Diseases of the Hair and Nails

Diseases of the hair and nails are treated by dermatologists.

There are many different causes of hair loss and there can be some very helpful treatments depending on the cause.  At Adult and Paediatric Dermatology staff are able to assist with diagnosis and management of hair loss. The first step is to make a diagnosis. Your doctor will take a history, examine you and run tests to help define if the hair loss is due to male or female pattern baldness, a nutritional deficiency, an infection, psoriasis or a condition such as alopecia areata or telogen effluvium. The doctor then explains the diagnosis and can suggest an appropriate treatment such as a cream, injections, medication or dietary changes depending on the cause of your hair loss. 

The nails can be affected by infections, autoimmune conditions and psoriasis. The nails can be a window into the body helping to identify underlying health problems such as nutritional deficiencies,  anemia and liver abnormalities. Green coloured nails can be due to a bacteria known as Pseudomonas. Soaking the nails twice daily in vinegar and water can cure green nails due to Pseudomonas - eliminating the need for expensive treatments or medications.