Eczema on the nails can cause discoloration, grooving, pitting, and other problems.
It usually occurs in people who have eczema elsewhere on the body.
This article discusses eczema on the nails, what it looks like, and how it is diagnosed.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org 2022
It also looks at some of the things you could do to reduce eczema on your nails.
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Reproduced with permission from DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org 2022
What Is Nail Eczema?
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org 2022
Eczema is a common skin disease affecting around 5.5% of American adults.It’s also calledatopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is only one of the multiple types of eczema.
Eczema is characterized by red, itchy skin.
It can involve any area of the body.
Usually, someone with fingernail or toenail eczema has eczema elsewhere on their body.
When eczema affects the hands and feet, it’s calledpompholyxeczema.
While nail eczema can appear at any age, nail psoriasis typically shows up inolder adults.
A 2019 study looked at the nails of 235 patients aged 2 to 19 with eczema.
Does nail eczema loosen the toenails?
Usually, eczema in the nail doesn’t loosen the toenail.
However, it can cause other symptoms like crumbling nails.
Nail eczema can also cause grooved and thin nails.
Treatment may involve avoiding triggers and/or using topical steroids.
2019;31(2):121-126. doi:10.5021/ad.2019.31.2.121
