Nail Problem! Not Fungus

[phoenixnik]

I have a problem with all my toenails and one thumbnail. I thought it was nail fungus, but I have seen my general physician and a dermatologist, but the tests turned up negative. They then said they had no idea what it was, but that it was probably genetic and they could not help me. But NO ONE one in my family has had any genetic nail problems other than fungal nails (my mom had that).

When my nails first became infected, they changed from the nail bed on out (I was told that fungus does the opposite, from the ends on in). There is general, uneven warping and lateral ridges with these nails and parts of them have shapeless white splotches.

There is no pain, reddness, or yellowing, but they still are very unsightly.

Does anyone know what this might be? Or any awesome dermatologist in South Orange County, California that might be able to help me better?

[phoenixnik]

I should also make clear that my nails haven't suffered any trauma. I've had the toenail problem for 10 years and the thumbnail problem for about 6 months.

I'm also young (28), so I know that it doesn't have to do with age. Finally, I always take multivitamins, so I know it's not a vitamin deficiency. Thanks!

[phoenixnik]

Last post, I promise. I just want to paint the best picture.

The nails also appear 'waxy' and the white spotches are cloudy and are not Leuconychia. (The spotches only appear on the infected nails.)

[Marti]

[url="http://www.dermnet.com/nailClinic"]www.dermnet.com/nailClinic[/url]

Try this link! You might have a yeast infection which does not always respond to a culture like a true fungus, even though it is a form of fungus. You could also be developing ridging or 'beading' from an iron-deficiency anemia.

There are some other good nail disorder links at the bottom of my nail diseases/disorders page.
[url="http://www.hooked-on-nails.com/naildiseases"]www.hooked-on-nails.com/naildiseases[/url]

[Marti]

[url="http://www.dermnet.com/nailClinic/NewFiles/proximalSubungual.html"]http://www.dermnet.com/nailClinic/NewFiles/proximalSubungual.html[/url]

If the nails look like this, print out the photo and take it to your doctor. Please realize that these photographs are usually the 'worse case' scenarios, but it was the closest I could find to what you were describing. It is a fungus type infection that begins in the matrix of the nail, vs. beginning at the free edge.