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Health

What are green nails and how do I treat them?

February 22, 2005

What are green nails and how do I treat them?

Answer

The most common bacterial infection of the nails is due to pseudomonas, and is sometimes referred to as "green nails" because of the greenish-colored nail plate. Pseudomonas is generally caused from air pockets under the nail plate that allow mositure to get in and the green pigment-producing organism thrives in the moist environment. This is usually accompanied by onycholysis (lifting nail), so a dermatologist should intervene. You can advise the client to soak her nail in vinegar or a 5 percent household bleach solution several times a day for about four days. It will usually take several months for the green stain to grow out.

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What’s the cause of the pinkish-red oval area on the pad of my client’s toes?

I have a client who has a recurring problem with her fourth toes during the winter months. Both of her “ring finger” toes develop a pinkish-red oval area on the pad. Then a month later, when I see her again, the skin has become dry and hard like a callus, with the layers of skin peeling away to reveal a deeper, dark epicenter.  It’s extremely painful for her and, needless to say, we do not touch it. But it clears up in the summer when she’s wearing open-toed sandals, so I suspect it has to be due to the boots she wears in the winter. Plus she never puts lotion on her feet or uses a foot file in between visits. What do you think causes this?

What are the big white spots on my natural-nail client’s nails?

I have a client who has been with me for about two years. She used to wear acrylic nails but has been a natural nail client for eight months or so. She has these white spots on her nails — big spots that are dry, but not flaky, right in the middle of the nail. I did try to buff them lightly but they do not come off or grow off. I had a new client come in last week who had the same on her toenails. She said it started after she had a pedicure done at another salon. Can you help?

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