The doctor named the causes of onychogryphosis and talked about the treatment of deformity

Onychogryphosis is a disease in which the nail plates thicken, deform and become brittle. Elena Pavlova, a general practitioner, naturopath, gastroenterologist, and geriatrician, told Izvestia on August 21 about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of the rare change.

According to her, this disease usually affects the nails on the big toes. They can bend strongly, taking a shape resembling a bird's claw or a ram's horn. The appearance of nails is changing: they turn yellowish, gray, or almost black due to the accumulation of keratin. Symptoms include stunted growth, pain and discomfort, especially when wearing shoes, as well as increased brittleness and a tendency to delamination.

Pavlova clarified that the development of onychogryphosis can be caused by many factors. One of the most common reasons is the constant wearing of tight shoes, which squeeze the fingers and cause injury to the nail bed. Mechanical damage to the nail, such as injuries sustained during physical activity, such as athletes or ballerinas, can also be the cause of the disease. Improper pedicure or prolonged exposure to nails can contribute to the development of onychogryphosis.

"Over the years, toenails can naturally become thicker and more brittle — there is a violation of blood circulation in the extremities, a decrease in metabolic rate and natural dystrophic processes that affect nails, among other things," said the doctor.

In addition, the specialist emphasized, onychogryphosis can be a manifestation of yellow nail syndrome, a condition that is associated with diseases of the respiratory system and lymphedema. Chronic inflammation of the nail roller, such as paronychia, can also lead to thickening and deformation of the nail.

To diagnose onychogryphosis, it is important to identify the underlying cause of its occurrence, because it can be either the result of injuries or a symptom of more serious diseases. Treatment should be aimed at eliminating the cause, whether it is changing shoes, treating dermatological or vascular diseases, or using drug therapy in the presence of infection, the pediatrician concluded.

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