SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
24/7 HELPLINE (903) 212-7500
  • PATIENT PORTAL LOGIN

PhyNet Health PhyNet Health

  • Home
  • Find a Clinic
    • Hughes Springs, TX
    • Longview, TX
    • Jefferson, TX
    • Kilgore, TX
    • Lindale, TX
    • Linden, TX
    • Gladewater, TX
    • Lone Star, TX
    • Tatum, TX
    • Marshall, TX
  • Health Services
    • Primary Care Services
    • Physical Therapy / Rehab
    • Allergy Testing & Treatment
    • Chronic Care Management
    • Remote Monitoring Program
    • Virtual Visit
  • Resources
    • MedlinePlus Wiki
      • Health Topics
    • Home Health Coordination
    • Transitions of Care
    • Insurance Help
  • About Phynet
    • About Phynet
    • PhyNet News
    • Better Together Stories
    • Careers
  • Billing

Health Topics

Skip navigation

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine
MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You
  • Health Topics
  • Drugs & Supplements
  • Genetics
  • Medical Tests
  • Medical Encyclopedia
  • About MedlinePlus
  • About MedlinePlus
  • What's New
  • Site Map
  • Customer Support
  • Health Topics
  • Drugs & Supplements
  • Genetics
  • Medical Tests
  • Medical Encyclopedia
Español
You Are Here:
Home →
Health Topics →
Nail Diseases
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/naildiseases.html

Nail Diseases

On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Prevention and Risk Factors
  • Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

  • Related Issues
  • Specifics
  • Genetics

See, Play and Learn

  • Images
  • Test Your Knowledge

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Children
  • Patient Handouts

Summary

Your toenails and fingernails protect the tissues of your toes and fingers. They are made up of layers of a hardened protein called keratin, which is also in your hair and skin. The health of your nails can be a clue to your overall health. Healthy nails are usually smooth and consistent in color. Specific types of nail discoloration and changes in growth rate can be signs of lung, heart, kidney, and liver diseases, as well as diabetes and anemia. White spots and vertical ridges are harmless.

Nail problems that sometimes require treatment include:

  • Bacterial and fungal infections
  • Ingrown nails
  • Tumors
  • Warts

Keeping your nails clean, dry, and trimmed can help you avoid some problems. Do not remove the cuticle, which can cause infection.

Start Here

  • Fingernails: Do's and Don'ts for Healthy Nails (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

  • Healthy Habits: Nail Hygiene (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Tips for Healthy Nails (American Academy of Dermatology)

Treatments and Therapies

  • Tips To Care for an Injured Nail Video (American Academy of Dermatology)

Related Issues

  • Artificial Nails: Dermatologists' Tips for Reducing Nail Damage (American Academy of Dermatology)
  • How to Stop Biting Your Nails Video (American Academy of Dermatology)
  • Manicure and Pedicure Safety (American Academy of Dermatology)
  • Pedicure Pointers (American Podiatric Medical Association) - PDF

Specifics

  • Brittle Splitting Nails (Onychoschizia) (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
  • Funky Fingertips? What Nails Say about Your Health From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
  • Green Nail Syndrome (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
  • Ingrown Toenails (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
  • Nail Fungus (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Nail Ridges: Cause for Concern? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Onycholysis (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
  • Paronychia (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
  • Subungual Hematoma (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
  • Thick Toenails (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish
  • Toenail Fungus (Onychomycosis) (American Podiatric Medical Association)
  • White Toenails (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish

Genetics

  • Anonychia congenita: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Nail-patella syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Nonsyndromic congenital nail disorder 10: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Images

  • Beau Lines (VisualDX)
  • Fungal Nail Infection (Onychomycosis) (VisualDX)
  • Nail Infection (Paronychia) (VisualDX)
  • Onycholysis (VisualDX)
  • Onychoschizia (VisualDX)

Test Your Knowledge

  • Quiz: Nails (Nemours Foundation)

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Nail Diseases From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Onychomycosis From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Paronychia From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Targeting nail psoriasis: IL-17A inhibitors demonstrate site-specific superiority over IL-23 inhibitor...
  • Article: Clinical Characteristics of Nail Unit Melanoma in Türkiye: The Experience of...
  • Article: Inflammatory Nail Disorders in Skin of Color: A Systematic Review of...
  • Nail Diseases -- see more articles

Find an Expert

  • Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases From the National Institutes of Health Also in Spanish

Children

  • Paronychia (Nail Infection) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Your Nails (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • Aging changes in hair and nails (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Fungal nail infection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Ingrown toenail (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Ingrown toenail removal - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Nail abnormalities (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Nail injuries (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Paronychia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Splinter hemorrhages (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Nail Diseases

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Aging changes in hair and nails
  • Fungal nail infection
  • Ingrown toenail
  • Ingrown toenail removal - discharge
  • Nail abnormalities
  • Nail injuries
  • Paronychia
  • Splinter hemorrhages

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Nail Diseases is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

  • About MedlinePlus
  • What's New
  • Site Map
  • Customer Support
  • Subscribe to RSSRSS
  • Connect with NLM
  • NLM Web Policies
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility
  • Guidelines for Links
  • Viewers & Players
  • HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
  • MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs
  • For Developers
National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health
Last updated August 22, 2016
Return to top

Patients

  • Find a Clinic
  • Health Services
  • Complex Case Management
  • MA / Medicare Assistance

Quick Links

  • Billing Information
  • Careers
  • About Phynet
  • PhyNet News

Network Links

  • PrimeCareHomeHealth.com
  • PrimeCareNet.com
  • PrimeCareManagers.com
  • Core-Rehab.com

Home Office

4002 Technology Center Longview TX 75605
Phone: (903) 247-0484
Fax: (903) 247-0485
[email protected]
  • PrimeCareHomeHealth.com
  • PrimeCareNet.com
  • PrimeCareManagers.com
  • Core-Rehab.com
  • GET SOCIAL

© 2021 PhyNet Health • All rights reserved
YOUR LIFE. YOUR CHOICE.

TOP