-
Annals of Medicine Dec 2022Nail conditions are not only aesthetic concerns, and nail changes may be a clue to an underlying systemic diseases or infection. Without timely treatment, nail diseases... (Review)
Review
Nail conditions are not only aesthetic concerns, and nail changes may be a clue to an underlying systemic diseases or infection. Without timely treatment, nail diseases can continue to worsen and significantly impair performance of daily activities and reduce quality of life. Examination of the nails is essential at every medical visit, and may uncover important findings. Brittle nail syndrome, onychomycosis, paronychia, nail psoriasis, longitudinal melanonychia, Beau's lines, onychomadesis and retronychia are common nail disorders seen in clinical practice. These conditions stem from infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic and traumatic aetiologies. Though each nail condition presents with its own distinct characteristics, the clinical findings may overlap between different conditions, resulting in misdiagnosis and treatment delays. Patients can present with nail plate changes (e.g. hyperkeratosis, onycholysis, pitting), discolouration, pain and inflammation. The diagnostic work-up of nail disease should include a detailed history and clinical examination of all 20 nail units. Dermoscopy, diagnostic imaging and histopathologic and mycological analyses may be necessary for diagnosis. Nail findings concerning for malignancy should be promptly referred to a dermatologist for evaluation and biopsy. Nail disease management requires a targeted treatment approach. Treatments include topical and/or systemic medications, discontinuation of offending drugs or surgical intervention, depending on the condition. Patient education on proper nail care and techniques to minimize further damage to the affected nails is also important. This article serves to enhance familiarity of the most common nail disorders seen in clinical practice. It will highlight the key clinical manifestations, systematic approaches to diagnosis and treatment options for each nail condition to improve diagnosis and management of nail diseases, as well as patient outcomes.Key messagesNail disease is not only a cosmetic issue, as nail changes can indicate the presence of a serious underlying systemic disease, infection or malignancy.Nail pain and changes associated with NP are physically and emotionally distressing and may contribute to functional impairment and diminished quality of life.LM is a hallmark sign of subungual melanoma and this finding warrants further investigation to rule out malignancy.
Topics: Humans; Nail Diseases; Nails; Neoplasms; Psoriasis; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35238267
DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2044511 -
American Family Physician Aug 2019Ingrown toenails account for approximately 20% of foot problems in primary care. The great toe is most often affected. Ingrown toenails occur most commonly in young men,... (Review)
Review
Ingrown toenails account for approximately 20% of foot problems in primary care. The great toe is most often affected. Ingrown toenails occur most commonly in young men, and nail care habits and footwear are most often contributory factors. No consensus has been reached for the best treatment approach, but ingrown nails may be nonsurgically or surgically treated. Nonsurgical treatments are typically used for mild to moderate ingrown nails, whereas surgical approaches are used in moderate and severe cases. Simple nonsurgical palliative measures include correcting inappropriate footwear, managing hyperhidrosis and onychomycosis, soaking the affected toe followed by applying a mid- to high-potency topical steroid, and placing wisps of cotton or dental floss under the ingrown lateral nail edge. Application of a gutter splint to the ingrown nail edge to separate it from the lateral fold provides immediate pain relief. A cotton nail cast made from cotton and cyanoacrylate adhesive, taping the lateral nail fold, or orthonyxia may also alleviate mild to moderate ingrown toenail. Surgical approaches seek to remove the interaction between the nail plate and the nail fold to eliminate local trauma and inflammatory reaction. These approaches are superior to nonsurgical ones for preventing recurrence. The most common surgical approach is partial avulsion of the lateral edge of the nail plate. Matrixectomy further prevents recurrence and can be performed through surgical, chemical, or electrosurgical means.
Topics: Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; Conservative Treatment; Humans; Nails; Nails, Ingrown; Self Care; Severity of Illness Index; Shoes; Splints
PubMed: 31361106
DOI: No ID Found -
Skin Therapy Letter Sep 2019Dermatology supplements, often marketed as “skin, hair, and nail” supplements, are becoming increasingly popular. However, many consumers lack an understanding of... (Review)
Review
Dermatology supplements, often marketed as “skin, hair, and nail” supplements, are becoming increasingly popular. However, many consumers lack an understanding of the science of dietary supplements or the specifics of the supplement industry. While certain supplements at the right dose in the right population may prove beneficial, the evidence is sparse for many supplements. In addition, the use of some supplements has resulted in serious adverse effects. From a regulatory standpoint, the US FDA recognizes dietary supplements as foods. This distinction has multiple ramifications, including the fact that manufacturers do not need to prove efficacy, safety, or quality prior to sale. Therefore, physicians and consumers must evaluate each supplement ingredient and formulation individually. This article outlines an evidence-based approach to assess dermatology supplements. As a starting point, all supplements should be evaluated for PPIES: purity, potency, interactions, efficacy, and safety.
Topics: Dietary Supplements; Drug Contamination; Drug Interactions; Drug and Narcotic Control; Evidence-Based Medicine; Hair; Humans; Nails; Skin
PubMed: 31584785
DOI: No ID Found -
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology Mar 2022Changes in nail color can provide important clues of underlying systemic and skin disease. In particular, white discoloration (leukonychia) has a high prevalence with a... (Review)
Review
Changes in nail color can provide important clues of underlying systemic and skin disease. In particular, white discoloration (leukonychia) has a high prevalence with a wide array of potential relevant causes, from simple manicure habits to life-threatening liver or kidney failure. Therefore, a reliable assessment of the patient with leukonychia is essential. In the past, two classifications for leukonychia have been presented. The morphological classifies the nail according to the distribution of the white lines: total, partial, transversal, and longitudinal leukonychia. Mees' and Muehrcke's lines are examples of transversal leukonychia, while Terry's and Lindsay's nails are examples of total and partial leukonychia. The anatomical classifies according to the structure responsible for the white color: the nail plate in true leukonychia, the nail bed in apparent leukonychia, and the surface only in pseudoleukonychia. In this review, both morphological and anatomical features have been combined in an algorithm that enables clinicians to approach leukonychia efficiently and effectively.
Topics: Algorithms; Habits; Humans; Nail Diseases; Nails; Nails, Malformed
PubMed: 35112320
DOI: 10.1007/s40257-022-00671-6 -
Autoimmunity Reviews Mar 2020Capillaroscopy is a non-invasive and safe tool which allows the evaluation of the morphology of the microcirculation. Since its recent incorporation in the 2013 American... (Review)
Review
Capillaroscopy is a non-invasive and safe tool which allows the evaluation of the morphology of the microcirculation. Since its recent incorporation in the 2013 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria for systemic sclerosis together with its assessed role to monitor disease progression, capillaroscopy became a 'mainstream' investigation for rheumatologists. Given its increasing use by a variety of physicians internationally both in daily practice to differentiate primary from secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, as well as in research context to predict disease progression and monitor treatment effects, standardisation in capillaroscopic image acquisition and analysis seems paramount. To step forward to this need, experts in the field of capillaroscopy/microcirculation provide in this very consensus paper their view on image acquisition and analysis, different capillaroscopic techniques, normal and abnormal capillaroscopic characteristics and their meaning, scoring systems and reliability of image acquisition and interpretation.
Topics: Humans; Microscopic Angioscopy; Nails; Raynaud Disease; Reproducibility of Results; Scleroderma, Systemic
PubMed: 31927087
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102458 -
The British Journal of Surgery Mar 2023Surgery for nail bed injuries in children is common. One of the key surgical decisions is whether to replace the nail plate following nail bed repair. The aim of this... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Surgery for nail bed injuries in children is common. One of the key surgical decisions is whether to replace the nail plate following nail bed repair. The aim of this RCT was to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of nail bed repair with fingernail replacement/substitution compared with repair without fingernail replacement.
METHODS
A two-arm 1 : 1 parallel-group open multicentre superiority RCT was performed across 20 secondary-care hospitals in the UK. The co-primary outcomes were surgical-site infection at around 7 days after surgery and cosmetic appearance summary score at a minimum of 4 months.
RESULTS
Some 451 children presenting with a suspected nail bed injury were recruited between July 2018 and July 2019; 224 were allocated to the nail-discarded arm, and 227 to the nail-replaced arm. There was no difference in the number of surgical-site infections at around 7 days between the two interventions or in cosmetic appearance. The mean total healthcare cost over the 4 months after surgery was €84 (95 per cent c.i. 34 to 140) lower for the nail-discarded arm than the nail-replaced arm (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
After nail bed repair, discarding the fingernail was associated with similar rates of infection and cosmesis ratings as replacement of the finger nail, but was cost saving. Registration number: ISRCTN44551796 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).
Topics: Humans; Child; Nails; Surgical Wound Infection; Treatment Outcome; Health Care Costs; Cost-Benefit Analysis
PubMed: 36946338
DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znad031 -
Indian Journal of Dermatology,... 2022Nail fold is one of the most accessible sites for studying changes in the microcirculation in various microangiopathies. The characterization of changes in... (Review)
Review
Nail fold is one of the most accessible sites for studying changes in the microcirculation in various microangiopathies. The characterization of changes in microvasculature can provide useful clues towards the diagnosis and prognosis of a disease. The diagnostic utility of nail fold capillaroscopy has improved and expanded over the past couple of decades. Beyond connective tissue diseases, it is now explored for its role in various systemic and dermatological diseases. Incorporation of nail-fold capillaroscopy in the diagnostic criteria of systemic sclerosis has generated interest among dermatologists. The current review is aimed at providing knowledge about nail-fold capillaroscopy to dermatologists. For the purpose of review, a PubMed search was done using the keywords "nail fold capillaries" and "nail fold capillaroscopy". All the articles were retrieved and classified into reviews and clinical studies of various types. The final data were then analyzed and presented in a narrative fashion.
Topics: Capillaries; Dermatologists; Humans; Microscopic Angioscopy; Nails; Scleroderma, Systemic
PubMed: 34877857
DOI: 10.25259/IJDVL_514_20 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Nov 2023Disturbances of the nail apparatus are common and mainly benign. This review aims to investigate the aetiology of these disturbances, which range from more common benign... (Review)
Review
Disturbances of the nail apparatus are common and mainly benign. This review aims to investigate the aetiology of these disturbances, which range from more common benign causes to less common melanomas. Melanonychia may be the most prominent concern and is characterised by brown or black nail plate discoloration. Hence, understanding the most common nail changes, their epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical features are imperative to diagnosis and may prevent unnecessary surgical procedures in cases where it is not warranted.
Topics: Humans; Skin Neoplasms; Dermoscopy; Melanoma; Nails; Nail Diseases
PubMed: 38018740
DOI: No ID Found -
Annals of Medicine Dec 2024As the world's population of adults greater than 60 years old continues to increase, it is important to manage nail disorders that may impact their daily lives. Nail... (Review)
Review
As the world's population of adults greater than 60 years old continues to increase, it is important to manage nail disorders that may impact their daily lives. Nail disorders may have significant impact on quality of life due to decreased functionality, extreme pain, or social embarrassment. In this review, we discuss nail disorders affecting older patients, including physiologic, traumatic, drug-induced, infectious, environmental, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions. Diagnosis of these conditions involves a detailed history, physical examination of all 20 nails, and depending on the condition, a nail clipping or biopsy and/or diagnostic imaging. Nails grow even more slowly in older adults compared to younger individuals, and therefore it is important for accurate diagnosis, and avoidance of inappropriate management and delay of treatment. Increased awareness of nail pathologies may help recognition and management of nail conditions in older adults.
Topics: Humans; Nail Diseases; Aged; Nails; Quality of Life; Middle Aged; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 38738374
DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2336989 -
Indian Journal of Dermatology,... 2017Onychoscopy refers to the examination of the nail unit using a dermoscope. Since the advent of dermoscopy, attempts have been made to use it for the diagnosis of nail... (Review)
Review
Onychoscopy refers to the examination of the nail unit using a dermoscope. Since the advent of dermoscopy, attempts have been made to use it for the diagnosis of nail disorders, most commonly pigmented lesions. As of now, onychoscopy has carved out a distinct niche for itself in the diagnostic work up of nail disorders. The nail is capable of mounting only a limited number of reaction patterns to the large number of disorders affecting it. Therefore, simple visual inspection may not be helpful in diagnosing many conditions reliably. Even a nail biopsy may not give a definitive answer every time. Onychoscopy is thus a valuable aid not only in enhancing visible nail features but also in revealing cryptic features of diagnostic value. This review aims to summarize the current level of knowledge about onychoscopic features of various diseases of the nail unit. It also aims to offer practical tips on how to conduct onychoscopy. For the purpose of review, a PubMed search about the indications and results of onychoscopy was done using the keywords "onychoscopy," "nail fold capillaroscopy," "dermoscopy nail" and "dermatoscopy nail." All the articles were retrieved and classified into case reports, reviews and clinical studies. The final data was then analyzed and presented in a narrative fashion.
Topics: Dermoscopy; Humans; Nail Diseases; Nails
PubMed: 28485306
DOI: 10.4103/ijdvl.IJDVL_242_16