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Yellow nails
Discoloration of the nails
Nails are yellow
Abnormalities in nail color
The nail has a black streak
Ingrown nails
Abnormal nails (color)
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
This is a painless condition where the thick part of the nail (nail plate) detaches from the nail bed, more commonly seen in fingernails.
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
The detached nail should be kept as short as possible, and the affected fingers should be kept dry as much as possible. Creams or oral medication might also be prescribed, depending on the cause.
Reviewed By:
Sarita Nori, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Sarita Nori was drawn to dermatology because of the intersection of science and medicine that is at the heart of dermatology. She feels this is what really allows her to help her patients. “There is a lot of problem-solving in dermatology and I like that,” she explains. “It’s also a profession where you can help people quickly and really make a difference in their lives.” | Some of the typical skin problems that Dr. Nori treats include skin cancers, psoriasis, acne, eczema, rashes, and contact dermatitis. Dr Nori believes in using all possible avenues of treatment, such as biologics, especially in patients with chronic diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. “These medications can work superbly, and they are really life-changing for many patients.” | Dr. Nori feels it’s important for patients to have a good understanding of the disease or condition that is affecting them. “I like to educate my patients on their problem and have them really understand it so they can take the best course of action. Patients always do better when they understand their skin condition, and how to treat it.”
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Q.
Onycholysis? Why Your Nail is Detaching & Medically Approved Steps
A.
Onycholysis is the painless lifting of a nail from its bed, most often due to repeated trauma but also from fungal infection, psoriasis, chemical exposure, thyroid disease, or certain medications. Medically approved care focuses on trimming the lifted edge, keeping it clean and dry, pausing nail cosmetics, treating confirmed infections or underlying conditions, and protecting the nail as it regrows because the separated part will not reattach; there are several factors to consider, including when to see a doctor for pain, redness, pus, rapid spread, or multi-nail changes. See complete details below.
References:
* El-Feky AI, Farag ASA, Darwish HH, El-Kholy SM, El-Houssieny RM, Sherif AH, Alshara E, Al-Mahdi F, El-Hadidi EA. Onycholysis: a comprehensive review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023 Jun;22(6):1709-1721. doi: 10.1111/jocd.15617. Epub 2023 Feb 1. PMID: 36725832.
* Tiple A, D'Cruz L, Shrivastava D. Onycholysis: An Updated Review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2022 Jul;12(7):1679-1698. doi: 10.1007/s13555-022-00755-x. Epub 2022 Jun 29. PMID: 35768564.
* Al-Saad N, Al-Mutairi R, Al-Qattan M, Al-Hamad B. Treatment for Onycholysis: A Review. Cureus. 2023 Jan 24;15(1):e34225. doi: 10.7759/cureus.34225. PMID: 36845341; PMCID: PMC9951666.
* Vachiramon V. Nail changes in systemic diseases. Clin Dermatol. 2019 Sep-Oct;37(5):472-478. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2019.07.012. PMID: 31570222.
* Rigopoulos D, Lallas A, Apalla Z. Nail disorders and their management. JAMA Dermatol. 2016 Oct 1;152(10):1153-1158. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.2166. PMID: 27532303.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1Iorizzo M. Tips to treat the 5 most common nail disorders: brittle nails, onycholysis, paronychia, psoriasis, onychomycosis. Dermatol Clin. 2015 Apr;33(2):175-83. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2014.12.001. PMID: 25828710.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S073386351400148X?via%3DihubZaias N, Escovar SX, Zaiac MN. Finger and toenail onycholysis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015 May;29(5):848-53. doi: 10.1111/jdv.12862. Epub 2014 Dec 16. PMID: 25512134.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jdv.12862