NAIL DISORDERS Flashcards
Appears bluish in color
Cause: Systematic problems of the heart, poor circulation or injury.
Prognosis: “Blue” color in skin under nails; can be solved if cause is eliminated; common in older people.
Treatment: Make client aware of problem and possible causes; suggest seeing a physician; manicure with caution, using light pressure.
Blue Nail.
Very thin, soft nail
Cause: Hereditary or nervous condition
Prognosis: Thin nails, almost see-through, transparent.
Treatment: Regular application of top coat, nail strengtheners or artificial nails as well as good dietary practices.
Eggshell Nails
Horizontal wavy ridges across the nail.
Cause: Injury, systematic condition; uneven growth.
Prognosis: Easily recognizable, if injury-related, it may grow out and disappear; systematic condition may cause permanent ridges.
Treatment: Lightly buff to level the nail surface; apply a base coat or ridge filler to protect and even surface. Avoid over buffing, since it is easy to thin the nail plate.
Corrugations (kor-u-GA-shuns)
nails with concave shape
Cause: Systematic or long term-illness or nerve disturbance.
Prognosis: Unusual nail shapes; unlikely to disappear.
Treatment: File carefully; apply no pressure to nail plate; use polish to harden and protect nails.
Koilonychia (koi-loh-NIK-ee-uh)
Spoon Nails
Indented vertical lines down the nail plate.
Cause: Injury to matrix that causes cells to reproduce unevenly; can be nutrition, injury or illness-related; pushing too hard with pusher during nail service or exposure to harsh chemicals.
Prognosis: Easily recognizable; may grow out; may be permanent.
Treatment: Lightly buff; apply base coat or ridge filler to protect and even out surface; perform nail service as usual.
Furrows
Increased curvature of the nails.
Cause: Systematic
Prognosis: Increased thickness and curving of the nail that may occur with age or injury to nail; most often occurring in the big toe; physicians may remove if severely deformed or difficult to keep clean.
Treatment: Look for signs of infection; clean well under free edge; file with emery board and keep nails short; only podiatrist should trim.
Onychogryposis (o-ni-ko-GRI-po-sis)
Claw Nail
Ingrown Nail
Cause: Environmental or poor nail trimming practices; can become infected.
Prognosis: If the nail grows into the edge of the nail groove cutting the skin or becomes deeply embedded and/or infected, refer client to physician who will remove the skin or portion of nail causing the problem. It may also occur on toes if shoes are too tight, or if the toenails are filed to deeply of sides.
Treatment: Thoroughly soften skin, trim nail straight across to prevent pressure on the nail groove. If infection is evident, do not perform services. Refer client to physician.
Onychocryptosis (o-ni-ko-KRIP-to-sis)
Brown or Black darkening of the nail
Cause: Increased production of melanin by melanocytes in the nail matrix due to trauma, systematic disease or medication.
Prognosis: varies according to skin pigmentation with percentages being higher in persons with darker skin color.
Treatment: Make client aware of the possible cause; perform nail service as usual.
Melanonychia (mel-uh-nuh-NIK-ee-uh)
thickening of the nail plate or abnormal out growth of the nail.
Cause: Injury to nail or systematic
Prognosis: Easily recognizable; likely to disappear.
Treatment: Can be lightly buffed to even out the nail plate.
Onychauxis (o-ni-KOK-sis)
Hypertrophy
