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Dermatology  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Nail dystrophy
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.

Nail dystrophy

by meganj1104, Feb 22, 2001 12:00AM
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!

by Alan Rockoff, MD, Feb 22, 2001 12:00AM
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
Member Comments (1)

by shanta8380, May 09, 2008 05:28PM

by nazu_212, Oct 07, 2008 01:20PM
A related discussion, nail dystrophy was started.
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