Nail Disorders Flashcards
Clubbing Definition/Etiology
Proximal nail plate has greater than 180° angle
to nail fold, watch-glass nails, bulbous digits
Clubbing
Associated Disease
Cyanotic heart disease, bacterial endocarditis,
pulmonary disorders, GI disorders, etc
Koilonychia
Definition/Etiology
Spoon shaped nails
Koilonychia
Associated Disease
Fe deficiency, malnutrition, DM
Onycholysis
Definition/Etiology
Separation of nail plate from nail beb
Onycholysis
Associated Disease
Psoriasis, dermatophytes, thyroid disease
Onychogryphosis
Definition/Etiology
Hypertrophy of the nail plate producing a
curved, claw-like deformity
Onychogryphosis
Associated Disease
Poor circulation, chronic inflammation, tinea
Onychohemia
Definition/Etiology
Subungual hematoma
Onychohemia
Associated Disease
Trauma to nail bed
Onychomycosis
Definition/Etiology
Fungal infection of nail (e.g. dermatophyte,
yeast, mould)
Onychomycosis
Associated Disease
HIV, DM, peripheral arterial disease
Onychocryptosis
Definition/Etiology
Ingrown toenail often hallux with congenital
malalignment, painful inflammation,
granulation tissue
Onychocryptosis
Associated Disease
Tight fitting shoes, excessive nail clipping
V-Shaped Nicking
Definition/Etiology
Distal margin has v-shaped loss of the nail
plate
V-Shaped Nicking
Associated Disease
Darier’s disease (keratosis follicularis)
Pterygium Inversus Unguium
Definition/Etiology
Distal nail plate does not separate from
underlying nail bed
Pterygium Inversus Unguium
Associated Disease
Scleroderma
Pitting
Definition/Etiology
Punctate depressions that migrate distally
with growth
Pitting
Associated Disease
Psoriasis (random pattern), alopecia areata
(geometric, grid-shaped arrangement), eczema
Transverse Ridging
Definition/Etiology
Transverse depressions often more in central
portion of nail plate
Transverse Ridging
Associated Disease
Serious acute illness slows nail growth (when
present in all nails = Beau’s lines), eczema,
chronic paronychia, trauma
Transverse White Lines
Definition/Etiology
Bands of white discolouration
Transverse White Lines
Associated Disease
Poisons, hypoalbuminemia (Muehrcke’s lines)
Yellow Naila Associated Disease
Tinea, jaundice, tetracycline, pityriasis rubra
pilaris, yellow nail syndrome, psoriasis,
tobacco use
Green Nails
Associated Disease
Pseudomonas
Black Nails Associated Disease
Melanoma, hematoma
Brown Nails Associated Disease
Nicotine use, psoriasis, poisons, longitudinal
melanonychia (ethnic)
Splinter Hemorrhages
Definition/Etiology
Extravasation of blood from longitudinal
vessels of nail bed, blood attaches to overlying
nail plate and moves distally as it grows
Splinter Hemorrhages
Associated Disease
Trauma, bacterial endocarditis, blood
dyscrasias, psoriasis
Oil Spots
Definition/Etiology
Brown-yellow discolouration
Associated Disease
Psoriasis
Herpetic Whitlow
Definition/Etiology
HSV infection of distal phalanx
Paronychia
Definition/Etiology
Local inflammation of the nail fold around the
nail bed
Paronychia
Associated Disease
Acute: painful infection
Chronic: constant wetting (e.g. dishwashing,
thumbsucking)
Nail Fold Telangiectasias
Definition/Etiology
Cuticular hemorrhages, roughness, capillary
changes
Nail Fold Telangiectasias
Associated Disease
Scleroderma, SLE, dermatomyositis
Temporary Loss
Definition/Etiology
Occurs without scarring
Temporary Loss
Associated Disease
Trauma (especially toenails or fingernails after
large subungal hematoma), Beau’s lins after
severe illness
Permanent Loss
Definition/Etiology
Occurs with scarring
Permanent Loss
Associated Disease
Lichen planus (pterygium), genetic abnormalities (rare)
