Nail Diseases & Disorders

Sometimes called furrows or corrugations, visible depressions running across the width of the natural nail plate.

• Beau's lines

• Eggshell nails

• Hangnail

• Koilonychia

Usually caused by a lack of circulating oxygen in the red blood cells.; may also represent a high level of an abnormal form of hemoglobin in the circulation.

• Eggshell nails

• Blue nails

• Onychia

• Onychomycosis

A condition in which a blood clot forms under the nail plate, causing a dark purplish spot; usually due to small injuries to the nail bed.

• Blue nails

• Bruised nail beds

• Onychauxis

• Koilonychia

Nails that turn a variety of colors; caused by surface stains from nail polish, foods, dyes, or smoking. Could also be caused by an internal discoloration of the nail plate due to biological, medical, or even pharmaceutical reasons.

• Discolored nails

• Blue fingernails

• Bruised nail beds

• Eggshell nails

Noticeably thin, white nail plates that are more flexible than normal; normally weaker and can curve over the free edge. Usually caused by improper diet, hereditary factors, internal disease, or medication.

• Hangnail

• Leukonychia

• Plicatured nail

• Eggshell nails

A condition in which the living skin around the nail plate splits and tears.

• Plicatured nail

• Leukonychia

• Hangnail

• Onychorrhexis

Soft spoon nails with a concave shape that appear scooped out. The depression is usually large enough to hold a drop of liquid.

• Melanonychia

• Leukonychia

• Koilonychia

• Onychia

Also known as white spots, are whitish discolorations of the nails, usually caused by minor injury to the nail matrix.

• Koilonychia

• Leukonychia

• Melanonychia

• Onychia

Darkening of the fingernails or toenails. May be seen as a black band within the nail plate extending from the base to the free edge.

• Discolored nails

• Bruised nail bed

• Melanonychia

• Blue nails

Bitten nails, is the result of a habit of chewing the nail or the hardened, damaged skin surrounding the nail plate.

• Onychophagy

• Onychorrhexis

• Onychauxis

• Onychomycosis