Liam Carter
Dystrophic nails are nails that have become deformed, thickened, or discoloured. They may be cracked, crumbly, peeling, misshapen, or pulling away from the skin. Dystrophic nails are usually caused by a skin condition or infection, such as a fungal infection, psoriasis, or trauma. Non-dystrophic nails, therefore, are nails that are not defective from metabolic or nutritional abnormalities and are not affected by any of the above conditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Normal nails that are not defective from metabolic or nutritional abnormalities |
| Appearance | Thick, oddly shaped, yellow, white or brown |
| Causes | Skin condition, fungal infection, psoriasis, trauma, injury, nail bed damage |
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What You'll Learn
Non-dystrophic nails are normal nails
Non-dystrophic nails are normal, healthy nails. They are not defective from metabolic or nutritional abnormalities. Nails that are dystrophic may be thickened, oddly shaped, or discoloured, and can be caused by a skin condition or infection. Dystrophic nails can be caused by a fungal infection, such as onychomycosis, or by psoriasis or trauma. Changes in nails can also be a sign of systemic diseases, or they can occur secondarily to systemic drug use.
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Dystrophic nails are caused by a skin condition or infection
Dystrophic nails are characterised by thickening, discolouration, and deformation. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including fungal infections, inflammatory processes, and trauma to the nail. The most common cause of nail dystrophy in adults is onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail matrix, nail bed, and/or nail plate. This infection causes the nail to thicken and become discoloured, usually yellow but sometimes black, green, or white.
Dystrophic nails can also be caused by non-infectious inflammatory dermatologic diseases of the nail unit, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, and alopecia areata. In addition, trauma to the nail, such as nail biting, can cause dystrophic nails. This can lead to a subungual hematoma, resulting in brown-black discolouration.
Furthermore, dystrophic nails can be caused by underlying systemic diseases or as a secondary effect of systemic drug use. They may also be related to rare or ill-defined factors. It is important to note that nails are considered skin appendages and are commonly treated by dermatologists.
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Dystrophic nails can be a sign of an underlying disease
Dystrophic nails can also be caused by non-infectious inflammatory dermatologic diseases of the nail unit and tumours. Changes in nails can be a sign of systemic diseases and can occur secondarily to systemic drug use.
Non-dystrophic nails are normal nails that are not defective from metabolic or nutritional abnormalities.
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Dystrophic nails can be caused by a fungal infection
Dystrophic nails are nails that are not defective due to metabolic or nutritional abnormalities. They are usually deformed, thickened or discoloured. Dystrophic nails can be caused by a fungal infection, such as onychomycosis, which is caused by dermatophytes, yeasts or non-dermatophyte moulds. The infection may involve the fingernails as well as toenails; however, the latter is more commonly affected.
Onychomycosis is a common disease of nails and is a major public health issue worldwide due to its increasing prevalence. It is caused by a group of keratinophilic fungi called dermatophytes, which account for more than half of OM incidences. Yeasts and non-dermatophyte moulds represent about one-third of OM infections and have recently shown an increasing trend.
The clinical terminology used to refer to the fungal infection of the nail is OM. When dermatophytes cause onychomycosis, this condition is called tinea unguium. The term onychomycosis encompasses the dermatophytes, yeasts, and saprophytic mould infections. While non-life-threatening, onychomycosis can lead to severe complications such as cellulitis, sepsis, osteomyelitis, tissue damage, and nail loss.
Fungal infection of the nails may predispose people to secondary bacterial infections, cellulitis, idiopathic reactions, and chronic urticaria. In addition, OM causes both psychosocial and physical morbidity that greatly affects the quality of life.
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Dystrophic nails can be caused by trauma
Dystrophic nails are nails that are deformed, thickened or discoloured. They can be caused by trauma, either direct injury or chronic, repetitive microtrauma. They can also be caused by a fungal infection, such as onychomycosis, which is typically caused by dermatophytes (which also causes athlete's foot), and less commonly yeasts or moulds.
People may have an increased risk of contracting toenail fungus if they wear tight shoes, have had trauma to the nail bed, have exposure to fungus in gym showers and locker rooms, or are not attentive to foot hygiene.
Dystrophic nails can also be caused by psoriasis and other non-infectious inflammatory dermatologic diseases of the nail unit and tumours. Changes in nails can also be a sign of systemic diseases, they can occur secondarily to systemic drug use and many other rare or ill-defined factors.
Non-dystrophic nails are normal nails that are not defective from metabolic or nutritional abnormalities.
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Frequently asked questions
Non-dystrophic nails are normal nails that are not defective from metabolic or nutritional abnormalities.
Dystrophic nails are deformed, thickened or discoloured nails. They may be cracked in multiple spots, crumbly or peeling, misshapen or curved in an unusual way, pulling away from or coming off your skin under your nail, thicker than normal, or yellow, white or brown in colour.
Dystrophic nails are usually caused by a skin condition or infection, such as a fungal infection, psoriasis, or trauma.
