Health

Why have my client’s nails begun lifting from the nail bed?

August 21, 2012 | Bookmark +

I have a client who has worn pink-and-white acrylic for years, but all of a sudden all her nails have begun lifting from the nail bed. It’s a very small amount, only on the right side of the nails. It almost looks fungal. She has not changed anything, diet, medication, etc., that we can think of. Do have any ideas what this could be?

Answer

You are describing onycholysis, which is when the nail separates from the underlying bed. In this scenario, air under the lifted nail appears as a white or yellow discoloration. You will observe the normal white tip of the nail begin to track toward the cuticle. This may occur for a number of reasons. New onset onycholysis can indicate that something is going on with the thyroid. Your client should be referred to her dermatologist or primary care physician for laboratory testing. Another scenario and the more likely cause is that your client may have developed an allergy to one of the chemicals in the acrylic causing the nails to separate. Even if the client has been wearing acrylics for years an allergy can still develop. The other possibility is that the nails are being cleaned with an implement too vigorously. This can cause separation of the nail from the underlying bed. Regardless of the scenario, your client should be seen by a dermatologist so that she can be treated in a prompt manner. Onycholysis is relatively easy to treat if caught early, but if it persists it can cause permanent separation of the nail from the underlying nail bed.

— Dana Stern, M.D. is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in nails. She works in private practice in New York City.

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What’s the cause of the pinkish-red oval area on the pad of my client’s toes?

I have a client who has a recurring problem with her fourth toes during the winter months. Both of her “ring finger” toes develop a pinkish-red oval area on the pad. Then a month later, when I see her again, the skin has become dry and hard like a callus, with the layers of skin peeling away to reveal a deeper, dark epicenter.  It’s extremely painful for her and, needless to say, we do not touch it. But it clears up in the summer when she’s wearing open-toed sandals, so I suspect it has to be due to the boots she wears in the winter. Plus she never puts lotion on her feet or uses a foot file in between visits. What do you think causes this?

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What are the big white spots on my natural-nail client’s nails?

I have a client who has been with me for about two years. She used to wear acrylic nails but has been a natural nail client for eight months or so. She has these white spots on her nails — big spots that are dry, but not flaky, right in the middle of the nail. I did try to buff them lightly but they do not come off or grow off. I had a new client come in last week who had the same on her toenails. She said it started after she had a pedicure done at another salon. Can you help?

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