Common Nail Diseases and

Disorders

Common Nail Diseases and Disorders

Nails are made up of keratin, the same protein found in our skin and hair. Healthy nails are indicative of good health and
are evenly colored and smooth to feel and look at. On the other hand, badly discolored nails, varied nail growth rate are
indicative of nail diseases and disorders. The clinical term for nail disease and deformity is Onychosis and is different
from skin diseases and requires the attention of a physician or dermatologist and not that of a nail spa technician. A nail
disease can be identified through subtle changes in the nail structure and health.
Unhealthy nail formations like ridges, clubbing, spooning, unusual thickness, thinness of nails, nail bed discoloration are
all associated with certain kinds of deficiencies of the body and diet and are indicative of many diseases like heart, lungs,
kidneys and liver. It is important that you identify and treat these problems at the onset to avoid health problems.
Some common nail diseases are:
Psoriatic nails characterized by roughened nails, damaged nail bed, discolored reddish brown nails, this condition
affects most of those who already have the skin condition psoriasis. The nail may at times also split from the nail bed.
Swelling and redness of the nails is also common. This condition needs the attention of a dermatologist and a nail tech
should not attempt to treat the client nails on their own.
Paronychia an infection of the nail fold which happens when there is a tear in the proximal or lateral fold of the nail.
This causes bacteria and fungus to enter the folds and causes redness, swelling and pain. This condition occurs mostly in
people who are over exposed to water and is very contagious.
Pseudomonas a bacterial infection between the nail plate and nail bed pseudomonas live in moist places and an
indication that the infection has spread deep is the discoloration it causes on the nails. An extreme infection may also
cause the nail plate to separate from the nail bed
Tinea Unguis also known as nail ringworm is a fungal infection and makes the nail thick and deformed causing
eventual breakage of the nail plate.
Onycholysis where the exposed portion of the nail is loosened beginning at the free edge and continuing to the lunula.
This maybe caused due to allergic reactions to nail products, fungus, trauma or as a side effect of drugs.
Onychatrophobia is a condition where the nail becomes small, loses its shine or may also shed altogether.
Onychogryposis is a thickening of the nail which maybe hereditary or as a result of neglect to nail hygiene. This
condition is also known as rams horns nails.
Onychauxis is a condition with a very thick nail plate caused due to internal problems.
Onychorrhexis a condition characterized by a vertical split or ridges on the nails. Usually inherited, this condition may
also be acquired by the usage of strong detergents and cleaning agents. The nail can usually be repaired through
treatments.
Koilonchia is a result of iron deficiency and the nail appears very thin and curves up.
Onychoptosis a periodic shedding of nails in part or whole this condition maybe caused by trauma, a side effect of
drugs, stress, fever or as a result of such diseases like syphilis.
Onychophosis is the growth of thick epithelium tissue on the nails.
Onychomadesis is the falling off of a nail from its bed as a result of either chemotherapy, injury or even a long illness.
The nail grows back as soon as the disease is cured
Subungual hematoma is the collection of blood under the nail due to injury or trauma. As this condition is very painful
the blood is often released by making a hole in the nail.
Pterygium is the formation of skin on the nail plate and is usually the result of some surgical procedure due to which a
scar tissue forms on the nail. It can be removed by a physician.
Melanonychia also known as nail moles are formed as dark spots on the nail matrix.
Petrygium inversum unguis where the live tissue is attached to the underside of the nail. This condition may be
hereditary or the result of nail enhancement treatments. Never try to remove this tissue on your own as it may cause
blood flow.

Nail patella syndrome is a genetic disorder which is characterized by skeletal and nail deformity. It usually occurs in 2
out of every 100,000 persons and is transmitted in the ABO blood type.
Other nail disorders like lunulae changes, changes in markings and color, discoloration of the nail bed, changes in growth
rate should all be looked into carefully by a physician as they signify various body disorders. Identified early, these can be
used to give you preventive medicine and treat any ailments you may have before they are out of control.

Ingrown Toenail

An ingrown toenail occurs when edges from a nail intrudes into the
surrounding skin. It most commonly occurs on the big toe as a result of
improper nail trimming or wearing shoes that are too tight. The condition
may cause pain and, redness, and can lead to infection. Trimming the
toenail straight across without tapering at the ends may help prevent
ingrown toenails. In some cases, a doctor or podiatrist may perform minor

surgery to remove part of the nail, the nail bed, and excess skin to correct
the problem.

Clubbed Nails

Clubbed nails are an exaggerated downward curvature of the nails that may
be indicative of systemic disease. Clubbing may occur in cases of cirrhosis,
cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease, congenital heart disease, and
other conditions. Some cases of clubbed nails are hereditary.

Discoloration of Nail Plates

The nails are susceptible to discoloration by a variety of agents. Potassium

permanganate is known to stain nails a brownish-purple color. Silver nitrate
will turn the nails black. The pictured stains are due to resorcinol. Nail stains
may not look very nice, but they are not dangerous.

Nail-Patella Syndrome

Nail-patella syndrome. This entity, also known as hereditary osteoonychodysplasia, is a genetic disease linked to a mutation in the gene
encoding transcription factor LMX1B, mapped on the long arm of
chromosome 9 (9q34). The manifestations include fingernail dysplasia,
absent or hypoplastic patellae, the presence of posterior conical iliac horns,
and abnormalities of the radial heads. Patients are also at risk for kidney
disease and glaucoma.

Leukonychia Striata

Leukonychia striata are white streaks that appear on the nails due to
trauma, manicuring, or certain systemic diseases. Often, the cause of
leukonychia striata cannot be identified and the white streaks resolve
without treatment. Some cases of leukonychia striata are inherited.

Leukonychia Totalis

Leukonychia totalis is an inherited disorder that causes discoloration of the

nails. Nails affected by the condition are largely white due to abnormal
keratinization beneath the nail plate. Inheritance of the condition is through
an autosomal dominant pattern.

Onychomycosis (Fungal Nail Infection)

Onychomycosis is fungal infection of the nails. Fungal nail infectioncauses

nails to become thick, white, opaque, and brittle. Warm, damp conditions
create a favorable environment for fungus to flourish. Locker rooms,
swimming pool areas, and showers may harbor fungus. Injury to the nails
may increase the risk of fungal nail infection. Wearing acrylic nails that trap
moisture may promote fungal nail infection.
Medical conditions that impede blood flow or depress immunity may
increase the risk of fungal nail infection. Diabetes and circulatory disorders
may impair blood flow to the nail beds, increasing the chance of fungal
infection.

Onycholysis / Lifted Nail

Onycholysis is a condition in which the nail separates from the nail bed. The
condition may be caused by infection or injury. The separated portion of the
nail may turn yellow, white, or green. Treatment consists of clipping off the
affected portion of the nail. It is important to keep the affected nail dry.
Gloves should be worn when washing or cleaning. Healing occurs within 2
to 3 months.

Alopecia Areata (Nails)

Alopecia areata can affect the nails causing pitting, splitting, and other
changes. The surface of the nail may appear rough or have lines or white
spots. Sometimes nail changes may be the first manifestation of alopecia.
One or more nails may be affected.

Melanonychia

Melanonychia is brown or black pigmentation of the nail unit. Melanonychia commonly

presents as pigmented band arranged lengthwise along the nail unit, and this
presentation is known as longitudinal melanonychia (LM) or melanonychia striata. The
most concerning cause of melanonychia is subungual melanoma, although a variety of
other causes includes physiologic longitudinal melanonychia, systemic disorders,
trauma, inflammatory disorders, fungal infections, drugs, and benign melanocytic
hyperplasias.

Bitten Nail

Brittle Nail

Splitting fingernails or onychoschizia is a widespread problem noticed by dermatologists.

Symptoms include brittle, split nails or soft, thin nails. Splitting fingernails is more common in
women. Fortunately, there are various ways in which you can deal with brittle nails to restore
them to a healthy condition.

Causes of Brittle Nails

Some of the causes of brittle nails are injury, infections, diseases, poisons, or medications.

Injuries to the nail from constant exposure to water or nail polish can cause them to
become brittle and peel off. The base of the nail could also get crushed and deform.

Fungal, bacterial, and viral infections could cause your nail to get damaged.

The diseases that can affect your nails are eating disorders, deficiency of biotin,
hypothyroidism, disease of the liver, lung or kidney, psoriasis, skin cancers, and aggressive
melanoma. Anorexia can also result in brittle nails, as cutting down on your food intake
drastically reduces the nutritional intake that your body requires to stay healthy.

Biotin which is a component of B complex enables your body metabolize amino acids
that aid in the growth of healthy nails. Biotin deficiency causes your nails to become brittle.
Getting it treated by a doctor should help, but if it is a chronic condition the brittle nails will
remain. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland is unable to produce sufficient
amounts of the thyroid hormone.

Contact with silver and arsenic could poison your nail. While certain antibiotics can
cause the nail to lift from the nail bed.

SHAPE OF NAILS
Round

This simple shape is perfect for short nails (even nail biters!),
extending only slightly past your nail bed and maintaining its natural
shape.

Square

If you want a shape other than your natural rounded one that doesn't
take a ton of effort to maintain, ask for a square shape with the tip filed
flat. You don't need much of an edge to achieve it, so it's great for
relatively short nails.
Rounded Square

This simple shape is perfect for short nails (even nail biters!), extending
only slightly past your nail bed and maintaining its natural shape.

Oval

If you have longer nails and desire a slimmer, more feminine look, try
this shape. Oval nails also make your hands look longer, so if you want
to slim the appearance of your fingers, this is a good option.

Squoval

As you probably can guess, this style combines the length of oval
nails with the contouring of square nails.

Ballerina

If you have naturally long, sturdy nails (or are willing to get fake ones)
and have the urge to try something unconventional, ask for this
shape.

Stiletto

While impractical, this nail shape is undeniably cool. But these long
talons can make day-to-day functioning a little tough. So if you want to
try it out, look for pointy press-on nails to experiment with beforehand.

Lipstick

This funky shape has a bit of a niche fan base. It could be fun for a
special event we just hope you don't wear contacts.