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There is white keratin between the nail and the skin.

Apr 07, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Qingyun
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, there is white keratin between the nail and the skin. This may be caused by factors such as skin friction, paronychia, onychomycosis, tinea manuum, or scleroderma, and requires symptomatic treatment. If one frequently engages in manual labor, the local skin is prone to excessive friction. After the squamous cells on the skin surface undergo keratinization, the aforementioned phenomenon can occur.

Under normal circumstances, there may be white keratin between the nail and the surrounding skin. This condition could be caused by factors such as skin friction, paronychia, onychomycosis, tinea manuum, or scleroderma, and requires symptomatic treatment. Specific details are as follows:

1. Skin Friction

If one frequently engages in manual labor, localized skin may experience excessive friction. After the squamous cells on the skin surface undergo keratinization, the aforementioned phenomenon may appear. Daily skincare measures can help; using hand cream appropriately can prevent keratin buildup due to excessively dry hands.

2. Paronychia

Paronychia is an infectious disease affecting the proximal, lateral, and surrounding tissues of the nail, typically caused by bacterial infection. Inflammatory irritation due to bacterial infection may lead to the appearance of white keratin. Under a doctor's guidance, patients may use medications such as miconazole nitrate cream or minocycline hydrochloride capsules for treatment.

3. Onychomycosis (Nail Fungus)

Onychomycosis is caused by fungal infection and manifests as cloudy nails, uneven or rough nail surfaces, or brittle, easily broken nails, which may result in white keratin between the nail and surrounding skin. It is recommended to take antifungal medications such as terbinafine hydrochloride tablets or griseofulvin tablets under medical supervision.

4. Tinea Manuum (Hand Fungus)

Tinea manuum is a fungal infection affecting the palms and fingers. The fungal infection may irritate the skin around the fingernails, leading to the aforementioned symptoms. Treatment with antifungal creams such as clotrimazole cream or ketoconazole cream, as directed by a physician, is recommended.

5. Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a skin disorder that causes thickening of the skin, including the skin around the nails and the nail bed. This may lead to accumulation of white keratin between the nail and skin. If symptoms are severe—such as finger ulcers or tissue necrosis—surgical intervention may be necessary.

Patients are advised to seek timely medical evaluation at a hospital to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment to prevent adverse outcomes.

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