Green nail: Etiology and treatment of chloronychia.

ABSTRACT

"Green nails" or chloronychia results from an infection mostly caused by Pseudomonas sp. but also from other bacterial or fungal contamination. Its presents as a typical triad green discoloration of the nail plate with proximal chronic paronychia and disto-lateral onycholysis. In a moist environment, Pseudomonas colonizes onycholysis of any origin (traumatic, inflammatory or tumoral). Nail color varies from pale green to dark green, almost black. Treatment consists in cutting of the detached nail plate, brushing the nail bed with a 2% sodium hypochlorite solution twice daily accompanied by moisture eviction by wearing latex gloves over cotton ones for all daily household tasks.