What causes nail problems?
Nail problems have a wide variety of causes including allergic reactions, trauma, side effects of medications, infections (including bacteria, fungi and viruses), diminished circulation, smoking, and illnesses that effect many parts of the body, to name a few. If the nail is elevated, or lifted off the nail bed, a space develops under the nail where water and germs may accumulate. Once under the nail, these germs find a perfect environment to grow – a warm, moist area with a continuous blood supply bringing a constant food source, encouraging germs to multiply. Only a qualified physician is able to determine the cause of lifting, or if an infection is the result of a fungus, bacteria, or a combination of both.
