ABSTRACT
Examining the nail with margin-on dermatoscopy sometimes shows pigment in the lower or upper layer of the nail plate; this is more clearly seen in histopathology with adequate pigment stains. A variety of different nail biopsy techniques has been described, most of which are useful for certain purposes. They are nail plate biopsy, biopsy of subungual material, punch biopsy, fusiform biopsy of the nail bed, fusiform biopsy of the nail bed, lateral longitudinal nail biopsy, median longitudinal biopsy, oblique nail biopsy, tangential matrix biopsy and biopsy of the proximal nail fold. Nail biopsies are fragile and require careful handling. Formalin fixation is known to increase nail hardness and makes cutting even more difficult. Cedar oil softens the nail plate, thereby enabling the microtome to cut the tissue "like butter". There are no principal differences between reading a nail slide or another skin slide.
