title: Severe Onychodystrophy due to Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Acrylic Nails.
abstract: Acrylic nails, including sculptured nails and the new ultraviolet-curable gel polish lacquers, have been associated with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). We report 2 cases of ACD to acrylic nails with severe onychodystrophy and psoriasiform changes including onycholysis and subungual hyperkeratosis. In both cases, the patients did not realize the association between the use of acrylate-based manicures and nail changes. One patient had been previously misdiagnosed and treated unsuccessfully for nail psoriasis. The informed clinician should elicit a history of acrylic manicure in patients with these nail changes, especially in cases of suspected nail psoriasis refractory to treatment. Patch testing is a useful tool in confirming diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Lumina Laser Clinic, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattos Simoes Mendonca
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: LaSenna
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosti
keywords: Acrylate; Methacrylate; Onycholysis; Sculptured nails; Subungual hyperkeratosis; Ultraviolet-curable nail lacquers