Open Access
Assessment of clinical and etiological factors in nail dyschromias
Author(s) -
S Shwetha,
C Lalitha,
GS Asha
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ip indian journal of clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2581-4710
pISSN - 2581-4729
DOI - 10.18231/j.ijced.2021.061
Subject(s) - nail (fastener) , dermatology , medicine , nail plate , onycholysis , nail disease , physical examination , etiology , surgery , pathology , paronychia , materials science , metallurgy
Healthy nails appear smooth and have consistent coloring. Nail dyschromias have a wide variety of presentation. There are numerous causes of discoloration of the nail affecting the nail plate, nail attachments, or the substance of the nail. Different pattern of nail dyschromias can point out certain dermatological or systemic diseases. To evaluate the causes of nail dyschromias in our clinical setting. Cross sectional observational study. 200 patients presenting with nail dyschromias were included in the study from April 2015 to July 2015. Detailed history was taken and cause for nail dyschromias was evaluated. 115(57.5%) were males and 85(42.05%) were females. The most seen nail dyschromia in this study was melanonychia (86.5%) followed by leukonychia (5%), blue chromonychia (5%), brown chromonychia (2%) yellow chromonychia (1.5%). The cause of nail dyschromias were:60 cases(33.33%) were due to antiretroviral drugs, 25(12.5%) due to HIV, 30(15%) physiological melanonychia, 7(3.5% of onychomycosis, 8(4%) of lichen planus, 7(3.5%) of eczema, 15(7.5%) vitamin B12 deficiency, 10(5%) chemotherapy induced blue chromonychia, 3(1.5%) haematoma, 10(5%) leukonychia, 3(1.5%) jaundice 2(1%) Addison’s disease induced, 3(1.5%) cosmetic induced and 17(7.5%) due to other dermatological and systemic conditions. Examination of nail should always be a part of routine cutaneous examination and presentation with nail dyschromias should be worked up with the help of a good history and examination. Careful examination of the nail may help in identifying the root cause and many a times unravels some underlying systemic disorder