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This sounds like it may be a subungual hemorrhage, which is when blood gets trapped under the nail secondary to trauma, in this case from nail biting. However, there are many things, some serious, that can cause discoloration of the nail. If the problem persists I would recommend that she see a dermatologist.
— Dana Stern, M.D. is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in nails. She works in private practice in New York City.
If you ran your state board, what would be the first rule or regulation you’d change? ... read more
I have a client who gets greenies (pseudomonas) no matter what I do. I have tried using double dehydrator and double primer. I have even skipped washing her hands for fear that the moisture is too much for the nail bed. She gets them every time she gets a fill. There is no lifting around the edges of her nail, just an air pocket where the stain has formed. I do not have this issue with any other clients. Any suggestions?... read more
I have a male client who is diabetic. I know you aren’t supposed to clip a diabetic’s nails but just file and buff lightly and rub lotion on his feet instead of massage. But on his feet his two big toenails were thick and hard and dark brown and yellow in some spots. It wasn’t slimy looking like a nail fungus but just yellowish and hard. The rest were normal looking. What could it be? Should I refuse to rebook him and recommend he see a podiatrist?... read more
I have a client who has deep horizontal ridges in her nails. Her cuticle area is kind of swollen and irritated also. I’m thinking Beau’s lines, but I just want to see what an expert has to say.... read more
Is there a way to test nail monomer for MMA?... read more
I work for a medspa and some of the techs are concerned about nail treatments for pregnant women. We offer gel-polish and traditional nail polish manicures and pedicures — no acrylics or gels are done at the spa. What kind of nail services are safe to do on pregnant women? What about the acetone used to soak off gel-polish?... read more
I have a few clients who swim or do water aerobics a few times a week. They have a lot of trouble with keeping polish on and their nails becoming dry. They peel and split. Is there anything I can do, or tell them to do, to help this problem? So far I have just told them to apply cuticle oil every night before bed to try to hydrate the nails.... read more
There are a lot of heated opinions about the safety of nail polish. As nail techs, we care, of course, but is this a topic that’s foremost on the minds of clients? We asked readers: Do your clients ask about polish being “three-free”? Do they seem to care about the ingredients in their polish?... read more
Should I have any concerns about performing a pedicure on a client who has hepatitis C?... read more
I did a LivingSocial deal and I have this client who has cancelled her appointment due to a migraine, which she gets frequently. Also she apparently has chemical and environmental allergies. I think it would be better for her not to get her nail service. How do I go about telling her this?... read more
Have you ever turned away a client due to signs of a nail infection or other potentially dangerous condition? How did the customer take it?... read more
Is it safe to put gel on a natural nail that is cracked down to the nail bed? What’s the best way to go about fixing the nail for my client?... read more
