Photoonycholysis.
OBJECTIVE
Photoonycholysis may be seen as a part of Segal's triad, photosensitivity followed by discoloration of the nails and onycholysis. But the latter may also appear, independently, in the absence of photosensitive reaction elsewhere.


METHODS
Photoonycholysis may result from drug intake, porphyria cutanea tarda, erythropoietic porphyria, erythropoietic protoporphyria, variegate porphyria and pseudoporphyria. Rarely, spontaneous photoonycholysis may be observed.


RESULTS
Four distinct subtypes have been recorded without relationship between the responsible drugs and the different clinical varieties of photoonycholysis. Primary photohemorrhage can occur; it can also be associated with polydactylous photoonycholysis type III.


CONCLUSIONS
The inability to reproduce photoonycholysis experimentally should be emphasized.
Baran
Robert
R
Nail Disease Centre, 42, rue des Serbes, 06400 Cannes, France. baran.r@club-internet.fr
Juhlin
Lennart
L
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009262:Nails / Q000473:pathology; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011164:Porphyrias / Q000150:complications
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011564:Furocoumarins