ABSTRACT
Both hair and nails are epidermal structures that arise from invaginations of the epidermis into the skin. Hair and nails may develop signs of disorder such as psoriasis or lichen planus in the absence of obvious skin disease. In addition, there are disorders that are confined to either the hair or the nails. Hair loss may be diffuse over the scalp or localized to one or several sites on the scalp. The process may also be destructive and cause scarring or may be non-scarring in nature. Hirsutes is the name given to the complaint of excessive hair growth in women. Psoriasis, lichen planus and eczema may all affect the nails, causing characteristic clinical appearances. Paronychia is applied to inflammation of the tissues at the sides of the nail. Onycholysis is a physical sign in which the terminal nail plate separates from the underlying nail bed. Ringworm of the toenails is quite common, but much less common in the fingernails.
