What is the technical term for any nail disease?

The term for any nail disease is onychosis. This term encompasses a variety of conditions that can affect the nails, including changes in appearance, structure, color, or texture. Onychosis specifically refers to pathologies affecting the nail unit, which includes the nail plate, nail bed, and surrounding tissues.

Understanding this term is crucial for those in the nail care industry, as it enables professionals to recognize and differentiate between various nail disorders, allowing for proper diagnosis and recommendations for care or referral to a medical professional when necessary.

The other terms mentioned refer to more specific conditions or types of ailments. Dermatitis generally refers to inflammation of the skin rather than the nails. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin condition that can affect the nails but is not exclusively related to nail diseases. Chilblains are skin reactions to cold that affect extremities but do not pertain specifically to nails. Therefore, onychosis is the accurate term to describe nail diseases as a whole.