Eczema's Impact: Unveiling The Connection To Finger Nails

Eczema is a skin disease that can cause nail changes, such as pitting (dents) or grooves. Pompholyx eczema, which affects the hands and feet, can cause swelling around the nail folds and skin around the nails. Paronychia, an infection of the skin alongside the nail, can also occur.

Eczema around the fingernails can cause bacteria infection and paronychia

Eczema is a common skin disease that affects around 5.5% of American adults. It is also known as atopic dermatitis and is characterised by red, itchy skin. It can affect any area of the body and is usually present elsewhere on the body in those with fingernail or toenail eczema. When eczema affects the hands and feet, it is called pompholyx eczema. Pompholyx eczema can affect the nail folds and skin around the nails (cuticles), resulting in swelling. Nail eczema can also cause pitting in the nails (dents that look like your nail was poked by an icepick).

Eczema and psoriasis are both chronic skin conditions, but they affect nails in different ways. Skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema (dermatitis), lichen planus or lupus can affect the nails. Abnormalities may include pits, grooves or crumbling nails. Unusual nail shape – such as the nails becoming concave – can be caused by iron deficiency. Nails can be affected by tumours – including squamous cell carcinoma, usually caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Melanoma can also affect the nail. These are thin lines of blood running along the nail bed. Causes include injury, severe anaemia, infective endocarditis (inflammation of the inner tissue of the heart) and certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Some diseases that can affect the shape, integrity and colour of our nails include: ...

Pompholyx eczema can affect the nail folds and skin around the nails

Eczema is a common skin disease that affects around 5.5% of American adults. It is also called atopic dermatitis and is characterized by red, itchy skin. There are multiple types of eczema, and nail eczema is one of them. When eczema affects the hands and feet, it's called pompholyx eczema. Pompholyx eczema can affect the nail folds and skin around the nails (cuticles), resulting in swelling. Nail eczema can cause pitting in the nails (dents that look like your nail was poké by an icepick), and requires treatment to avoid the worsening of the condition.

The skin lying alongside the nail can become infected with bacteria, typically Staphylococcus aureus. This infection is called paronychia. Symptoms may include pain, redness and swelling around the cuticle and yellow-green discharge. Treatment for paronychia includes:

• Antibiotic therapy (in acute cases)
• Chronic paronychia (where the condition is present for a long time) is more difficult to treat. In chronic paronychia, the nail may distort and become discoloured, and the skin may lift at the site of infection.

Skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema (dermatitis), lichen planus or lupus can affect the nails. Abnormalities may include pits, grooves or crumbling nails. Unusual nail shape – such as the nails becoming concave – can be caused by iron deficiency. Nails can be affected by tumours – including squamous cell carcinoma, usually caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Melanoma can also affect the nail. These are thin lines of blood running along the nail bed. Causes include injury, severe anaemia, infective endocarditis (inflammation of the inner tissue of the heart) and certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis can affect the nails

Skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema (dermatitis), lichen planus or lupus can affect the nails. Abnormalities may include pits, grooves or crumbling nails. Unusual nail shape – such as the nails becoming concave – can be caused by iron deficiency. Nails can be affected by tumours – including squamous cell carcinoma, usually caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Melanoma can also affect the nail. These are thin lines of blood running along the nail bed. Causes include injury, severe anaemia, infective endocarditis (inflammation of the inner tissue of the heart) and certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Eczema is a common skin disease affecting around 5.5% of American adults. It's also called atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is only one of the multiple types of eczema. Eczema is characterised by red, itchy skin. It can involve any area of the body. Usually, someone with fingernail or toenail eczema has eczema elsewhere on their body. When eczema affects the hands and feet, it's called pompholyx eczema. Hand eczema is common, and fingernail changes are more common than toe nail changes. Pompholyx eczema can affect the nail folds and skin around the nails (cuticles), resulting in swelling. Nail eczema can cause pitting in the nails (dents that look like your nail was poked by an icepick), and requires treatment to avoid worsening of the condition.

The skin lying alongside the nail can become infected with bacteria, typically Staphylococcus aureus. This infection is called paronychia. Symptoms may include pain, redness and swelling around the cuticle and yellow-green discharge. Treatment for paronychia includes: Antibiotic therapy (in acute cases). Chronic paronychia (where the condition is present for a long time) is more difficult to treat. In chronic paronychia, the nail may distort and become discoloured, and the skin may lift at the site of infection. Sometimes, the inflammation spreads from one nail to another. A range of micro-organisms working together are responsible for chronic paronychia.

Toenail problems can affect people of all ages, but tend to be more common in older people. Common causes of fingernail problems include injury, infection and skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Causes of toe nail problems include trauma, ill-fitting shoes, poor circulation, poor nerve supply and infection. Problems with toenails can be successfully treated by a podiatrist. Nails are made from a protein called keratin. This is the same protein that makes up skin and hair. Nails grow from cells that multiply within the base of the nail, then layer on top of each other and harden.

Iron deficiency can cause nail shape abnormalities

Nails are made from a protein called keratin, which is the same protein that makes up skin and hair. Nails grow from cells that multiply within the base of the nail, then layer on top of each other and harden. Different vitamin deficiencies can lead to various nail irregularities. Low iron levels can cause spoon-shaped nails. A lack of vitamin B12 can also cause nail irregularities. Anemia occurs due to a lack of red blood vessels. It can cause a person to develop pale or spoon-shaped nails. Nail irregularities that occur due to anemia can resolve once a person receives treatment for anemia.

Skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema (dermatitis), lichen planus or lupus can affect the nails. Abnormalities may include pits, grooves or crumbling nails. Unusual nail shape – such as the nails becoming concave – can be caused by iron deficiency. Nails can be affected by tumours – including squamous cell carcinoma, usually caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Melanoma can also affect the nail. These are thin lines of blood running along the nail bed. Causes include injury, severe anaemia, infective endocarditis (inflammation of the inner tissue of the heart) and certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Nail eczema can cause pitting in the nails

Eczema is a skin disease that affects around 5.5% of American adults. It is also called atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is only one of the multiple types of eczema. Eczema is characterized by red, itchy skin. It can involve any area of the body. Usually, someone with fingernail or toenail eczema has eczema elsewhere on their body. When eczema affects the hands and feet, it's called pompholyx eczema. Hand eczema is common, and fingernail changes are more common than toenail changes. Pompholyx eczema can affect the nail folds and skin around the nails (cuticles), resulting in swelling. Nail eczema can cause pitting in the nails (dents that look like your nail was poké by an icepick), and requires treatment to avoid the worsening of the condition.

Skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema (dermatitis), lichen planus or lupus can affect the nails. Abnormalities may include pits, grooves or crumbling nails. Unusual nail shape – such as the nails becoming concave – can be caused by iron deficiency. Nails can be affected by tumours – including squamous cell carcinoma, usually caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Melanoma can also affect the nail. These are thin lines of blood running along the nail bed. Causes include injury, severe anaemia, infective endocarditis (inflammation of the inner tissue of the heart), and certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Some diseases that can affect the shape, integrity and colour of our nails include: ...

The skin lying alongside the nail can become infected with bacteria, typically Staphylococcus aureus. This infection is called paronychia. Symptoms may include pain, redness and swelling around the cuticle and yellow-green discharge. Treatment for paronychia includes: ... Antibiotic therapy (in acute cases). Chronic paronychia (where the condition is present for a long time) is more difficult to treat. In chronic paronychia, the nail may distort and become discoloured, and the skin may lift at the site of infection. Sometimes, the inflammation spreads from one nail to another. A range of micro-organisms working together are responsible for chronic paronychia.

When in doubt, seek medical advice. Toenail problems can affect people of all ages, but tend to be more common in older people. Common causes of fingernail problems include injury, infection and skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Causes of toenail problems include trauma, ill-fitting shoes, poor circulation, poor nerve supply and infection. Problems with toenails can be successfully treated by a podiatrist. Nails are made from a protein called keratin. This is the same protein that makes up skin and hair. Nails grow from cells that multiply within the base of the nail, then layer on top of each other and harden.

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