Finger Nail falling off question - Nail Problems Message Board

JFO5000 · 07-30-2007, 10:35 PM

Hello everyone. This question is for my mother who has had a fingernail problem. First of all, she has arthritis and the finger with the problem is the middle finger of her left hand. For a while the nail of the middle finger seemed to be falling off or not growing properly, at times it seems to grow ok but then again falls/breaks off. The color of the nail is a light brownish color and only that finger is affected, all the other surrounding nails are fine and the other thing is she doesn't remember hitting her hand/finger if she did it would've happended a while back and has been wondering if takes that long for a finger to fall off?

I was just wondering if anyone possibly had something similar to this? and if arthritis may be a problem that could affect the fingernail?

Any help, links, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

Marti · 07-31-2007, 12:02 PM

A green to brown to black discoloration is classic for a Pseudomonas Bacterial infection. She should see her physician for treatment. Leaving it alone will only allow for the nail to lift from the nail bed and for the infection to remain active. Even after the infection has been 'killed', the stain (which is composed mainly of iron compounds) will remain and will have to grow out with the nail plate.