Diseases of nails

Abstract

The nail organ is a complex structure that stabilizes and protects the finger and toe tips and, together with these, carries out important functions in fine manipulation. Moreover, the nails are also of great cosmetic significance. Diseases of the nails can lead to pain, functional limitations, and considerable impairment of quality of life. The anatomy and physiology of the nail are prerequisites for understanding pathological findings and target-oriented diagnostics, whereby a subdivision into structural changes of the nail plate and changes of the nail color is made. Depending on the appearance, the spectrum of differential diagnoses can be very broad in individual cases. Tumors of the nail region are of particular importance, especially acral lentiginous melanoma with its often delayed diagnosis. Not infrequently, nail changes can provide the decisive diagnostic clue to systemic diseases or genetic syndromes.