Nail Diseases

Is influenced by nutrition, general

health, & disease

Nail Diseases
Determining the difference between a
nail disease and a nail disorder is very
important, because they are not the
same and require different types of
attention.
The Basic Manicure/Pedicure Rule: If the
nail or skin is infected, inflamed, broken
or swollen, do not work on it-particularly, if the cause is unknown.

Nail Diseases

A disease or infection will have evidence of pus,

inflammation and infection. If an infection is
present in the nail, your health advisor should be
consulted. Do not manicure/pedicure these nails.
A disorder is a condition caused by an injury or
an imbalance in the body.
The condition of one's nails and hair is often an
outward manifestation of inward nutrition. What
we do to our bodies is one thing; how our bodies
respond is often based on the nutrients with
which it has been supplied.

Nail disorders and diseases

Nail disorders and diseases are certainly not
the most glamorous portion of your training
in cosmetology, but they could be one of the
most critical
If the area to be worked on is inflamed,
infected, broken, or swollen, it should be
referred to a physician

Onychosis

Onychosis: any disease, disorder, or condition of the

nail.
1. To protect yourself and the client nail services
should not be performed.
2. If a disease is present, the client must be referred to
a physician.
3. If a disorder is present, a nail service may be done
with extra care.
4. If a condition is present, nail services can be
performed with the proper techniques, products, and
nutrition.

Onychosis

Determine Onychosis
1. Identify the disease, disorder, or condition.
2. Identify etiology or cause of the disease, disorder,
or condition; which could be internally,
environmentally or or disease related.
3. Identify the onychosis (diagnosis) and give an
outlook (prognosis).
4. Suggest home care products and treatments.

Analyze the Hands

When you are examining the hands and
nails there are six signs of infection to
look for; pain, swelling, redness, local
fever, throbbing, and pus.
If any of these signs are present, you
cannot perform services, but instead
refer that person to a physician.

Key Point: Any person with a nail disease

must be referred to a physician

Key Point: Clients with a nail disorder may

receive a service unless infection is present.

Nail Growth

Grows forward, starting at

matrix & extending over
digit tip
Grows in a variety of
shapes
Average growth is 1/8
per month
Grows faster in summer
than winter

Children's nails grow

faster than adults
Middle finger nail grows
fastest
Thumbnail grows slowest
Toenails grow slower than
fingernails, but are harder
& thicker

Nail Malformation
Disease, injury or infection can affect the
formation of the nails
If matrix remains in good condition, a
normal nail will be replaced
Replacement normally takes four to six
months

Nail Disorders
A condition caused by injury to the nail or
disease or imbalance in the body
You must recognize those conditions you
can treat & those which must be referred to
a physician

if

the area to be worked on is inflamed,

infected, broken, or swollen, refer to a
physician

Nail Disorders

Blue or discolored nails

caused

by poor blood circulation, a heart

disorder, or topical & oral medications
discoloration may indicate the presence of a
systemic disorder

clients can benefit from regular manicures w/ polish,

artificial tips or wraps

Bruised nails

Caused by a blood clot forming under the

nail plate resulting in a dark purplish spot
due

to injury
treat gently, avoid pressure

Eggshell nails

Noticeably thin, white

nail plate & more flexible than normal
Nail separates from nail bed & curves at free edge
Caused by improper diet, internal disease,
medication, or nervous disorders
Be very careful & gentle as these nails are fragile
& break easily
Use fine emery board, no metal pusher

Corrugations ( wavy ridges )

Caused by uneven growth of nails

usually

a result of illness or injury

Carefully buff nails

Use ridge filler w/ colored polish to give
smooth look

Furrows ( depressions )
Can run lengthwise or
Crosswise
Result from illness,
injury to cells or
matrix , pregnancy or
stress
Fragile

Hangnail or agnail

Condition where the

cuticle splits around
the nail
Caused by dryness
of cuticle, cutting
off too much cuticle
or carelessly
removing cuticle
tissue

Leukonychia
White spots, whitish discoloration
Caused by injury to base of nail
Will grow off and not a sign of disease

Melanonychia
Darkening of fingernails or
toenails
Black band under or within
the nail plate, extending
from the base to the free
edge
Melanocytes (pigment cells)
within the matrix bed

Onychatrophia
Atrophy or wasting away
of the nail
Nail loses its luster,
becomes smaller &
sometimes is shed
entirely
Injury or disease might
account for this nail
irregularity

Onychauxis or hypertrophy

Overgrowth of nail, usually in thickness rather than length

Caused by local infection or internal imbalance but can
also be hereditary

Onychophagy
Bitten nails
Result of
nervous habit
Help client to
overcome this
habit by offering
frequent
manicures

Onychorrhexis

Abnormal brittleness
with striation (lines) of
nail plate
Injury to the finger,
careless filing of the
nails, vit deficiencies,
illness, frequent
exposure to strong soap
and water and excessive
use of cuticle solvents
and nail polish removers
can cause this disorder

Plicatured nail folded nail

Surface of nail is
generally flat while
one or both of the
edges of the plate are
folded at an angle of
90 degrees or more
down into the softtissue nail margins
Result from injury
that deforms the
matrix bed

Pterygium
Forward growth of the eponychium (cuticle),
with adherence to the surface of the nail
Usually this disorder is reversible
Do not push cuticle back, this will cause
more injury to the tissues

Tile-shaped
Increased crosswise
curvature throughout
the nail plate
Caused by an increased
curvature of the matrix
bed itself
Borders are parallel to
each other

Trumpet or pincer nail

Disorder in which the

edges of the nail plate
curl around to form the
shape of a trumpet or
cone at the free edge
Nail bed becomes
constricted and may be
painful

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Bacterial infection
Discoloration is actually a bacterial
infection that is naturally occurring bacteria
on our skin but can grow out of control and
cause an infection under certain conditions
Caused by the use of implements that are
contaminated with bacteria

Pseudomonas aeruginosaa
Maybe avoided by strict sanitary
precautions
Do no take shortcuts or omit any of the
sanitation steps when performing an
artificial nail service
Do not perform services for clients who are
suspected off having fungus on their nails

Pseudomonas aeruginosaa

It is easily killed by exposure to air

(anaerobic bacteria)

Onychosis

Technical term applied to any deformity or

disease of the nails

Onychia

Is an inflammation of the matrix of the nail with

formation of pus and shedding of the nail
Improperly disinfected nail implements and
bacteria infection can cause this disease
Can be caused by a skin opening that allows entry
of bacteria, fungi, or foreign materials
Be careful not to cause an abrasion or opening in
the tissues around the nail plate while performing
a nail service

Onychocryptosis

Ingrown nails, affect

fingers or toes
Nail grows into the
sides of the tissue
around the nail
Do no work on an
infected ingrown nail,
refer to a physician

Onychogryposis onychogryphosis

Thickening and increased curvature of the nail

Also called rams horn nail and is usually the
result of injury to the matrix
My be hereditary and can also occur as the result of
long-term neglect

Onycholysis

Loosening of the
nail without
shedding
Usually beginning
at the free edge &
continuing to the
lunula
Associated w/
internal disorder,
trauma, infection,
nail fungi, and
allergy to nail
enhancement
products, & drug
treatments

Onychomadesis

Separation & falling off of a nail from

the nail bed
Most cases, the cause is traced to a
localized infection, minor injuries to
the matrix bed, or severe systemic
illness
Chemotherapy treatments or X-rays
treatments for cancer may also cause it
When the nail is removed, a new nail
plate will form

Onychophosis

Growth of horny epithelium in the nail bed

Onychophyma

Denotes swelling of the nail

Onychoptosis

Periodic shedding of one or more

nails, in whole or in part
This condition \might follow
certain diseases such as syphilis, or
can result from fever, trauma,
system upsets, or a reaction to
prescription drugs

Paronychia
or Felon

Bacterial inflammation of
tissues surrounding the nail
Pus, along w/ a gradual
thickening & brownish
discoloration of nail plate
Runaround Paronychia
when the infection is around
the entire nail
Chronic Paronychia is most
often caused by a yeast
infection of the soft tissues
Individuals who work in
water a lot are prone to this
type of infection

Pyogenic granuloma

Severe inflammation of the nail

in which a lump of red tissue
grows up from the nail bed to the
nail plate

Tinea pedis

Medical term for athletes foot

or ringworm of the foot
Appear as isolated blisters or
in groups can spread over the
sole & between the toes,
perhaps involving the nail
fold & infecting the nail
Fungus infection of the feet is
likely to become chronic

Tinea unguium or onychomycosis

or ringworm of the nail

Tinea Unguium or Onychomycosis

or ringworm of the nail

Ringworm of the nails

Common form is whitish patches that can be scraped off
the surface of the nail
Second form is long, yellowish streaks within the nail
substance
Invades free edge & spreads toward the root
Third form, deeper layers of the nail are invaded, causing
the superficial layers to appear irregularly thin

Know your nails

Many cosmetology professional are interested in nails

because of the creative opportunities that can be explored
there
As with every other area of cosmetology, the creativity
must be rounded in a full awareness of the structure and
physiology of the body part with which you are working
Working on good, strong, healthy nails can be a pleasure
Working on unhealthy nails can be a danger, both to your
clients and to yourself
Begin with the knowledge and grow from there