Most nail diseases are manifested by physical changes in the nail such as discoloration. Usually, this begins with a dark yellowish patch in the middle of the nail which can slowly spread and turn into a dull black stain.

Brittleness and disfiguration are also signs of nail diseases. There can also be swelling of the flesh surrounding the nail as well as itching, redness, and slight pain which can quickly turn into an excruciating ordeal if the infection is left untreated for a long time.

There are many different medications for the treatment of nail diseases. These can be availed of in the form of oral medications or topical applications such as ointments or lotions.

These treatments may be purchased in most pharmacies and skin care shops anywhere in the country. Before you attempt to self-medicate, though, you should first consult a doctor to determine exactly what kind of nail diseases you have.

You should also be aware of your allergies, as some medications may result in side effects if you have extremely sensitive skin.

One of the most common nail diseases is called acute paronychia. This is characterized by the swelling of the flesh and accumulation of pus at the nail fold. The nails turn into a dark yellowish shade and there is moderate pain in the fingertip upon contact with any object.

An effective treatment for this particular nail disease is the taking of oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. These will drive away the infection and reduce the swelling.

In case the swelling does not go down after a couple of days, you may choose to have the infected area pierced by a qualified medical professional in order to let the pus out and make the infection go away much more quickly. As this involves needles, it may not be the best option for squeamish individuals.

Another common nail disease is the chronic paronychia. This is caused by bacterial or fungal infections, eczema and other skin irritants. These nail diseases are more serious and need immediate medical attention.

To fight the infection, you must take oral antibiotics. Analgesics can also be helpful in reducing the pain commonly associated with chronic paronychia. Contact with water must be avoided as much as possible as this may worsen the infection in the area around the nail.

One of the worst kinds of nail diseases is dystrophy due to psoriasis. The nail and the tissues of the surrounding flesh gradually break down due to a severe skin disease.

Early signs of these nail diseases include redness, scaling and itchiness of the skin around the fingernail or toenail. Once you notice these symptoms, it is best to seek medical treatment right away as these nail diseases are very hard to cure.