Peeling around fingernails

Introduction Skinning around the fingernails is a manifestation of vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C is a highly active reducing agent that is reversibly oxidized and reduced in the body and thus acts as a redox in the cell. It is related to the metabolism of phenylalanine and tyrosine. As a reducing agent (along with oxygen, ferrous ions and 2-keto acid), vitamin C activates those enzymes that hydroxylate procollagen proline and lysine to procollagen hydroxyproline and hydroxyl lysine. . The animal elastin hydroxyproline, which has scurvy, is becoming increasingly scarce. Vitamin C protects folate reductase, which converts folic acid to folinic acid and helps release free folic acid from folate conjugates in food. Vitamin C promotes the absorption of iron. A severe deficiency can cause scurvy, an acute or chronic disease characterized by hemorrhage, abnormal bone-like and dentin formation. In the northern pastoral areas where vegetables and fruits are lacking, or in urban and rural areas, artificial feeding is neglected, especially in rural remote areas, which are still caused by improper feeding.

Cause

Cause: Lack of vitamin C.

1. Insufficient intake, such as pregnant mother nutrition, children have a suitable vitamin C reserve at birth, cord blood plasma vitamin C content is 2 to 4 times higher than the mother plasma, so less than 3 months of infants with less onset. However, if the pregnant mother's diet lacks vitamin C, the newborn can also suffer from scurvy. Normal human milk contains about 40-70 mg/L (4-7 mg/dl) of vitamin C, which can meet the needs of ordinary babies.

2. When it is necessary to increase the metabolic rate, the vitamin C requirement increases. When the growth is active, the vitamin C content of the body tissue is sharply reduced. Premature infants grow faster and faster, and the amount of vitamin C is relatively larger than that of normal infants. It should be supplemented more.

3. Other factors such as long-term intake of large amounts of vitamin C, its catabolism and increased renal excretion to reduce plasma vitamin C concentration. If a large amount of vitamin C is stopped, scurvy can occur. Long-term use of large amounts of vitamin C during pregnancy, newborns may still suffer from scurvy even if they consume regular amounts of vitamin C daily after birth.

an examination

Related inspection

Necessary trace element detection blood test

Vitamin C deficiency can also cause scurvy. Early symptoms are: temperament, pale skin, indigestion, weakened resistance, etc. In the advanced stage, bone and capillaries are damaged, and in the bones, mainly subperiosteal hemorrhage.

1. Feeding history and clinical symptoms: artificial feeding infants do not add complementary foods containing vitamin C, or the lack of fresh vegetables or fruits in the lactating mother diet, or the lactating mothers are used to only pickles. The prevalence of scurvy (3 to 18 months), combined with some of the aforementioned non-specific symptoms and feeding history, can provide clues to the diagnosis of early scurvy. If the disease has progressed to a certain stage or advanced stage, it can be diagnosed according to symptoms such as swollen limbs, frog-shaped legs, gums and submucosal hemorrhage.

2. X-ray examination: X-ray examination of the long bones of the extremities is extremely important for the diagnosis of this disease. Take X-rays from the knees, ankles, and wrists.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of skin around the fingernails:

1. Nail tip retraction indicates an abnormal problem in the heart, liver or respiratory system.

2, fragile nails indicate possible iron deficiency, thyroid problems, impaired kidney function, blood circulation problems.

3, nails are brittle, soft and easy to wear, lack of nutrition, may show hyperthyroidism.

4, black nails and / or thin, flat, spoon-shaped nails, are signs of vitamin B12 deficiency or anemia. (If you touch your hands with cleansers or allergens, your nails may become dark or gray).

5. The nails are dark blue to indicate obstruction of the lungs, such as asthma or emphysema.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.