Possible Skin Conditions

Here you will find pictures and information about the conditions that affect the toenails in adults. Chronic skin conditions, such as psoriasis and lichen planus, will cause nails to change. Onycholysis is one of these changes. It is the separation of the nail from underlying nail bed. Severe illness (eg, cancer, long infections) will cause the nail to slow its growth causing horizontal lines, called Beau lines, across the nail. Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail itself, which causes the nail to become brittle and discolored. Even cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) can start in the smooth skin of the nail bed.