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. …
What is Dermatitis and what causes it? Dermatitis is also known as eczema. The term represents a group of inflammatory skin diseases. In medicine, all terms with ending – TITIS – mean inflammations. Dermatitis can refer to any skin inflammation. Many unique factors may cause skin inflammations – biological, chemical, mechanical, physical and internal. All forms …
What is Psoriasis and what causes it? Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic, non-contagious autoimmune disease with periodic manifestations in the form of severe skin lesions and dermatitis. The skin manifestations are characterised by red itchy patches with white scales on top. The nails are often affected too. Symptoms on the nail surfaces appear as pitting …
What are splinter haemorrhages and what causes them? Splinter haemorrhages appear like wood splinters under the nail and around the nail edges. The condition begins in the blood vessels of the nail bed, along the ridges, and is caused by mechanical traumatisation, or by underlying diseases that involve blood vessels. This includes vasculitis, endocarditis, diabetes and …
What is Onychomadesis and what causes it? Onychomadesis is a proximal nail plate separation from the nail matrix and nail bed. There are a spectrum of conditions and diseases which may cause the condition. From severe infections and matrix traumatisation, to systemic diseases, drugs and chronic skin pathologies and bruised nails. The condition begins when the …
What is Habit-tic and what causes it? Habit-tic is a nail condition which occurs due to repetitive external trauma to the nail matrix. It can be seen as multiple deep horizontal ridges which run across the nail plate from the cuticle area to the nail edge. The condition can also be known as onychotillomania, habit-tic …
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