Peeling Fingernails after HFMD

17 Mar 2015

Noticed that about 2 weeks back (i.e. early March, which is 2 whole months after I recovered), my fingernails have started to peel. No kidding.(Note: It could have been earlier but I could have failed to notice as my nails were painted for CNY).  

The uppermost layer is slowly dislodging itself from my nail and will fall off as the nail grows out. Sigh. Mum, who suffered HFMD with me, is also facing the same issue now.

Left Hand: 4/5 nails affected

Right Hand: 5/5 nails affected

In other HFMD related news, the skin on my feet have finished peeling about a month back (i.e. slightly after CNY). Now the skin on my sole is quite smooth again; no more cracked heel problems! Haha!

29 Mar 2015

Peeling is a slow and painful process...

The middle nail kept snagging on stuff so I decided to trim it...

Here's the trimmed nail.

26 April 2015

Terrible state of my nails before flying off for my Taiwan trip.

Left hand: 3 fingernails affected

Right hand: 4 fingernails affected

3 May 2015

Sad state of my nails after coming back from Taiwan. I had to trim a couple of nails OFF to prevent the nail from tearing laterally across even further. Sigh. Very little of my nail is left. The remaining layer is extremely thin, soft and brittle. I have difficulty washing my hair and typing on the computer. I suspect it will take another 1 - 2 months for the tearing/torn nails to grow out completely.

I am so glad my wedding is over if not I would be having such ugly nails!

Other Information

(Source: Medscape)

"Onychomadesis is defined as a painless spontaneous separation of the nail plate from the bed, beginning at the proximal end with subsequent shedding of the nail as the new nail grows. It can occur idiopathically, after trauma, or in association with serious systemic illnesses, infections and drugs reactions. The association between onychomadesis and HFMD was first proposed by Clementz et al, with recent studies of HFMD outbreaks in Spain and Finland providing further supporting evidence.

Onychomadesis occurs as a result of temporary arrest of nail growth at the nail matrix. Other possible mechanisms of onychomadesis in HFMD include inflammation of the nail matrix and intensive hygienic measures resulting in maceration, Candida infection and allergic contact dermatitis. No treatment is required for onychomadesis, and onward referral to specialist is unnecessary. Patients should be reassured that spontaneous regrowth of a new normal nail is usually seen within a few months."