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Alopecia areata

Can cause a characteristic pattern of fine, geometric pitting ('thimble pitting') on the nail plate.

Beau's lines

Transverse depressions in the nail plate that reflect a temporary arrest of nail growth due to a past systemic illness.

Brachyonychia

Abnormally short and wide nails, where the width of the nail plate is greater than its length.

Chronic paronychia

Chronic inflammation of the nail fold leading to loss of the cuticle, swelling, and secondary irregular ridging of the nail plate.

Clubbing

A bulbous enlargement of the fingertips with an increased nail fold angle (>180 degrees), often associated with cardiopulmonary disease.

Darier's disease

A genetic disorder causing characteristic V-shaped nicks at the free edge of the nail, along with red and white longitudinal stripes.

Dyskeratosis congenita

A rare genetic syndrome with a classic triad of nail dystrophy (thin, ridged, and atrophic nails), oral leukoplakia, and reticulated skin hyperpigmentation.

Ectodermal dysplasia

A group of genetic disorders that can cause congenitally thin, brittle, slow-growing, or absent nails.

Eczema

Chronic eczema of the fingertips can cause irregular pitting, ridging, and thickening of the nail plate.

Fungal nail infection

Onychomycosis typically causes a yellowish-white discoloration, thickening, and crumbly subungual hyperkeratosis, often starting at the distal edge.

Inverse pterygium

An abnormal adherence of the distal nail bed to the underside of the nail plate, obliterating the hyponychium.

Iron deficiency

Severe iron deficiency can lead to koilonychia, where the nails become thin, brittle, and spoon-shaped.

Koilonychia

A condition where the nails become thin, brittle, and concave or 'spoon-shaped'.

Leukonychia

White discoloration of the nail, which can be punctate (spots), striate (lines), or total.

Lichen planus

Can cause severe nail damage, including thinning, longitudinal ridging, and the characteristic formation of a pterygium (scar tissue fusing the nail fold to the nail bed).

Myxoid cyst

A gelatinous cyst on the finger near the nail that can cause a longitudinal groove or depression in the nail plate due to pressure on the matrix.

Nail patella syndrome

A genetic disorder characterized by absent or hypoplastic (small) nails, particularly triangular lunulae, along with absent or small patellae (kneecaps).

Nail pitting alopecia areata

Causes a characteristic pattern of fine, geometric pitting ('thimble pitting') on the nail plate.

Nail pitting psoriasis

Causes characteristic irregular, deep, and randomly scattered pits on the nail plate.

Nail-Patella syndrome

A genetic disorder characterized by absent or hypoplastic (small) nails, particularly triangular lunulae, along with absent or small patellae (kneecaps).

Oil drop

A pathognomonic sign of nail psoriasis, appearing as a yellowish-red, circular discoloration in the nail bed resembling a drop of oil.

Onchymycosis

Another term for a fungal nail infection, which typically causes a yellowish-white discoloration, thickening, and crumbly subungual hyperkeratosis.

Onychauxis

A uniform, simple thickening of the nail plate without significant deformity.

Onychogryphosis

A dramatic, horn-like thickening and curving of the nail ('ram's horn nail'), usually of the big toe, due to neglect and pressure.

Onycholysis

The painless separation of the nail plate from the underlying nail bed, creating a white or yellowish appearance at the distal edge.

Onychomadesis

The complete shedding of the nail plate, starting from the proximal end, often after a severe illness or hand-foot-mouth disease.

Onychorrhexis

The presence of longitudinal ridges or grooves in the nail plate, which can be a normal sign of aging.

Onychoschizia

A horizontal splitting or lamination of the distal edge of the nail plate into layers.

Onychotillomania

A self-induced nail dystrophy caused by habitual picking or manipulation of the nails, often resulting in bizarre deformities.

Pachyonychia congenita

A genetic disorder characterized by dramatic hypertrophic nail dystrophy (thickened nails) and painful, focal palmoplantar keratoderma.

Psoriasis

Causes characteristic nail changes including irregular pitting, salmon/oil patches, onycholysis, and subungual hyperkeratosis.

Pterygium

An abnormal, wing-like growth of the proximal nail fold onto the nail bed, fusing them together, which is characteristic of lichen planus.

Splinter haemorrhage

Small, linear, reddish-brown streaks under the nail plate, representing tiny bleeds from capillaries, which can be a sign of trauma or endocarditis.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Can present as a chronic, non-healing, warty, or ulcerative lesion of the nail bed, often causing nail plate destruction.

Traumatic

Acute trauma can cause a subungual hematoma (blood under the nail), while chronic trauma can cause various dystrophies.

Twenty nail dystrophy

A condition, often in children, where all twenty nails simultaneously develop a rough, sandpaper-like, 'trachyonychia' appearance.

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