Chapter 9: Nail Disorders and Diseases

Tina Pedis

Technical term for ring worm. Red itchy patches of skin on the bottom of feet and/or between the toes.

Pyogenic Granuloma

Sever inflammation of the nail, in which a lump of red tissue grows up from the nail bed to the nail plate.

Paronychia

Bacterial inflammation of the skin surrounding the nail plate, causing pus, swelling, and redness.

Onychomycosis

Fungal infection of the natural nail plate.

Onychomadesis

Separation and falling off of a nail from the nail bed

Onycholysis

Separation of the nail plate from the nail plate and bed, often due to physical injury or allergic reaction.

Onychia

Inflammation of the nail matrix and shedding of the natural nail plate.

Pincer nails

Aka Trumpet Nails. Nail plates with a deep curvature at the free edge have this shape because of the matrix where the free edge pinches the sidewalls into a deep curve.

Ridged Nails

Actually grooves. Lengthwise. Caused by uneven growth of the nails, usually the result of age.

Plicatured Nails

Figuratively means "folded nail" and is a type of highly curved nail plate often caused by injury to the matrix. This condition may also be inherited. Often leads to ingrown nails.

Onychorrhexis

Abnormal surface roughness on the nail plate.

Onychophagy

Aka bitten is the result of a habit that prompts the individual to chew the nail or the hardened, damaged skin surrounding the nail plate.

Nail Pterygium

Is an abnormal condition that occurs when skin is stretched by the nail plate. This disorder is usually caused by serious injury, such as burns or adverse skin reaction to nail enhancement products.

Nail Psoriasis

Often causes tiny pits or sever roughness on the surface of the nail plate. Sometimes these pits occur randomly and sometime they appear in evenly spaced rows

Melanonychia

Is significant darkening of the fingernails or toenails. It may be seen as a black band within the nail plate, extending from the base to the free edge. A localized area of increased pigment cells, usually within the matrix, is the cause.

Leukonychia Spots

Aka white spots, are whitish discoloration found inside the nail plate, usually caused by minor injury to the nail matrix.

Infected Finger

Redness, pain, swelling, or pus; must refer to physician

Hangnail

Is a condition in which the living skin around the nail plate splits and tears. Dryness of the skin or cutting this living tissue can result in hangnails.

Eggshell Nail

Are noticeably thin, white nail plates that are much more flexible than normal. Normally weaker and can curve over the free edge. Normally from diet, hereditary factors, internal disease, over filing.

Signs of infection

Redness, pain, swelling, or pus.

Discolored Nails

Nails turn a variety of colors; may indicate surface staining, a systemic disorder, or poor blood circulation.

Bruised Nail bed

A condition in which a blood clot forms under the nail plate, forming a dark purplish spot. Usually due to small injuries to the nail bed.

Beau's Lines

Are visible depressions running across the width of the natural nail plate. Usually the result from serious illness or injury that has traumatized the body. The matrix slows down in producing nail cells for several weeks or months.

Normal Healthy Nail

Firm but flexible, shiny and slightly pink in color with more beige/yellow tones in some races. The surface should be fairly smooth and unspotted, without any pits or splits.

Nail Disorder

A condition caused by injury or disease of the nail.

Brittle Nails

When should nail hardeners always be avoided?

Splinter hemorrhage

Cause by physical trauma or injury to the nail bed that damages the capillaries and allows small amounts of blood flow.

Nail Fungi

Parasites; under some circumstances, they may cause infections of the feet and hands.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Naturally occurring skin bacteria can grow rapidly to cause an infection if conditions are correct for growth.

Onychocryptosis

Ingrown nails.

Onychosis

General term for any nail disease or deformity