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 …
What is Hapalonychia and what causes it? Hapalonychia is also known as ‘eggshell nails’. A person with this condition will experience symptoms of thin, soft curved and brittle nails. The condition effects the nail matrix and the nail bed. Causes of Hapalonychia include malnutrition, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic diseases such as Raynaud syndrome, some medications and, also …
What are nail grooves / depressions and what causes them? The condition renders to the changes in the nail matrix and nail bed, which can be damaged or affected chemically, biologically or mechanically. Whilst slight vertical nail grooves / depressions on the nail are normal and highlight the ridges of the nail bed, there are …
What are hangnails and what causes them? Hangnails are either a small spike of nail within the lateral nail folds or, more commonly, a torn piece of skin adjacent to a fingernail or toenail. It used to be the case that we defined a hangnail as a piece of skin but a reanalysis of the …
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