Blue nails

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Azure Lunula
Minocycline induced blue nails (DermNet NZ blue-nails-0).jpg
Blue nails due to minocycline
SpecialtyDermatology

Blue nails are a blue discoloration of the nail.[1] It generally refers to Azure lunulae, the blue nails seen in silver poisoning and cases of Wilson's disease.[2]

Blue nails may be normal in some black people, and can be associated with subungal hematoma, melanotic whitlow and blue naevus.[1] Nails may turn blue with some medications including 5-FU, minocycline, antimalarials, hydroxyurea, imipramine and azidothymidine.[1]

Clinical features

Causes

The blue lunulae may be seen in argyria and cases of Wilson's disease, and has been reported in hemoglobin M disease and hereditary acrolabial telangiectases.[1] Medications that can cause nails to turn blue include 5-FU, minocycline, antimalarials, hydroxyurea, imipramine and azidothymidine.[1] Other conditions associated with blue nails include subungal hematoma, melanotic whitlow and blue naevus.[1]

In Wilson's disease the blue color involves the lunula (most intense pigmentation) and fades proximally. In argyria, the nail is permanently pigmented a slate-blue color and is most evident in the lunula. Minocycline and Zidovudine can also turn the nail plate blue-gray.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 James, William D.; Elston, Dirk; Treat, James R.; Rosenbach, Misha A.; Neuhaus, Isaac (2020). "33. Diseases of the skin appendages". Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (13th ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier. p. 790. ISBN 978-0-323-54753-6. Archived from the original on 2022-04-14. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
  2. Johnstone, Ronald B. (2017). "2. Diagnostic clues and "need-to-know" items". Weedon's Skin Pathology Essentials (2nd ed.). Elsevier. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-7020-6830-0. Archived from the original on 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  3. Tosti A, Iorizzo M, Piraccini BM, Starace M (July 2006). "The nail in systemic diseases". Dermatol Clin. 24 (3): 341–7. doi:10.1016/j.det.2006.03.005. PMID 16798431. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2018-07-15.

External links

Classification