Beau lines, onychomadesis, and retronychia: A unifying hypothesis

Beau lines, onychomadesis, and retronychia are nail dystrophies with distinctive clinical findings. Trauma has been reported as the initiating factor in each of these entities. Infections, severe medical illnesses, major surgery/anesthesia, medication side effects, and autoimmune disease can produce Beau lines and onychomadesis. This article illustrates the common underlying pathophysiological mechanism that produces each of these nail dystrophies.