What does subungual mean in medical terms?
Medical Definition of subungual. : situated or occurring under a fingernail or toenail a subungual abscess.
What is subungual hyperkeratosis (subungual skin disease)?
Subungual hyperkeratosis is a disorder characterized by an excessive reproduction of skin cells that accumulate between the nail and the nail bed (the small piece of skin of the finger on which the nail rests).
What is subungual haemorrhage?
What is subungual haemorrhage? Subungual haemorrhage is bleeding under a nail where blood is located between the nail matrix and nail plate. Subungual haemorrhage (escape of blood) is also called subungual haematoma (collection of blood).
What is subungual melanoma?
The nail matrix is a part of the nail bed that protects the underlying skin. Sometimes melanoma looks like other conditions that affect the nail bed, such as a bruise. While subungual melanoma is a relatively rare condition compared to other skin cancers, it can lead to serious complications.
What is nail debris?
“Nail keratin debris results from a fungal infection of the nail. In medical terms this is called onychomycosis or tinea unguium,” says Batra. The fungal infection breaks down the keratin in the nail to form a white or yellow chalky substance under the nail plate.
What is the debris under toenails?
Keratin also makes up your skin and hair, and other mammals' nails, quills, hooves, and horns. When the dermatophytes find their way to your feet, they feast on your keratin, breaking it down into smaller particles. The crumbly residue on your infected toenails is actually keratin debris.
What is the white crusty stuff under my toenails?
Nail psoriasis sometimes causes too much keratin to grow under the nail. This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.
What is the stuff growing under my nails?
The hyponychium is the skin just under the free edge of your nail. It's located just beyond the distal end of your nail bed, near your fingertip. As a barrier from germs and debris, the hyponychium stops external substances from getting under your nail.
How do you get rid of gunk under your toenails?
You can use a loofah, sponge, or washcloth to really clean around the toenails. Try a foot soak. If you don't take a shower every day, consider soaking your feet in a tub of lukewarm water and soap. This can help break up or dislodge dirt underneath toenails.
What is the black stuff under toenails?
Black Toenail: Common Causes If your toenail turns black, it's most likely a bruise under the nail, technically called a subungual hematoma. You can get it from stubbing a toe or from footwear that cram your feet into the front of the shoe.
Can you scrape out toenail fungus?
Prescription Medicines If your fungus doesn't clear up at home, you should check in with a dermatologist (a skin, hair, and nail specialist) or podiatrist (a foot doctor.) They may gently scrape under your nail to get rid of some of the fungus or send it to the lab for diagnosis.
Why do toenails get really thick?
Thick toenails come from a buildup of the cells that make up your toenails. Three possible causes are increased age, nail fungus, and nail psoriasis (an autoimmune disease).
Why do elderly get thick toenails?
Both fingernails and toenails thicken as we get older. We only notice it with toenails because they're usually not filed and buffed as often as fingernails. The growth rate of nails decreases when people get older. This results in thickening because nail cells pile up.
What is keratin debris?
When dermatophytes find their way to your feet, they consume the keratin in your nails by breaking it down. The result is keratin debris that creates a crumbly residue in your nails as part of the toenail fungus.
How do you get rid of subungual hyperkeratosis?
Topical therapy is effective in nail bed psoriasis for the remedial action on onycholysis and subungual hyperkeratosis. Potent or very potent corticosteroids are the most effective drugs in nail psoriasis, the most common being clobetasol propionate (0.05%)22 and betamethasone dipropionate (0.05%).
How do you clean underneath your nails?
“[Whether long or short], you should thoroughly clean under your nails every single time you wash your hands. At least once a day, use a brush with antibacterial soap to gently scrub under fingernails. You can use a new soft toothbrush or a soft brush you can get at any beauty supply store or Amazon.”
Causes
The exact cause of subungual melanomas is unknown. Researchers do know, however, that this type of melanoma is different from others because it has no connection to sun exposure.
Symptoms
In 75% to 90% of reported cases, subungual melanomas have been found in the thumb and the big toe. But they can be seen in other toes and fingers. And they can be quite painful.
Risk Factors
Researchers have seen that among African American, Asian, and Hispanic populations, when a melanoma that is not typical presents itself, it is often a subungual melanoma. Still, the occurrences are rare in general.
Treatment
At one time, doctors preferred to surgically remove, that is, amputate, the affected toe or finger. But there are other options now. Your doctor may choose to:
Outlook
Be aware of the signs of subungual melanoma so you can get early treatment. If your condition is diagnosed early and medically managed, the chances of you successfully surviving it are high.
What kind of diseases can be associated with subungual hyperkeratosis?
The following diseases may be associated with subungual hyperkeratosis:
What is the therapy for subungual hyperkeratosis?
To enable a development of a targeted treatment is important to understand what the cause is at the origin of the disorder and to act on this. For the treatment of the condition it is advisable to request a consult from your doctor and avoid any "DIY" remedy.
When is most likely to contact your doctor in case of subungual hyperkeratosis?
In case of subungual hyperkeratosis, you should speak with your doctor, so he can prepare a targeted therapy.
Cutaneous and subcutaneous mycoses
Natalia Mendoza, ... Stephen K. Tyring, in Clinical Mycology (Second Edition), 2009
Onychomycosis
Trichophyton mentagrophytes is most common; however, T. rubrum, when diagnosed, can be presenting sign of HIV infection
Onychomycosis
A stepwise approach to diagnosis is outlined in Fig. 12.8. The first step in diagnosis is obtaining an adequate specimen. In patients with distal subungual onychomycosis, the specimen should be obtained from the nail bed, which is the primary site of infection, ideally with a 1–2-mm serrated curette and as proximal as possible.
Dermatophytes and dermatophytoses
Tinea unguium is defined as fungal infection of the nail caused by dermatophytes (whereas onychomycosis refers to any fungal infection of the nail).
Dermatoscopic Correlates of Nail Apparatus Disease
The way in which fungi invade the nail plate and/or bed produces different clinical subtypes of onychomycosis and will evidently yield corresponding dermatoscopic pictures in white superficial onychomycosis, proximal subungual onychomycosis, distal subungual onychomycosis, endonix onychomycosis, and total dystrophic onychomycosis.
Diseases of Hair and Nails
Fungal nail infections most commonly affect the toenails of adults. Dermatophytes (particularly Trichophyton rubrum) are responsible for most infections. The clinical presentation varies depending on the modality of the nail invasion.
Nail Surgery
Partial nail avulsion is often more suitable than total avulsion. Removing only the segment of the nail plate involved should be encouraged in onychomycoses. This prevents the development of a distal nail wall. In distal subungual onychomycosis with hyperkeratosis, the heaped-up nail is easily clipped away.
What is subungual haemorrhage?
Subungual haemorrhage is bleeding under a nail where blood is located between the nail matrix and nail plate. Subungual haemorrhage (escape of blood) is also called subungual haematoma (collection of blood).
What are the clinical features of subungual haemorrhage?
Subungual haemorrhage usually presents as a single discoloured or pigmented nail, which may be painless, tender, or painful.
How is subungual haemorrhage diagnosed?
Subungual haemorrhage is a clinical diagnosis supported by dermoscopy.
What is the treatment for subungual haemorrhage?
No treatment is required for subungual haemorrhage in the majority of cases. In the case of repetitive subungual haemorrhage, precipitating factors should be avoided, such as tight or ill-fitting shoes.
What is the outcome for subungual haemorrhage?
Subungual haemorrhage resolves slowly over months to years, with toenails taking longer than fingernails to recover.
