skin disorders
Deformities, Dystrophies, and Discoloration of the Nails
Effect of drugs on nails
Drugs may cause other nail problems, such as melanonychia striata (brown or black pigmented lines) and onycholysis. Different drugs lead to discoloration of the nail, which usually gets better after the drug is stopped and the nail grows out. Chemotherapy drugs may cause a darkening (hyperpigmentation) of the nail plate. Horizontal pigmented or white bands may also be seen in people treated with certain chemotherapy drugs. Chloroquine, a drug used in the treatment of parasitic infections and certain types of autoimmune diseases, can cause the nail bed to turn blue-black. Silver, which can be absorbed after occupational exposure or through taking dietary supplements containing colloidal silver protein, can cause the nails to turn a dark blue-gray. Drugs that contain gold, which is rarely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, can turn nails light or dark brown. Tetracyclineantibiotics,ketoconazole, sulfonamide antibiotics, phenindione, and phenothiazines can cause blue or brown discoloration. (ZDV), a drug used to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection , may cause brown-black longitudinal streaks. However, these streaks can also be present in people who have AIDS but are not receiving ZDV. Arsenic poisoning can cause horizontal white lines to form on the nails or cause the nails to turn brown. 