The nail bed is the area directly under the nail plate and consists of two structures: the nail bed epithelium and the underlying dermis. The nail bed epithelium is epithelial tissue and is extremely sticky, gluing itself onto the underside of the nail plate, and holding it in place. The dermis beneath it holds onto …
What is Onychomycosis and what causes it? Onychomycosis is also known as nail mycosis, mold or fungal infections. The condition can be caused by many fungi which attack nails – Trichophytons and Candida are common species. The pathogen attacks the nail plate, usually from skin already affected, and the fungal cells destroy the nail keratin. Immunity …
What are calluses and corns and what causes them? Calluses are thickened epidermis and corns are smaller calluses, often deep and painful, which appear mostly on fingers. They can only appear in the areas of so called “thick” skin – soles and palms, where epidermis has more layers than the rest of the skin. Calluses …
Environmental and Sustainable Working Practices (UK) There are many ways you can reduce your impact on the environment and include environmentally friendly and sustainable working practices at work, whether you are operating as a mobile nail technician or as within a salon, these include: Reducing waste and managing waste (recycle, reuse, safe disposal) Reducing energy …
Health and Safety Regulations (UK) Whether you work as a mobile technician or operate as a salon, in the UK a number of Health and Safety Regulations govern how you work, how you report injuries and how you keep yourself and your working environment safe for yourself, your clients and the general public. These include: …
What is Leukonychia and what causes it? Leukonychia is a medical term for white discolouration appearing on nails. It is derived from the Greek words leuko (“white”) and onyx (“nail”). It can also be referred to as ‘white spots’ or ‘lines’. The condition involves the matrix cells. The white spots, lines or total whitening show …
What is Koilonychia and what causes it? Koilonychia, also known as ‘spoon nails’, is a condition in which the nails lose their convexity due to extreme thinning. The nails appear flat or spoon-shaped, which are thin and soft. The condition typically affects the nail matrix, nail bed and the nail plate. Usually, Koilonychia is a …
Medical Conditions There are a number of conditions, diseases and infections that require you to refuse service or modify your treatment plan, identifiable during the client consultation either through your new client questionnaire or investigation of client nails for contra-indications of disease. As a nail technician you can be exposed to infectious blood-borne viruses, such …
Common Nail Conditions Welcome to NailKnowledge’s Common Nail Conditions. This guide and information should be used for reference when you are faced with unhealthy-looking skin or nails. REMEMBER – as a Nail Technicians you shouldn’t diagnose, provide advice on unhealthy nails or try and treat such conditions, unless specifically trained, experienced and insured to do so. The …
What is White Superficial Onychomycosis and what causes it? White Superficial Onychomycosis, often abbreviated to ‘WSO’, is a condition where white spots are seen on the superficial layer of the nail plate; unlike Leukonychia though, these white spots can be filed off and are as a result of fungal infection rather than any matrix dystrophy. …
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