NAIL DISEASES AND DISORDERS

Submitted by mishca.hill@yo… on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 10:53

During consultation look for diseases and disorders that may restrict or contraindicate the treatment. You may need to recommend alternate or other treatments, specific homecare, aftercare or retail, rebook the appointment or refer to a specialist.

No Impact

You can complete a full treatment, with maybe some adaptions.

Condition	Cause	Appearance	Treatment	Homecare
Onychorrexis On-Ee-Co-Rex-Sis	Products that over-dry the nail plate, Illness	Brittle, split flaking nails	Warm oil manicures weekly	Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning
Hangnail	Biting skin around the nail, dry or cracking cuticle	Skin around the nail cracks and a small piece of skin protrudes between the nail wall and nail plate It may be red and painful	Regular manicures Warm oil treatments, gently nipper the dead piece of skin with cuticle nippers	Use a rich hand and cuticle cream, wear gloves when cleaning, regular manicures
Longitudinal ridges or corrugations	Illness, damage to the matrix, age, uneven growth	Superficial vertical ridges in the nail plate, the nail plate grows forward in a rail and groove effect running from the cuticle to the free edge of the nail	Buff nails over a course of regular manicures, keep nails hydrated using a good quality oil Use ridge filler as base coat	General manicure advice
Pterygium Te-Rij-Ee-Um	Neglect of the nails	Overgrown cuticles that are tightly adhered to the nail plate, can cause splitting of the cuticle and infection	Regular manicures Warm-oil treatments weekly. Once softened remove dead cuticle with nippers DO NOT TREAT IF INFECTED!	Use rich cuticle cream
Transverse furrows or beau’s lines	Poor nutrition, illness or trauma to the matrix	Deep horizontal ridges in the plate running from side to side	Regular manicures May want to avoid polish, so as to not highlight the deep ridges	General manicure advice
Leukonychia Lu-Co-Nic-Ee-Ah	Caused by tiny bubbles of air trapped in the nail plate layers due to trauma at the nail root Infection	White spots or marks on the nail plate will grow out	General manicure treatment, white spots will grow out with the nail plate	Be careful not to bump or knock nails
Blue nails	Usually, a sign of bad circulation Can be linked to anemia or a heart condition	Nail bed takes on a bluish appearance	Regular massage and warming treatments may help	Exercises to increase circulation
Subungual hematoma (Bruised nail)	Occurs when trauma to the nail results in a collection of blood, or hematoma, under the nail. It may result from an acute injury or from repeated minor trauma such as running in undersized shoes	Dark purple/blue/black patch on the nail, it will grow out with the nail	Don’t apply pressure to the damaged nail, if severely bruised avoid nail completely Are quite painful and are usually treated by releasing the blood by creating a small hole in the nail. Drilling and thermal cautery are common methods for creating the hole	Be careful not to knock it again or it may fall off
Melanonychia Mela-No-Key-Ah	Trauma, Systemic disease or medication, May signify a malignant melanoma but can also be normal	Vertical pigmented bands often described as nail ‘moles’ usually formed in the matrix	If this is a sudden change seek medical advice, otherwise treat as normal	General manicure advice
Brittle Nails	Most cases are characteristic of the natural aging process or overexposure to water and chemical solvents	Vertical splitting or separation of the nail plate layers at the distal (free) edge of the nail plate	Re-hydrate the nail plate layers with a good quality cuticle and nail oil	Cuticle oil or cream
Onychomadesis	Localised infection, minor injury to the matrix bed, or severe systemic illness Can be a side effect of chemotherapy or x-ray treatments for cancer	Separation and falling off of a nail from the nail bed A new nail plate will form once the cause of the disease is removed	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment
Onychomatricoma	A rare, benign tumor of the nail matrix	Usually affects fingers, nail plate yellows and thickens and becomes over curved	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment
Erythronychia	A number of causes from some inflammatory conditions	Red bands in the nail which contrast with the pale pink of the nail bed	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment

restrict

Complete treatment with care and/or adaptions.

Condition	Cause	Description	Treatment	Homecare
Lamellar Dystrophy	Caused by harsh chemicals	Characterised by flaking, peeling, breaking of the nail plate	Regular manicures using moisturising products	General manicure advice Use gloves
Onychomalacia On-Ee-Chom-al-a-c-ah (Eggshell Nails)	Illness, medication or stress Poor diet leading to deficiencies	Nails are weak, thin and soft like eggshells Nail plate may separate and curve at the free edge Can appear cloudy	Nail strengtheners and/or hardeners may help Treat gently and take extra care	Always wear gloves when using chemicals or detergents
Psoriasis	Systemic disorder	Pitting in the nail plate Severe cases – nail plate separates from nail bed Skin around nail has small red patches covered by silvery scales	Not contagious Contra-indicated if lesions are open	General manicure advice
Eczema or Dermatitis	Systemic condition, Allergies to products	Skin around nail very dry/red May crack and flake and usually very itchy	Proceed with manicure taking care Clients can be allergic to lanolin, resin, hardener, polishes, choose products carefully Note any contra-actions	General manicure advice
Onychogryphosis On-Ee-Co-Gri-Fo-Sis Claw Nail	Common in older people, Poor health, circulation and nutrition, Injury, Ill-fitting shoes	Thickened and curved nail Often affects the big toe	Regular maintenance of nails as there is no known cure – may require surgery to eliminate pain	Seek medical advice as may need to be surgically removed
Onychophagy On-Ee-Co-Fa-Jee	Nail biting – nervous habit	Weak nails, ragged edges which often expose hyponychium, can lead to infection	Soften cuticles and buff to encourage growth Regular manicures	Bitter tasting nail paint can be used
Onychotillomania On-Ee-Co-Til-O-Ma-Ne-A	Constant picking at nails and/or trying to tear them off, Nervous disorder	Damaged skin and nails	Treat gently if no broken skin	General manicure advice Regular moisturising
Onychauxis On-e-corx-sis	Systemic disorders, Infection, Trauma	Excessive thickening of nail plate, sometimes separating from nail bed	File nail smooth, buff and shape as normal Contra-indicated if infection is present	General manicure advice
Onychoptosis	Often linked to illness	Shedding of the nail, whole or partial	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment
Pterygium Inversum Unguis	Possible causes are systemic, hereditary, or from an allergic reaction to acrylics or solvents	Forward growth of the hyponychium characterized by live tissue firmly attached to the underside of the nail plate, which contains a blood supply and nerves	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment
Koilonychia Coy-Lo-Nic-Ee-Ah	Trauma to the nail Exposure to solvents Systemic disorder, Genetic, Anaemia or overactive thyroid	Spoon shaped nails Nails are flat and concave	Seek medical advice Treat gently and regularly	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment
Onychocryptosis On-Ee-Co-Crip-Toe-Sis	Ill-fitting shoes, Neglect, Hereditary	Mainly affects toes, Nail plate grows into nail wall creating an ingrown nail	If infection is present, rebook pedicure and refer to GP May need to avoid the nail, as it is often very painful	Cut toenails straight across as opposed to cutting corners off
Varicose Veins	Weakened vein walls and valves allowing blood to pool in these areas	Twisted and swollen veins Sometimes painful, itchy, burning sensation	Do not massage around or over the veins	Refer to a physician for diagnosis and treatment
Chilblains	Poor circulation, Cold and damp exposure	Can affect hands and feet Common in elderly Painful, itchy areas	Adapt treatment to suit the pain levels	Keep area warm, avoid tight fitting footwear
Corn	Ill-fitting shoes	Build-up of hard skin in a small area, usually a pressure area	Can be painful to touch, may need to adapt treatment	Wear comfortable shoes; avoid standing for long periods of time
Bunion	Continuous wearing of ill-fitting shoes	Displaced big toe joint, a lump protrudes from the below the big toe	Can be painful, may need to adapt treatment	Wear comfortable low-heeled shoes
Arthritis	Joint inflammation, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Joint injury	Can affect hands and feet Swelling, restricting movement and causing pain	If severe, do not massage Handle the fingers or toes carefully	Massage and warming treatments may bring relief from pain

Contraindicated

Do Not Treat Seek medical advice & Refer to a GP for diagnosis and treatment.

Condition	Cause	Description
Onychomycosis On-Ee-Com-Ee-Co-Sis	Fungal infection Ringworm of the nail caused by a fungus entering the nail at the free edge	Discoloured & thickened nail Nail plate becomes brittle rough and opaque; separation of nail plate can occur due to the build-up of scales under the nail plate. The nail plate can appear thick and yellow Can have a greenish tinge
Paronychia Par-Oh-Nik-Ee-Uh	Bacterial infection of the nail fold	Matrix is inflamed, swollen and red Pus may be present Nail may fall off
Whitlow	Small abscess at side or base of nail	Skin around nail becomes soft and open to infection
Onychatrophia On-Ee-Cat-Row-Fee-Ah	Injury to matrix Disease	Atrophy of the nail, gradually becoming smaller, can waste away completely Dull or opaque look
Warts	Virus that infects compromised skin	Raised, small patches Can be discoloured and rough
Onycholysis On-Ee-Co-Li-Sis	Systemic conditions, Trauma, Poor circulation, Allergies, Fungal infection	Nail plate slowly detaches from nail bed but does not completely come away from nail bed
Verruca if the verruca is covered it is safe to perform a treatment	Virus that infects compromised skin	Wart that grows into the skin, usually on soles of feet Small black dots cover the surface
Scabies	Parasitic infestation – they burrow beneath the skin	Irritated skin, with tiny, silvery lines just under skin surface, usually very itchy Often found on arms or legs
Tinea Pedis Athletes Foot	Fungal infection Ringworm of the skin on the feet	Itchy, cracked, red and scaly skin Often found between toes
Phlebitis Fle-By-Tis	Surgery Injury to vein	Inflammation of a vein Superficial phlebitis – pain, swelling and redness, skin around vein may be itchy Deep phlebitis – can result in a DVT Phlebitis can appear on the arms as well

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