| Gary M. White & Neil H. Cox |
| Diseases of the Skin |
INTRODUCTION
The nails, like the hair, serve both cosmetic and functional roles. Women let them grow long and decorate them with color to enhance their appearance. All people use the nail to perform tasks that require dexterity. Too many patients use the nails to scratch the skin. Just as the follicle of the hair is subject to infection, so is the paronychial area of the nail. Fungal infection of the nail is an extremely common problem. Rarely, tumors may affect the nail, including melanoma. Children will often bite their nails, and periungual warts are common. Finally, the nail can serve as a window into the body, revealing problems with the heart, liver, or kidney.
White/Cox: Diseases of the Skin, 2ed.(c) 2006, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
