THE MACRONYCHIA. DEFINITION AND CAUSES

The macronychia is the abnormal increase of the width or length of nails. It can affect one or several nails. The causes are congenital or acquired, being associated with hippocratic toes, acromegaly, giantism, chondropathy, hypophysis disorders, and pulmonary chronic diseases. When watching the profile toe, the angle formed by the proximal nail fold and the nail layer (Lovibond’s angle) is equal or less than 160 degrees. The acropachy is the alteration of the size of the nail in a rounded and convex shape as the result of the changes in the nail bed by interstitial edema, spongiosis of the nail layer and the increase of thickness. The macronychia, due to its morphology, can cause onychocryptosis (commonly called ingrowing nail). The present discoveries at a nail disorder level can provide important diagnostic details with reference to underlying systemic diseases directing us to a differential diagnosis and a subsequent treatment.