Nail Diseases, Disorders, and Conditions

Vocabulary flashcards covering nail diseases, nail disorders, nail conditions, etiologies, and associated salon service guidelines.

Onychosis

Any disease, disorder or condition of the nail.

Etiology

The cause of a disease, disorder or condition.

Systemic Cause

An internal cause of a nail issue related to illness, nutrition, or heredity.

Environmental Cause

An external cause of a nail issue, including nail services or products with ingredients that adversely alter the skin or nail.

Onychomycosis

Also known as Tinea Unguium or ringworm of the nail; a contagious fungal infection of the fingernail or toenail causing the nail to thicken, discolor, become spongy, and break apart.

Onychia

General term for a non-contagious inflammation of the proximal nail fold (PNF) or lateral nail folds, characterized by red, swollen, tender tissue and pus formation.

Myxoid Cyst

A non-contagious infection forming small, fluid-filled sacs or lumps on the finger near the joint when broken skin allows bacteria into the proximal nail fold (PNF).

Onychatrophia

Non-contagious atrophy or wasting away of the nail plate, causing the nail to shrink and potentially separate from the nail bed.

Onychomadesis

Non-contagious shedding or loss of the nail plate with separation beginning at the nail matrix.

Paronychia

Non-contagious inflammation of the skin around the nail, resulting in red, swollen, sore, and warm tissue.

Felon

A non-contagious, painful bacterial infection in the closed space of the fingertip that resembles a blister.

Chloronychia

Also known as green nail syndrome or 'Greenies'; a contagious bacterial infection caused by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa that results in green, blue-green, or dark green discoloration of the nails.

Pyogenic Granuloma

A non-contagious, small, round, red lesion or skin growth that forms on the hand, foot, or nail bed with surrounding severe inflammation.

Koilonychia

Also called spoon nails or ski jump nails; a disorder characterized by nails with a concave shape, often caused by systemic illness, iron deficiency (anemia), or malnutrition.

Horizontal Grooves

Also called corrugations or Beau's lines; horizontal depressions across the width of the nail caused by slowed matrix growth due to injury or illness.

Vertical Grooves

Also called furrows; vertical depressions down the nail plate caused by aging, matrix injury, harsh chemicals, or aggressive cuticle tool pressure.

Melanonychia

A brown or black darkening of the nail that often appears as a stripe running the length of the nail plate, caused by increased melanin production by melanocytes in the matrix.

Nail Psoriasis

An autoimmune disorder causing shallow or deep pits in the nail, matrix thickening, nail lifting, and yellow-red salmon patches or oil drops in the nail bed.

Onychogryphosis

Also called claw nails; a disorder marked by increased thickness or extreme curvature of nails, occurring most often in the big toe with age or injury.

Onychocryptosis

Ingrown nails; a disorder where the nail grows into the edge of the lateral nail fold or nail bed, pinching soft tissue and potentially leading to infection.

Onychauxis

Also called hypertrophy; an abnormal outgrowth or thickening of the nail plate caused by matrix injury, systemic disease, heredity, or fungal infections.

Pincer Nails

Also called trumpet nails; a disorder characterized by extreme C-curvature of the nail, causing the nail to pinch into surrounding tissue.

Plicatured Nails

Also called folded nails; a disorder where the nail is flat on top but one or both lateral nail folds angle sharply into soft tissue.

Bruised Nails

A nail condition showing dark-purplish discoloration under the nail due to trauma to the nail bed or trapped blood.

Discolored Nails

A nail condition where nails appear bluish, yellow, or various colors due to product stains, systemic circulation problems, or diabetes.

Fan Nails

A nail condition where the free edge visually appears wider than the nail base due to a narrow proximal nail fold (PNF) and flat C-curve.

Hangnails

Also called agnails; split skin in the proximal nail fold (PNF) or lateral nail fold, caused by overly dry skin, improper nipping, or nail biting.

Hapalonychia

Also called eggshell nails; a condition involving very thin, soft nails that sometimes curve over the free edge, caused by heredity, malnutrition, or systemic disease.

Leukonychia

A nail condition identified by white spots appearing within the nail plate, caused by matrix injury, vitamin deficiencies, or heredity.

Onycholysis

A nail condition involving the loosening or separation of the nail plate from the nail bed starting at the hyponychium.

Onychophagy

A nail condition characterized by bitten nails resulting from a nervous habit or stress.

Onychorrhexis

A nail condition featuring split or brittle nails with deep vertical grooves, caused by matrix injury, harsh solvents, or moisture/oil imbalance.

Onychoschizia

Also known as lamellar dystrophy or delamination; a nail condition marked by splitting or peeling of the nail plate typically at the free edge.

Pitted Nails

A nail condition marked by small pits or dents on the surface of the nail plate, usually related to psoriasis or eczema.

Pterygium

A nail condition where living skin becomes attached to the nail plate at the proximal nail fold (dorsal) or hyponychium (inverse) and stretches as the nail grows.

Splinter Hemorrhages

A nail condition appearing as red-brown vertical lines under the nail plate resembling wood splinters, caused by capillary hemorrhages in the nail bed.

Bacterial Nail Infection

Infections commonly occurring on the surface of the nail plate or between the nail plate and nail bed, characterized by green or yellow discoloration caused by bacterial waste products; bacteria feed on oil, not keratin.

Fungal Nail Infection

Infections occurring in the nail plate and on the nail bed, causing swelling and layer separation with yellow-green to black discoloration that spreads toward the PNF; fungi feed on keratin.

what nail disease is this?

onychomycosis

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onychia

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myxoid cyst

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onychatrophia

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onychomadesis

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paronychia

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felon

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chloronychia

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pyogenic granuloma

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koilonychia

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horizontal grooves

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vertical grooves

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melanonychia

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nail psoriasis

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onychogryphosis

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pnychocryptosis

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onychauxis

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pincer nails

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plicatured nails

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bruised nail

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discolored nails

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fan nails

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hangnails

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hapalonychia

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leukonychia

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onychophagy

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onychorrhexis

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pnychoschizia

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pitted nails

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pterygium

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splinter hermorrhages