Condition Lookup

Onychomycosis (Fungal Nail Infection)

Symptoms:
thickened, discolored nails; brittle or crumbly texture; nail separation from nail bed; debris under the nail

Root Cause:
Fungal infection of the nail plate or bed, commonly caused by dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum), yeasts, or molds.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, KOH preparation, or fungal culture of nail clippings.

Treatment:
Systemic or topical antifungal medications.

Medications:
Oral terbinafine or itraconazole – first-line treatments. Topical efinaconazole or ciclopirox – for mild cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common, especially in adults and older populations.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Diabetes, poor circulation, nail trauma, and prolonged moisture exposure.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with treatment; recurrence is common.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pain; Permanent nail deformity; Spread to other nails or skin

Paronychia (Bacterial or Fungal)

Specialty: Dermatology

Category: Nail Disorders

Sub-category: Nail Infections

Symptoms:
redness, swelling, and tenderness around the nail; pus-filled abscess in severe cases; thickened or discolored nail if chronic

Root Cause:
Infection of the nail fold, commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus (acute) or Candida albicans (chronic).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination; culture or microscopy for confirmation.

Treatment:
Topical or oral antibiotics for bacterial cases; antifungals for chronic fungal cases.

Medications:
Topical mupirocin or clotrimazole – for mild infections. Oral antibiotics (e.g., cephalexin ) – for severe bacterial cases. Oral antifungals (e.g., fluconazole ) – for chronic fungal cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common, especially in individuals with frequent hand immersion or trauma.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Nail biting, frequent moisture exposure, trauma to the nail fold.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with treatment; chronic cases may require prolonged therapy.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Abscess formation; Permanent nail deformity

Beau’s Lines

Specialty: Dermatology

Category: Nail Disorders

Sub-category: Nail Deformities

Symptoms:
horizontal grooves or indentations across the nail plate

Root Cause:
Temporary disruption of nail matrix activity due to systemic illness, trauma, or severe stress.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination; history of recent illness or trauma.

Treatment:
Address underlying cause; no specific treatment for the lines themselves.

Medications:
Not applicable.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common following systemic illnesses (e.g., severe infections, chemotherapy).

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Systemic illness, malnutrition, trauma, chemotherapy.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Lines grow out with normal nail growth.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cosmetic concerns

Koilonychia (Spoon Nails)

Specialty: Dermatology

Category: Nail Disorders

Sub-category: Nail Deformities

Symptoms:
concave, spoon-shaped nails; thin, brittle nails

Root Cause:
Often associated with iron deficiency anemia, but can also result from trauma or systemic conditions.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination; blood tests to check for anemia.

Treatment:
Treat underlying cause (e.g., iron supplementation for anemia).

Medications:
Iron supplements – for iron deficiency anemia.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
More common in individuals with iron deficiency or malnutrition.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Iron deficiency anemia, malnutrition, or trauma.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Improves with treatment of underlying condition.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Persistent nail deformity if untreated

Clubbing

Specialty: Dermatology

Category: Nail Disorders

Sub-category: Nail Deformities

Symptoms:
bulbous enlargement of fingertips; curved nail plate; increased angle between nail and cuticle

Root Cause:
Associated with chronic hypoxia or systemic diseases like lung, heart, or liver conditions.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination; evaluation for underlying systemic disease.

Treatment:
Treat underlying systemic disease; no direct treatment for nails.

Medications:
Not applicable.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Varies depending on prevalence of associated diseases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases, cirrhosis, or gastrointestinal disorders.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Depends on the underlying condition.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Progression of associated systemic disease

Pitting

Specialty: Dermatology

Category: Nail Disorders

Sub-category: Nail Deformities

Symptoms:
small, shallow depressions on the nail surface

Root Cause:
Abnormal keratinization in the nail matrix, commonly associated with psoriasis or other inflammatory conditions.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination; history of psoriasis or other systemic inflammatory conditions.

Treatment:
Topical treatments or systemic therapies for underlying psoriasis.

Medications:
Topical corticosteroids or vitamin D analogs (e.g., calcipotriol). Biologic agents (e.g., adalimumab ) – for systemic psoriasis.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in patients with psoriasis (10–50%).

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Psoriasis, alopecia areata, other inflammatory conditions.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Improves with control of underlying disease.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Permanent nail deformity; Cosmetic concerns

Subungual Melanoma

Specialty: Dermatology

Category: Nail Disorders

Sub-category: Nail Tumors

Symptoms:
dark streak or discoloration under the nail; irregular pigmentation; nail destruction; bleeding or ulceration

Root Cause:
Malignant proliferation of melanocytes in the nail matrix.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination; dermoscopy and biopsy for confirmation.

Treatment:
Surgical excision with wide margins; systemic therapies for advanced disease.

Medications:
Immunotherapy (e.g., pembrolizumab ) – for metastatic cases. Targeted therapy (e.g., BRAF inhibitors) – for certain mutations.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, more common in older adults.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
UV exposure, trauma, family history of melanoma.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Poor if detected late; early detection improves survival.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Metastasis; Nail loss

Glomus Tumors

Specialty: Dermatology

Category: Nail Disorders

Sub-category: Nail Tumors

Symptoms:
painful, bluish-red nodule under the nail; exquisite tenderness to cold; nail deformity

Root Cause:
Benign tumor of glomus bodies, which regulate thermoregulation in the skin.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination, imaging (MRI), or biopsy.

Treatment:
Surgical excision.

Medications:
Not applicable; treatment is surgical.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, often misdiagnosed.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
None known; sporadic occurrence.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with surgical removal.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Recurrence; Persistent pain

Ingrown Toenails

Specialty: Dermatology

Category: Nail Disorders

Sub-category: Other Nail Conditions

Symptoms:
pain and redness at the nail edge; swelling and inflammation; pus drainage in severe cases

Root Cause:
Nail grows into the surrounding skin, causing irritation or infection.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination.

Treatment:
Nail trimming, topical antibiotics, or surgical intervention in severe cases.

Medications:
Topical or oral antibiotics – for infected cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Improper nail trimming, tight shoes, or trauma.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with treatment; recurrence is possible.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infection; Chronic pain

Leukonychia (White Spots)

Specialty: Dermatology

Category: Nail Disorders

Sub-category: Other Nail Conditions

Symptoms:
white spots or streaks on nails

Root Cause:
Minor trauma to the nail matrix; rarely associated with systemic conditions.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination.

Treatment:
None required; resolves with nail growth.

Medications:
Not applicable.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Nail trauma, manicures.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cosmetic concerns

Onycholysis

Specialty: Dermatology

Category: Nail Disorders

Sub-category: Other Nail Conditions

Symptoms:
painless separation of the nail from the nail bed; white or yellow discoloration at the distal nail

Root Cause:
Trauma, fungal infection, or systemic conditions like psoriasis or thyroid disease.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination; fungal culture if infection is suspected.

Treatment:
Treat underlying cause; avoid trauma to nails.

Medications:
Topical antifungals – if fungal infection is present.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Trauma, fungal infections, psoriasis, or thyroid disease.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good; resolves with treatment of underlying cause.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Secondary infection; Persistent nail deformity