Our nails are skin appendages that protect our fingertips and make it easier for us to hold objects. The upper hard, transparent part of the nail is called the nail plate. When we look under this plate, the pink part we see is the nail bed. The construction and growth of the nail occurs from the base point where it connects to the skin.

The surface of a healthy nail is smooth, shiny, resistant to breakage and also flexible. External factors such as some systemic diseases in the body, hormonal changes, medications or trauma may cause nail deterioration.

 

Color changes in the nails give us information about many diseases. While yellow discoloration and coarsening in the nail plate suggest nail fungus, dark brown and black color changes may be a nevus or "melanoma", one of the skin cancers. Changes in the color of the nails may also be observed with the use of some medications.

 

Some dermatological diseases also have specific nail involvement. While in lichen planus, longitudinal lines on the nails may appear like an angel wing, which we call "pterygium", in psoriasis (psoriasis), a condition called "pitting" or orange-like discoloration may be observed in the nails in the form of pinpoint holes. Chronic eczema can also cause nail disorders.

 

Wearing narrow-toed shoes or having the nail plate structurally too wide compared to the nail bed may cause ingrown nails.

 

Nail diseases can be very diverse. It is recommended to be examined by a dermatologist to make the correct diagnosis and determine the treatment.