14 Common Nail Disorders

4. a condition in which a blood clot forms under the nail plate, causing a dark purplish spot
6. also known as bitten nails, is the result of a habit of chewing the nail or the hardened, damaged skin surrounding the nail plate
7. are noticeably thin, white nail plates that are more flexible than normal
9. is a condition in which the living skin around the nail plate splits and tears
10. refers to split or brittle nails that have a series of lengthwise ridges giving a rough appearance to the surface of the nail plate
12. is darkening of the fingernails or toenails
13. also known as white spots, are whitish discolorations of the nails, usually caused by minor injury to the nail matrix
14. nails that turn a variety of colors, which may indicate surface staining, a systemic disorder, or poor blood circulation

1. are soft spoon nails with a concave shape that appear scooped out
2. also known as folded nail, is a type of highly curved nail plate usually caused by injury to the matrix, but it may be inherited
3. is caused by physical trauma or injury to the nail bed that damages the capillaries and allows small amounts of blood flow
5. sometimes called furrows or corrugations, are visible depressions running across the width of the natural nail plate
8. named for the nail bed color, is usually caused by a lack of circulating oxygen in the red blood cells
11. are vertical lines running down the length of the natural nail plate that are caused by uneven growth of the nails, usually the result of normal aging