Nail dystrophy

I was recently diagnosed as having some sort of nail dystrophy on my fingernails.  I was told the name of the condition but I cannot remember it and I was hoping you could help.  It began with a T and was called " T_________  dystrophy".  

Basically what is wrong with my nails now is that they have ridges that run vertically down the nail bed, and some have very prominent, bumpy knobs or ridges down the center of each nail.  I can file these down, but then the nail becomes very red, thin and painful.  My dermatologist showed me pictures from a nail textbook of the advanced stages of this disease, in which the cuticle grows all the way up the center of the nailbed, splitting the nail in two.  She told me that there was no treatment for this, and that if it got really advanced, surgery would be required to either remove the diseased part of the nail or to destroy the entire nail completely.  Can you provide any more information?  Thank you!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Not sure, Megan.  Some times what you describe is called, "Ten-Nail Dystrophy."  (Dystrophy just measn bad formation.)  Such problems of the nail are hard to pin down and usually impossible to treat.  Would you consdier covering them with artificial nails?  That would be quite safe, and might make you less unhgappy about a state of affairs which can't be undone.

But first I suggest you ask the doctor who made the diagnosis whether there are any treatment modes worth considering, even if the answer is likely to be negative.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[shanta8380]

A related discussion, I have a 5 and 1 year old  and there fingernails are falling off. was started.

[nazu_212]

A related discussion, nail dystrophy was started.