What Is The Cause And Treatment For Terry's Nails?

Posted on Wed, 23 Jul 2014

Question: Hello…I am 48 yo female. I drank heavy for many years…about 10… and then when I tried to stopped, I would binge very few months for several days. I now havw Terry's Nails, but have been to lots of Dr.s and had every test except a biopsy, that have a ll been normal. They tell me not too worry. Can Terry's nails result just from alcohol abuse or a damaged liver and not mean that you have chirrosis? Is there a possibility that my liver could repair with no drinking? Thank you for your feedback as I am very scared.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer: XXXXXXX nails

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query and I have understood it.
XXXXXXX nails is described as a “ground glass opacity” of the entire nail bed with the exception of “the distal zone of normal pink,” which is a 1- to 2-mm transverse band adjacent to the free edge of the nail bed.
XXXXXXX nails may be part of a normal aging process or a sign of systemic disease that ages the nails prematurely. XXXXXXX nails represent an important nail abnormality for clinicians to identify, to consider various associated systemic disorders especially hepatic cirrhosis and others like hypertension, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, collagen vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease etc.

Normally alcohol abuse OR liver changes less than cirrhosis, don't lead to XXXXXXX nails. Therefore hepatic cirrhosis should be ruled out with appropriate investigations specially since you have a long history of alcoholism, but XXXXXXX nails does'nt necessarily mean that you definitely have hepatic cirrhosis..

Liver, if not cirrhosed can definitely repair on abstaining from drinking alcohol.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 hours later)

The problem is that I have seen many Dr.'s and they say all my tests are normal so I should not worry. Can a CT scan show cirrhosis along with labs?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (7 hours later)

Brief Answer: XXXXXXX nails

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Liver function tests, CT scan and ultrasound liver can give a fairly clear idea whether there is Liver fibrosis/cirrhosis or not. However MRI is the most sensitive imaging study. If the doctors are saying that you have nothing to worry about then I think you should stop worrying and get on with your life!!

Regards

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar