Possible Skin Conditions

The images below contain information about several conditions that can affect the toenails in adults. The toenail is affected by conditions specific to the nail and diseases of the whole body. Onychomycosis is an example of a nail disease that is a fungal infection of the nail that causes it to become brittle and discolored. Even squamous cell carcinoma can start in the nail bed, the smooth skin under the nail. Systemic, or whole body, diseases such as psoriasis or lichen planus can cause the nails to change. Both conditions can lead to a lifting of the nail called onycholysis, where the nail becomes detached from the nail bed below. Simply being ill can cause the nail to slow its growth, leading to horizontal lines across the nail, called Beau's lines.