Hair and nails

Abstract

Background: Hair and nails are elements of dermatology that can often be omitted from the dermatological assessment. However, there are common and distressing hair and nail conditions that require diagnosis and management.

Objective: This article considers common and important hair and nail presentations to general practice. General and specific conditions will be discussed.

Discussion: Hair conditions may have significant psychological implications. This article considers assessment and management of conditions of too much hair, hair loss or hair in the wrong places. It also considers the common nail conditions seen in general practice and provides a guide to diagnosis and management.