Nail Care Research Articles

Treatment of nail diseases in the emergency department

Background Although Americans seek care for their nail diseases on an outpatient basis, they also seek nail care in the setting of the emergency department (ED). Purpose This study aims to characterize the treatment of nail diseases at ED visits in the United States from 2009–2018. Methods Data from 2009–2018 was collected from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for EDs. Results There was an estimated 1.54 (95% CI [1.35, 1.74]) million nail visits to the ED from 2009–2018. Whites accounted for the most visits (57%), followed by African Americans (21%). 25–44-year-olds was the age group with the most visits. The South was the region with the most visits (33%). The most common diagnosis was paronychia (42%). Treatments for paronychia included oral antibiotics, incision and drainage, or both. Limitations The accuracy of reporting the correct diagnosis remains the biggest limitation. Conclusions Nail disease visits accounted for over a million visits to the ED from 2009–2018. All ages and sexes were represented in these visits. Paronychia made up the largest portion of visits and was treated with oral antibiotics, incision and drainage, or both.

Nanotechnology Based Cosmeceuticals

Nanotechnology manifests the progression within stage of research and development, by increasing the efficacy of the merchandise through delivery of innovative solutions. to beat certain drawbacks associated with the traditional products, application of nanotechnology is escalating within the world of cosmeceuticals. In private care industry, cosmeceuticals are considered the fastest growing segment and thus the use has risen drastically over the years. Nanocosmeceuticals used for skin, hair, nail, and lip care, for conditions like wrinkles, photoaging, hyperpigmentation, dandruff, and hair damage, have inherit widespread use. Novel nanocarriers like nano emulsions, liposomes, microemulsions, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanospheres and nanostructured lipid carrier have replaced the usage of conventional delivery system. These novel nanocarriers have advantages of controlled and sustained drug release, enhanced skin penetration, higher stability, high entrapment efficiency and site-specific targeting. However, nanotoxicological researches have indicated concern regarding the impact of increased use of nanoparticles in cosmeceuticals as there are possibilities of nanoparticles to penetrate through skin and cause health hazards. This review on nanotechnology utilized in cosmeceuticals highlights the various novel carriers used for the delivery of cosmeceuticals, marketed formulations, their positive and negative aspects, toxicity, and regulations of nanocosmeceuticals.

Parrot Beak Nail: Case Report and Review of Parrot Beak Nail Dystrophy

Parrot beak nail dystrophy is an excessive forward curvature of the nail plate that can affect both fingernails and toenails. Few cases have been reported since its original description in 1971; however, the incidence is estimated to be 2.5% in healthy individuals. Although the pathogenesis has not yet been established, parrot beak nail has been associated with chronic crack cocaine use, congenital bone or soft tissue abnormalities, other nail dystrophies, peripheral neuropathy, systemic sclerosis, and trauma to the nail. We describe an 86-year-old man with dementia and neuropathy who presented with an unperceived parrot beak nail of his left fourth toenail and concurrent onycholysis of his left great toenail. He had stopped visits with his podiatrist for nail care, which fostered the growth of these nail dystrophies. Our patient’s parrot beak nail was successfully treated with nail clipping and regular nail maintenance to prevent its recurrence. The associated conditions, etiologies, and treatment of parrot beak nails are discussed.

Fungal Lung.

Foot and nail care specialists spend a great portion of their day using nail drills to reduce nail thickness and smooth foot calluses. This process generates a large amount of dust, some of which is small enough to breathe in and deposit into the deepest regions of the respiratory tract, potentially causing health problems. Foot and nail dust often contains fungi, from both fungus-infected and healthy-appearing nails. Although the majority of healthy individuals can tolerate inhaled fungi, the immune systems of older, immunocompromised, and allergy-prone individuals often react using the inflammatory T helper cell type 2 pathway, leading to mucus overproduction, bronchoconstriction, and, in severe cases, lung tissue damage. To protect vulnerable podiatry professionals, wearing a surgical mask, using a water spray suppression system on nail drills, installing air filtration systems, and considering drilling technique can help reduce exposure to nail dust.

Commentary: Social Determinants of Health and Its Impact on Wound, Ostomy, Continence, and Foot and Nail Care.

Commentary: Social Determinants of Health and Its Impact on Wound, Ostomy, Continence, and Foot and Nail Care.

COVID-19 lockdown disrupts support networks integral to maintaining foot health: a mixed-methods study

BackgroundIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, populations were advised to remain at home to control viral spread. Government-mandated restrictions on free movement affected individuals’ engagement with physical activity, with reported increases leading to biopsychosocial health benefits and conversely increased sedentary behaviour leading to poorer health. Good foot health is key to enabling physical activity and maximal participation in activities of occupation and daily living.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was performed, using a web-based platform. Quantitative and qualitative data were captured through responses to closed and open survey questions. Anybody with a foot health condition was eligible to participate in the online survey. Links were sent through professional networks, support groups and charities, using a snowball strategy to maximise participation.ResultsTwo hundred fifty-five respondents completed the survey. Most (n = 193, 75.69%) reported an ongoing foot pain or problem that had been present for 4 weeks or longer, whilst 49 respondents (19.22%) noted a new pain or problem. Pain was the most frequently reported symptom (n = 139, 54.51%), whilst change in appearance of the foot was also commonly reported (n = 122, 47.84%), often alongside the observable presence of swelling. Musculoskeletal foot symptoms were frequently reported (n = 123, 48%), and were significantly associated with reported reduced physical activity (X2 = 6.61, p = 0.010). Following qualitative analysis five themes and 11 subthemes emerged, informed by 49 independent codes. A central theme of lockdown disrupting support networks, both formal (healthcare providers) and informal (friends or family members) emerged. The 5 sub-themes were: 1. foot pain is a constant companion, 2. self-care, 3. ‘cope or crumble’ scenarios, 4. future intent to access healthcare and 5. reduced ability to undertake physical activity.ConclusionsPain was the most frequently reported foot problem during COVID-19 lockdown restriction. Lockdown restrictions disrupted support networks integral to maintaining foot health. Poor foot health impacted people’s ability to remain physically active. Complaints previously considered relatively ‘minor’ such as support for skin and nail care, were found to be exacerbated by restricted support networks, leading to greater negative impact.

Correlations Among Consumers’ Perception, Satisfaction, and Preference by Nail-care Method

As the nail-care industry emerges as a high value-added industry in the Republic of Korea, consumer psychology has drawn attention as a significant demand variable. Under such circumstances, this study attempted to investigate the correlations among variables. The purpose of this study is to derive implications for the service development of the nail care industry by examining the impact on the perception of wet care and dry care methods of nail care and consumers satisfaction and preference, and analyzing their correlation. For this, a questionnaire survey was performed among 380 customers, and their perception, satisfaction, and preferences are analyzed and their correlation with each other was examined. As a research method, statistical analysis was used through reliability analysis, frequency analysis, one-way variance analysis (ANOVA), and correlation analysis as the result of the survey. The results found the following: In terms of consumer perception on two different nail care services (dry care, wet care), ‘wet care’ was viewed more positively. And Consumer satisfaction increased as consumer preferences improved. Therefore, there is a necessity to improve dry care-related consumer perception to maximize the promotion of nail care services. To accomplish this, it is required to launch diverse differentiation strategies.

Beauty Education Methodology and Content Requirements of Multicultural Families

Purpose: This study purposed to investigate the methodologies of beauty education and to ascertain the curricular requirements for multicultural families. Methods: A survey was conducted with multicultural families comprising foreign workers and international marriage migrants living in Ansan and Suwon in Gyeonggi-do. The SPSS 23.0 program was utilized to perform percentage, mean, and standard deviation analyses. A chi-square test (χ2-test) and descriptive statistical examination was also undertaken to determine the differential demands for beauty education methods and content. Results: Most multicultural families desire hair and nail education and desire training from technical instructors and employed beauticians in the form of specialized lectures or field training in the hope of acquiring skills that will help them become employed in the future. They also want the curriculum to include hair cutting, facial skin care, essential nail care, nail art, and basic make-up education. The desired course content should be designed to impart foundational skills to match the national competency standards (NCS). Multicultural families would also prefer the course to encompass practical training that will confer the requisite skills. Conclusion: Beauty education with hands-on training can accord multicultural families a means of finding stable employment. This study found that beauty education programs may serve as educational opportunities that could facilitate a more stable settlement in Korean society for first-generation multicultural families with children.

13609 Nail degradation and decomposition secondary to extended use of cuticle remover cosmetic solutions

Background: Nail dystrophy commonly presents in dermatology, often secondary to cosmetic use for nail decoration, care, and maintenance. Reported side effects include contact dermatitis, leukonychia, onycholysis, brittle nails, and secondary infections. Chemical products used to soften or remove cuticles frequently cause local irritant reactions due to keratolytic effects of their active ingredients, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH), often in 2%-5% concentrations. Recommended application times typically range from 1 to 10 minutes, but a unique crateriform onychodystrophy has been observed in a patient who kept a cuticle product on overnight to allow prolonged contact. This study further investigates this finding and the effects of improper use of keratolytic products.

Foot Problems in Patients in Acute Care: A Point-Prevalence Survey.

Determine the prevalence of foot problems in an inpatient population and to describe demographic data, comorbid conditions, and type of footwear worn. Observational point-prevalence cross-sectional design. The study setting was a 722-bed licensed hospital in Western Australia. A convenience sampling was used to include adults hospitalized in the study setting during the period of data collection. A subset of foot questions, guided by a literature review, and input from foot, wound, diabetes, and psychometric researchers and clinicians, was incorporated into the hospital point-prevalence survey conducted annually for nursing safety and quality. Trained nurses collected data during the 1-day survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and 2-tailed tests; associations between study variables were analyzed. Two hundred twenty-one patients participated in the survey; a majority (n = 193, 87%) self-reported at least 1 foot problem. More than half (n = 124) reported 3 foot problems and nearly one-third (n = 67) had 5 or more foot problems. Thick nails, damaged nails, and calluses and corns were the most frequently occurring foot problems. Older participants were more likely to have certain foot problems such as calluses and thick nails. Eleven (5%) participants were admitted to the hospital for a foot-related condition. The majority of foot problems in our study were found to be minor and not the primary admitting diagnosis. However, even minor foot problems can pose a risk of worsening, especially in high-risk populations such as those with diabetes. Thus, detection is critical in overall patient assessment, and nurses play a critical role in assessment and management of minor foot problems through the delivery of skin and nail care and through collaboration with other professionals who provide specialized foot care.

O impacto das ações de extensão para o autocuidado e bem-estar do idoso: relato de experiência

Objetivo: relatar a experiência da realização de uma ação de extensão voltada ao estímulo do autocuidado da pessoa idosa. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo do tipo relato de experiência, com abordagem descritiva e natureza qualitativa, realizado em um centro comunitário no município de Belém. A atividade foi executada por ligantes da Liga de Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem (LASAE), com cerca de 20 idosos de ambos os sexos. A ação foi dividida em três momentos, o primeiro ocorreu a partir do reconhecimento do local da atividade; o segundo momento se sucedeu através de uma roda de conversa com abordagens sobre temas referentes ao envelhecimento saudável, autocuidado, sexualidade entre outros; o terceiro momento ocorreu a partir de uma atividade individual, na qual os idosos foram divididos em duplas e foi aplicado a massoterapia, cuidado com unhas para os homens e penteado e maquiagem para nas mulheres. Resultados: A realização da atividade de extensão universitária permitiu a aproximação dos acadêmicos com a comunidade. Além disso, na segunda etapa houve orientação e identificação de fatores determinantes e condicionantes de saúde. Posteriormente, a atividade individual permitiu um momento relaxante para os participantes, abordagem de temas referentes a saúde mental, autoestima e autocuidado. Conclusão: A realização da atividade de extensão possibilitou a sensibilização dos idosos em relação aos benefícios do autocuidado para o seu bem-estar.

Contact Dermatitis Associated With Nail Care Products: Retrospective Analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group Data, 2001-2016.

Ingredients in nail care products may lead to allergic and/or irritant contact dermatitis. The aims of this study were to determine frequency of contact dermatitis associated with nail care products, characterize associated body sites, and describe causative allergens. A retrospective analysis was conducted with the North American Contact Dermatitis Group data between 2001 and 2016. Of the 38,775 patients tested, 769 (2.0%) had: 1) more than 1 allergic patch test reaction associated with a nail care product (n = 746), 2) irritant contact dermatitis associated with a nail care product (n = 14), or 3) both (n = 9). Primary body sites included the face (43.0%) and hands (27.6%). The top 5 allergens were (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (273/482, 56.6%), methyl methacrylate (210/755, 27.8%), ethyl acrylate (190/755, 25.2%), ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate (12/175, 6.9%) and tosylamide (273/755, 36.2%). Frequency of allergy to 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (P = 0.0069) and ethyl acrylate (P = 0.0024) significantly increased over the study period, whereas allergy secondary to tosylamide significantly decreased (P < 0.0001). As long-lasting nail techniques become widespread, the prevalence of contact dermatitis to nail care products is expected to increase. Almost one-fifth of nail care product-associated allergens would have been missed without additional screening allergens beyond the North American Contact Dermatitis Group series, underscoring the need for testing to a broad array of allergens.

Knowledge and Attitude Among Lebanese Women Toward Hazardous Chemicals Used in Nail Cosmetics.

Middle Eastern women seek frequently for self-adornment. Harmful effects of chemicals used in nail care services have involved women worldwide. This study was performed to determine Lebanese women's knowledge and attitudes toward adverse effects of compounds used in nail cosmetics. A national cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire and targeting women in Lebanon. Data was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, nail cosmetics' application, preventive measures, perceived knowledge and self-reported side effects associated with nail cosmetic's use. A total cumulative knowledge score was calculated to categorize consumer knowledge. A total of 573 women completed the survey. Young women with a high school education or beyond were overrepresented. Most of the participants preferred applying classic manicure and removers on a weekly basis. Over 82% had poor/fair knowledge about health hazards associated with chemical compounds used in nail cosmetics with their levels of education acting as a key factor. Skin and neurological symptoms werethe more frequently self-reported symptoms. Interestingly, the use of a nail hardener was linked to a higher prevalence of headache, nausea, allergy, skin irritation, itching and burn. The prevalence of the three later symptoms was higher among gel users. Moreover, few participants read nail cosmetics' labels or questioned their safety. Although nail cosmetics' application was common among Lebanese women, there is poor knowledge regarding their harmful effects. Based on these findings, it is warranted to launch health awareness campaigns and introduce a cosmetovigilance system to ensure the safety of the consumer products.

Nail Care for Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Nail Care for Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Nail StrainStress Meter NM 100: A novel in vivo method to characterize biomechanical properties of nails.

Nowadays, nail care products are extremely important both in medical and cosmetic fields. Actually, there are only a very few "in vivo" methods to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of nail products. The new apparatus, based on a recently patented technology, is developed for the "in vivo" evaluation of nails in terms of thickness, structural firmness, flattening, and bending properties. The device analyzes nails by an "in vivo" non-invasive methodology in a timely way and with high accuracy. The assessment of the resistance to compression measures the cohesion of the nail matrix (nail firmness), while the evaluation of the resistance to transversal deformation detects the elasticity of the nail plate. Furthermore, the apparatus is able to assess the nail thickness and the flexibility of their distal edge. The instrument provides nail thickness and several parameters reflecting mechanical properties of nail plate: Viscoelasticity expressed as viscoelasticity index (VI), structural strength/ firmness expressed as Firmness Index (FI), and viscoelasticity of the distal edge expressed as Bending Index (BI). The instruments described in this work represent an innovative apparatus for the safety and efficacy evaluation of nail products in several fields: cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

Effectiveness of Health Education Diabetic Foot Care with Leaflet and Audiovisual Media Toward Knowledge

Diabetic foot care is a foot treatment performed on diabetics to prevent ulcers (sores). The steps that must be done are, check the blood sugar levels regularly, wash your feet with warm water, check for injuries to the feet, do nail care and use footwear. Audio visual media is one of the media of counseling that attracts and stimulates more senses than media leaflets. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of audio visual media and leaflets on improving knowledge of foot care knowledge in people with diabetes mellitus. This research is a type of Pre Experimental research with the design of one group pretest and postest. The study was conducted by dividing respondents into 2 groups classified as 1) groups given health education through media leaflets and 2) groups given health education through Audiovisual media. The population of this study amounted to 106 people with a sample of 102 people, each of 52 samples in each health center determined by purposive sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis used is the Wilcoxon Sign Range Test and Mann-Whitney test analysis. The results showed that Leaflet and Audiovisual media were able to provide an increase in changes in the level of knowledge (p = 0.032 and 0.017) after counseling. So this study proves the use of audio visual media is more effective for health education activities in improving knowledge of Deabetic foot care.

Renewable sources: applications in personal care formulations.

A global tendency for products considered environmentally sustainable, and ecologically obtained led the industry related to personal care formulations to fund the research and the development of personal care/cosmetics containing ingredients from natural resources. Furthermore, consumers are aware of environmental and sustainability issueans, thus not harming the environment represents a key consideration when developing a new cosmetic ingredient. In this study we review some examples of active ingredients or raw materials used in cosmetics/personal care/biomedical products that are coming from either through biotechnological systems, or as byproducts of several industries. A skin formulation containing biosynthetic actives, prepared by us and the study regarding its dermocosmetic properties are also described. The need for the standardization processes, the safety assessment tools, the improvement of the exploitation methods of these renewable sources in order the production to be ecologically and economically better are also discussed.

VOC emissions from nail salon products and their effective removal using affordable adsorbents and synthetic jets

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like acetone, ethyl and n-butyl acetate, toluene, and formaldehyde have been measured inside nail salons, where they are emitted from nail care products. Exposure to these compounds can have negative health impacts on both workers and costumers, as well as the environment. The objectives of this research were to characterize VOC emissions from typical nail care products and to investigate VOC removal by 3 low-cost adsorbent materials (coco coir, biochar, and activated carbon). The removal studies were performed using acetone as the model VOC in both chamber experiments and mathematical models. The chamber experiments were conducted under both passive and active flow conditions using synthetic jet actuators to determine the effect of local ventilation on the rate of removal. Mass-normalized adsorption rates were determined for acetone using nth-order rate equations. Adsorption rate models were then developed for all adsorbent materials under both flow conditions and used to estimate the effect of low-cost adsorbents in an actual nail salon. Activated carbon provided the best VOC removal compared to the other 2 adsorbent materials tested. The use of active flow with synthetic jets was also shown to enhance adsorption processes for both biochar and activated carbon, but not for coco coir. Model results predicted activated carbon with active flow enhancement could achieve an effective ventilation rate of nearly 300 m3 h−1 if 250 kg were placed in a 1400 m3 salon.

1200. Parent Perspectives on Infection Prevention and Control in the NICU

BackgroundInfants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at high risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) due to their immature immune systems and need for invasive devices. Parents have frequent contact with their infants and present an opportunity for prevention practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate parental opinions related to infection prevention and control (IPAC) in the NICU.MethodsAn online survey was sent to a network of 2,000 parents from the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation. The survey included questions about patient-centered outcomes, IPAC practices experienced during their infants’ NICU admission, and specifically, opinions regarding nonsterile glove use by both healthcare workers (HCWs) and parents.ResultsA total of 72 parents responded to the survey. The majority were parents of infants born at less than 37 weeks (94%) and had been admitted to an NICU after 2010 (89%). When asked about preventing infections in the NICU, 82% of parents indicated they had been given information on how the NICU prevents infection and 96% had been told how they can prevent infection in their infant (Table 1). The most common information was related to hand hygiene (96%) and what to do if they were unwell (89%). Opportunities for improvement included being bare below the elbow, nail care, and feeding human milk. With respect to IPAC outcomes of interest, 96% agreed that it was important to study interventions to reduce bloodstream infections (BSIs). Other outcomes of interest (Table 2) included necrotizing enterocolitis (72%), antibiotic-resistant organism acquisition (69%), and length of stay (67%). With respect to glove use, 89% of parents felt that it was acceptable for HCWs to wear gloves when caring for their infant. Only 37% of parents indicated that they would want to wear gloves if HCWs were wearing gloves, but 47% would consider wearing gloves if there was evidence that it reduced infection in their infant.ConclusionReducing infections, specifically BSIs, in infants admitted to the NICU is an outcome of interest for parents. Nonsterile gloving by HCWs is considered an acceptable strategy by parents to reduce infections. Missed opportunities exist for the education of parents in the NICU on IPAC practices. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Development and Validation of a Manual of Skin Care for Persons Deprived of Liberty in the São Paulo State Prison System: A Descriptive Study

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a manual of skin care for use by prisoners in the São Paulo State Prison System. To develop the manual, a Google search to ensure originality of the concept was conducted, followed by an integrative literature search of the MEDLINE and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature, and the medical records of the prison system were reviewed for content. The Delphi technique was used to validate content; the content validity index (CVI) was determined based on the ratings of an expert panel of 10 prison employees who were health professionals and have experience providing care to prisoners. Twenty (20) target-users (prisoners) also evaluated the manual. The experts responded to questionnaires (sent by email) containing 19 items related to the manual's objective, structure and presentation, and relevance. Items were rated on a Likert-type scale where 1 = inadequate, 2 = partially inadequate, 3 = adequate, 4 = very adequate, and NA = not applicable, and participants also could provide suggestions and comments on the manual. The prisoners used a paper-and-pencil questionnaire to assess the manual that included 14 items with 3-choice answers (agree, undecided, disagree) on the utility and ability to understand the manual topics and space to write concerns and suggestions regarding the utility of the content; they also could offer their thoughts and opinions about the manual. The proportion of agreement among responses was calculated. The overall CVI of the first round of evaluations was 1.0. Suggested changes were to include guidelines on the proper use of medications and modify some wording. The overall CVI of the next round was 1.0 (100% agreement). The evaluation by target users showed an agreement of 98.6%. The final version of the manual has 8 topics, 12 subtopics, and 29 illustrations; topics include skin, hair, and nail care and skin diseases. A printed version is available in the prison library and an electronic copy was sent to all prisons in the State of São Paulo to be printed as needed. A manual providing guidelines on skin care for prison populations was developed and validated with the intent to improve prisoner quality of life and care. Research to examine overall manual usage and the effect of the information and guidance on healthy behaviors, prevention, and management of skin diseases is warranted.