Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Nail Deformities
Number of Conditions: 4
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