Geriatric Nails as A Window to Their Health and Skin

Dermatological examination is never complete without a careful evaluation of the nails. The elderly, who constitute a significant proportion of the present day society, show various age-related changes and disorders affecting their nail. This is generally due to susceptibility of the aging nail to fungal infections and impaired circulation. Concurrent dermatological or systemic diseases, and related treatments and faulty biomechanics also play a crucial role.[1] Age associated disorders include brittle, dull and lusterless nails, onychorrhexis, onychodystrophy, longitudinal ridging, melanonychia, platyonychia, sub-ungual hyperkeratosis, transverse ridging, pitting, onycholysis, longitudinal splitting, onychomycosis and koilonychia This study has been undertaken for nail disorders and nail changes in the elderly because of the scarcity of such studies in our country.