Hair and Nail Conditions

Flashcards about hair and nail conditions.

Alopecia

Hair loss that may be patchy or total; causes include autoimmune disease, stress, aging, or chemotherapy.

Hirsutism

Excess hair growth in women in areas where hair is typically minimal (e.g., face, chest); often linked to endocrine disorders or steroid use.

Pediculosis

Infestation with lice; causes intense itching and visible nits on the hair shaft; spread through close contact.

Clubbing Nails

Enlargement of the fingertips and downward sloping of nails; associated with chronic hypoxia (e.g., lung disease).

Spooning Nails (Koilonychia)

Nails are thin and concave; may indicate iron-deficiency anemia or uncontrolled diabetes.

Thickened Yellow Nails

Common with fungal infections or in older adults; nails may be brittle and discolored.

White Lines on Nails

Usually due to trauma; appear as horizontal lines that grow out with the nail.

White Spots on Nails

Small white marks typically due to trauma or possibly zinc deficiency.

Black Nails

Often the result of blood under the nail (subungual hematoma); may follow trauma.

Beau’s Lines

Transverse depressions across the nails; indicate previous systemic illness or severe stress.

Paronychia

Inflammation of the skin at the base of the nail; often due to infection or trauma like nail biting.