Onycholysis

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Background

Onycholysis is characterized by a spontaneous separation of the nail plate starting at the distal free margin and progressing proximally. In onycholysis, the nail plate is separated from the underlying and/or lateral supporting structures. Less often, separation of the nail plate begins at the proximal nail and extends to the free edge, which is seen most often in psoriasis of the nails (termed onychomadesis). Rare cases of onycholysis are confined to the nail's lateral borders. Treatments may include topical or intralesional corticosteroids, pulsed-dye laser, or psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) light.

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Thumb onycholysis. Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/assets/Uploads/hair-nails-sweat/olysis1.jpg).



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Great toe onycholysis. Courtesy of Professor Raimo Suhonen and DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/assets/Uploads/hair-nails-sweat/s/olysis7....

Pathophysiology

Nails with onycholysis usually are smooth, firm, and without inflammatory reaction. Onycholysis is not a disease of the nail matrix, but nail discoloration may appear underneath the nail as a result of secondary infection. When onycholysis occurs, a coexistent yeast infection is suggested. Treating primary and secondary factors that exacerbate onycholysis is important. Left untreated, severe cases of onycholysis may result in nail bed scarring.

Etiology of Onycholysis

Endogenous, exogenous, hereditary, and idiopathic factors can cause onycholysis. Contact irritants, trauma, and moisture are the most common causes of onycholysis, but other associations exist.

Endogenous factors in onycholysis

Systemic diseases and states in onycholysis are as follows:

Dermatologic diseases in onycholysis are as follows:

Neoplastic disorders in onycholysis are as follows:

Exogenous factors in onycholysis

Nonmicrobial factors in onycholysis (may be encountered at the job site, ie, as occupational onycholysis) are as follows:

Biologic/microbial factors are as follows:

Drug associations with onycholysis

Photo-induced associations, with medication and subsequent exposure to sunlight, are as follows:

Photo-induced associations with onycholysis, without medication and exposure to sunlight, are as follows:

Non-photo–induced associations with onycholysis[10] are as follows:

Other factors in onycholysis

These include the following:

Epidemiology

Frequency

The worldwide incidence of onycholysis is unknown.

Race

Distribution of onycholysis by race is unknown; however, onycholysis has been observed in persons of all races.

Sex

Individuals of either sex can have onycholysis; however, studies demonstrate an overwhelmingly female predilection.

Age

People of any age can present with onycholysis, although it primarily is a disease of adulthood.

Prognosis

Severe cases of onycholysis that are left untreated may result in nail bed scarring.

Patient Education

Educate patients with onycholysis about avoiding possible contact irritants, trauma, and moisture.

For patient education resources, see the Skin Conditions & Beauty Center and the patient education articles Nail Psoriasis and Onychomycosis.

History

Evaluation of patients with onycholysis requires a careful history of exposure to etiologic agents.

Physical Examination

In onycholysis, nails are smooth, firm, and without inflammatory reaction.

Discoloration underneath the nail may occur as a result of secondary infection.

Spontaneous separation of the nail plate in onycholysis starts at the distal free margin and progresses proximally. Less often, nail plate separation may begin at the proximal nail and extend to the free edge. The nail plate is separated from underlying and/or lateral supporting structures.

Nail plate separation can be confined to the nail's lateral borders (rare).

Laboratory Studies

Perform mycologic studies to exclude onychomycosis, including potassium hydroxide wet mount and fungal cultures. If these studies do not yield a positive result, a nail biopsy and staining of the specimen with hematoxylin and eosin stain and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain (for fungus) may be performed.

Histologic Findings

Onycholysis is a clinical diagnosis and has no specific histology; however, if onychomycosis is the etiology for the onycholysis, hyphae are seen lying between the laminae of nail parallel to the surface. The ventral nail and the stratum corneum of the nail bed are affected preferentially. The epidermis may show spongiosis and focal parakeratosis. The inflammatory response in the dermis is minimal. Hyphae may be seen best using PAS stain.

Medical Care

Treatment for onycholysis varies and depends on its cause. Eliminating the predisposing cause of the onycholysis is the best treatment. Onycholysis related to psoriasis or eczema may respond to a midstrength topical corticosteroid. Pulsed dye laser treatment was reported as effective for psoriasis-induced onycholysis in one small series,[16] but caution is advised until more data are available regarding this intervention. Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) treatment has also been reported as an effective therapy for psoriatic onycholysis.[17] Note the following:

Intralesional injection may be required for onycholysis associated with more severe psoriatic nail dystrophy. Note the following:

Activity

Advise patients with onycholysis to avoid contact irritants, trauma, and moisture.

Prevention

Patients with onycholysis should avoid contact irritants, trauma, and moisture.

Keep nail beds dry.

Keep nails short; clip affected portions.

Wear light cotton gloves under vinyl gloves for wet work.

Docetaxel-induced onycholysis may be prevented by wearing a frozen glove for 90 minutes during infusion of the chemotherapeutic agent.[18, 19]

Medication Summary

In onycholysis, apply a topical antifungal imidazole or allylamine twice daily to avoid superinfection of the nail. An oral broad-spectrum antifungal agent (ie, fluconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine) may be used for cases with concomitant onychomycosis.

Midstrength topical corticosteroids are suitable for isolated onycholysis. High-potency topical steroids (eg, clobetasol ointment) under occlusion have been used with less than ideal results for patients with severe nail dystrophy unwilling to undergo intralesional injection of corticosteroids. Patients follow this regimen for 2 weeks and then discontinue use of topical steroids for 2 weeks to avoid the other local adverse effects of topical steroids.

Massaging 5-fluorouracil 1% solution twice a day into the proximal nail fold for 4 months has been effective for patients with nail pitting and hyperkeratosis from psoriasis. Application to the free end of the nail should be avoided, as this will cause onycholysis. Localized PUVA, oral etretinate, hydroxyurea, and isotretinoin are other agents that have had some success in treating onycholysis resulting from psoriasis.

Treatment is not without adverse effects. They may include subungual hematoma secondary to intralesional steroid injections and photo hemolysis secondary to PUVA treatment. Explain risks to patients before initiating therapy.

Clotrimazole (Mycelex, Lotrimin)

Clinical Context:  Clotrimazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that inhibits yeast growth by altering cell membrane permeability, causing the death of fungal cells.

Econazole topical (Ecoza)

Clinical Context:  Econazole is effective in cutaneous infections. It interferes with RNA and protein synthesis and metabolism. Econazole disrupts fungal cell wall membrane permeability, causing fungal cell death.

Ketoconazole topical (Nizoral)

Clinical Context:  Ketoconazole is an imidazole broad-spectrum antifungal agent; it inhibits the synthesis of ergosterol, causing cellular components to leak, resulting in fungal cell death.

Fluconazole (Diflucan)

Clinical Context:  Fluconazole is a synthetic oral antifungal (broad-spectrum bistriazole) that selectively inhibits fungal cytochrome P450 and sterol C-14 alpha-demethylation.

Itraconazole (Sporanox)

Clinical Context:  Itraconazole has fungistatic activity. It is a synthetic triazole antifungal agent that slows fungal cell growth by inhibiting cytochrome P-450-dependent synthesis of ergosterol, a vital component of fungal cell membranes.

Terbinafine (Lamisil)

Clinical Context:  Terbinafine was the first oral allylamine antimycotic agent to be released, having a different mode of action than the azoles. It is considered to be fungicidal, rather than fungistatic. It inhibits the enzyme squalene epoxidase in the sterol synthesis pathway.

Class Summary

Antifungals treat superinfection of the onycholytic nail by dermatophytic molds and/or candidal yeasts.

Triamcinolone (Aristocort)

Clinical Context:  Triamcinolone is used for inflammatory dermatosis responsive to steroids. It decreases inflammation by suppressing the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and reversing capillary permeability.

Clobetasol (Temovate)

Clinical Context:  Clobetasol is a class I superpotent topical steroid; it suppresses mitosis and increases synthesis of proteins that decrease inflammation and cause vasoconstriction.

Class Summary

Corticosteroids treat noninfectious causes of onycholysis. They have anti-inflammatory properties and cause profound and varied metabolic effects. Corticosteroids modify the body's immune response to diverse stimuli. Intralesional and topical corticosteroids are designed to treat any noninfectious inflammatory condition associated with onycholysis with minimal risk for systemic absorption.

Fluorouracil topical (Fluoroplex)

Clinical Context:  Fluorouracil is a fluorinated pyrimidine analog used in topical form to treat actinic keratoses. It has an unknown mechanism in treating onycholysis. Use 1% solution.

Class Summary

Topical pyrimidine antagonists inhibit cell growth and proliferation. Their mechanism is unknown for treating onycholysis. They are reported to be effective in the treatment of nail pitting and onycholysis associated with psoriasis.

What is onycholysis?What is the pathophysiology of onycholysis?Which medications are associated with non-photo-induced onycholysis?What causes onycholysis?Which systemic diseases are associated with onycholysis?Which dermatologic diseases are associated with onycholysis?Which neoplastic disorders are associated with onycholysis?What are the nonmicrobial causes of onycholysis?What are microbial causes of onycholysis?Which medications are associated with photo-induced onycholysis?What are the causes of non-medication photo-induced onycholysis?What are the types of onycholysis?What is the global incidence of onycholysis?What are the racial predilections of onycholysis?What are the sexual predilections of onycholysis?Which age groups are at highest risk for onycholysis?What is the prognosis of onycholysis?What is included in patient education about onycholysis?Which physical findings are characteristic of onycholysis?What is the role of lab testing in the diagnosis of onycholysis?Which histological findings are characteristic of onycholysis?How is onycholysis treated?What is the role of intralesional injection in the treatment of onycholysis?What should patients with onycholysis avoid?How is onycholysis prevented?What is the role of topical agents in the treatment of onycholysis?Which medications in the drug class Pyrimidine antagonists, topical are used in the treatment of Onycholysis?Which medications in the drug class Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of Onycholysis?Which medications in the drug class Antifungals are used in the treatment of Onycholysis?

Author

Melanie S Hecker, MD, MBA, President, Hecker Dermatology Group; Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Imperial Point Medical Center, Holy Cross Hospital, and North Broward Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

David Hecker, MD, Consulting Staff, Dermatology Specialists of Palm Beach County

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editors

Richard P Vinson, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD, Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Disclosure: Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Elsevier; WebMD.

Additional Contributors

Richard K Scher, MD, Adjunct Professor of Dermatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine; Professor Emeritus of Dermatology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Thumb onycholysis. Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/assets/Uploads/hair-nails-sweat/olysis1.jpg).

Great toe onycholysis. Courtesy of Professor Raimo Suhonen and DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/assets/Uploads/hair-nails-sweat/s/olysis7.jpg).

Thumb onycholysis. Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/assets/Uploads/hair-nails-sweat/olysis1.jpg).

Great toe onycholysis. Courtesy of Professor Raimo Suhonen and DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/assets/Uploads/hair-nails-sweat/s/olysis7.jpg).