Nail lichen striatus: Is dermoscopy useful for the diagnosis?

Dermoscopic Nail Changes in Psoriasis, Lichen Planus, and Lichen Striatus

Background

Onychoscopy is a noninvasive method helpful in diagnosing nail disorders. The aim of the study was to review literature on the usability of onychoscopy in nail psoriasis, nail lichen planus, and nail lichen striatus.

Summary

Onychoscopic features of nail psoriasis are pitting, onycholysis with erythematous border, salmon patches, splinter hemorrhages, dotted vessels in lateral and proximal folds, and hyponychium. Onychoscopic features of nail lichen planus are onychorrhexis, onycholysis, longitudinal melanonychia, and red lunula. The literature on the usability of onychoscopy in nail lichen striatus is scarce.

Keynotes

Onychoscopy facilitates evaluation of nail abnormalities compared to the clinical examination. Lunular alterations, salmon patches, erythematous border of onycholysis as well as splinter hemorrhages in nail psoriasis are better visualized with onychoscopy compared to the naked eye. Onychoscopy enhances detection of melanonychia, dyschromia, and lunular changes in nail lichen planus. Onychoscopic features are different in fingernails and toenails.

Nail disorders to be kept in mind

Recognizing and diagnosing the most common nail diseases is essential, to be able to guide patients and provide appropriate treatment. However, uncommon nail disorders should not be neglected, in order to avoid inadequate treatment and above all to ensure that no severe underlying disorder, with severe prognosis, is overlooked.

Pediatric nail disorders: a review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Nail disorders represent an uncommon subset of complaints seen in pediatric dermatology. There is a wide array of disorders that can affect the nail unit in children, including infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, congenital, and traumatic processes. In order to enhance familiarity with pediatric nail conditions, we review the background and treatment of the more common entities seen in pediatric onychology, including onychomycosis, onychomadesis, nail psoriasis, trachyonychia, longitudinal melanonychia, onychophagia, and onychocryptosis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Nail involvement in pediatric patients with psoriasis may indicate increased risk for both overall disease severity and the development psoriatic arthritis. In the evaluation of longitudinal melanonychia, the clinical findings that raise concern for subungual melanoma in adults are often found in benign nail unit nevi in children. In the systemic treatment of pediatric onychomycosis, new data raises the possibility that laboratory monitoring may be approached differently. In the approach to onychophagia, emerging pharmacotherapies include N-acetylcysteine.

SUMMARY

Most nail disorders in pediatric patients have an overall favorable prognosis. However, nail abnormalities can lead to patient and parental anxiety, decreased quality of life, pain, and functional impairment. Clinicians should be aware of these more common diverse entities in order to identify them and apply state of the art management for these issues. Additionally, the reader will learn factors related to these nail disorders, which may require systemic work-up and/or specialist referral.