commonly in darker-skinned people who were once thought to be the least susceptible to the disease.

As opposed to paler-skinned people, whose highest incidence of Melanoma occurs on the trunk in men and the legs in women, darker-skinned people tend to develop most Melanomas on the palms, fingers, soles, toes and 'Subungual' areas (under and around the nails).

The reasons these areas develop Melanoma are still unknown, since the most common reason for the cancer is overexposure to the sun, although a damaged gene, known as the P16 gene is thought to be a factor leading to Melanoma.

The tumours may appear as flat patches of darkened colour, slightly rounded masses, or elevated, often cone shaped growths. They may be black, blue or a combination of colours. The border may be irregular, and in about 50 percent of patients the growth is ulcerated.

Initially the most common indicator the Subungual Melanoma is present is generally the appearance of a dark coloured stripe that runs along the length of the nail plate, not across the nail. The mere presence of a dark nail stripe is not necessarily Melanoma. Signs and criteria that are concerning for Subungual Melanoma and should be evaluated at a health care provider include;

Hutchinson's Sign

The only treatment for Subungual Melanoma is amputation of the toe or finger. If you or someone you know exhibits any of the above symptoms, or fits the criteria for susceptibility to the disease, it is imperative to seek a professional skin examination with special attention to the palms, soles, fingers, toes and nail area.

Oct/Nov 2003 The Nail Business

Fungal Nail Infections

The proper term for fungal nail infections is Onychomycosis and it affects the toe nails more often than finger nails.  Fungal nail infections can be the result of a primary infection or they may occur as a secondary infection due to a previous infection or injury to the nail. 

More adults than children suffer from fungal nail infections and it is more likely to appear in older people, people with diabetes, or with auto-immune defficiencies and those with poor blood and lymphatic drainage.  People who wear enclosed and or poorly fitted footwear and people who play sport or walk and run a lot as well as people who use communal bathing and showering areas may be prone to contracting fungal infections. Another common way to contract a fungal nail infection is through cross infection from poorly sanitised pedicure tools and equipments.  AT EXTREMITIES® WE ENSURE THAT ALL OUR TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED ARE SCRUPULOUSLY SANITISED PRIOR TO AND AFTER EACH USE WITH PROPER SANITISING METHODS.

There are four recognised types of fungal nail infections:

(WSO) White Superficial Onychomycosis
This is a fungal infection which invades the nail plate and in time may involve the nail bed.  Initially, crumbly white areas appear on the nail plate which may eventually join and the whole nail surface becomes covered.

(DSO) Distal Subungual Onychomycosis
This infection is found underneath the nail towards the tip or end of the nail.  The infection is recognised by the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed with yellowish thickening of the nail plate.  A mass of crumbly matter gathers beneath the separated part of the nail.

(PSO) Proximal Subungual Onychomycosis
This is a fungal infection underneath the nail towards the cuticle or the beginning of nail growth.  This type of fungal infection is not common and seems to appear in patients with auto-immune diseases such as AIDS.

Candida Onychomycosis
A yeast infection of the nail.  People who frequently immerse their hands in water may suffer from the problem.  The yeast infection may cause swelling and redness of the nail folds.

Some symptoms may exist because of medication taken, injury to the nail, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and ageing of the nail. Correct diagnosis of fungal nail infections is important so that treatment can commence as soon as possible.  Although topical applications are suggested for fungal nail infections, sometimes they are not sufficiently effective and an oral medication can be prescribed by your doctor.