Ann Dermatol.  2008 Mar;20(1):6-10. 10.5021/ad.2008.20.1.6.

Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Onychodystrophy with Intake of Carotene-rich Food

• Jung JY
• Roh MR
• Chung KY

• KMID: 2156351
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2008.20.1.6

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Onychodystrophy refers to the various abnormalities in nail morphology due to changes in the attachment of the nail plate, changes in nail surface or color. The treatment principle of onychodystrophy largely relies on the discovery and verification of the cause. However, preventive treatment methods offer little help to the patient due to poor compliance, and the effect of corticosteroid is only temporary.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of carotene-rich food intake in chronic idiopathic onychodystrophy.
METHODS
Ten patients with chronic idiopathic onychodystrophy were recommended to drink one or two cups of carrot juice daily.
RESULTS
Patients showed improvement of onychodystrophy after drinking carrot juice twice a day for at least 4 weeks. No specific adverse effects were noted.
CONCLUSION
Since there are no reliable treatment methods for chronic idiopathic onychodystrophy, we suggest a simple and compliant treatment method consisting of taking carotene-rich food, such as carrot juice, for patients with chronic idiopathic onychodystrophy.

Keyword

Carotene-rich food; Carrot juice; Chronic idiopathic onychodystrophy

MeSH Terms

Compliance
Daucus carota
Drinking
Eating
Humans
Nails

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 (A) A 40-year-old female presented with distal separation of nail plates in all fingers. (B) Two months after drinking two cups of carrot juice daily, onycholysis and trachyonychia improved strikingly in all fingernails. (C) A 61-year-old female complained of nail atrophy, pterygium and trachyonychia on her first toenail. (D) Two months later, the onychodystrophy had improved remarkably.

• 

  Fig. 2 Response rate of each nail with onychodystrophy after intake of carrot juice (a total of 85 nails in 10 patients).

Reference

1. Daniel CR. Onycholysis: an overview. Semin Dermatol. 1991; 10:34–40.

2. Hsu MM, Huang YR. Chronic onycholysis dramatically responds to enhanced intake of carotene-rich food. Br J Dermatol. 2002; 147:389–391.

3. Grover C, Bansal S, Nanda S, Reddy BS. Efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide in various acquired nail dystrophies. J Dermatol. 2005; 32:963–968.

4. Kechijian P. Onycholysis of the fingernails: evaluation and management. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1985; 12:552–560.

5. Paiva SA, Russell RM. β-carotene and other carotenoids as antioxidants. J Am Coll Nutr. 1999; 18:426–433.

6. Wang XD, Russell RM. Procarcinogenic and anticarcinogenic effects of β-carotene. Nutr Rev. 1999; 57:263–272.

7. Tavani A, La Vecchia C. β-carotene and risk of coronary heart disease. A review of observational and intervention studies. Biomed Pharmacother. 1999; 53:409–416.

8. Frieling UM, Schamberg DA, Kupper TS, Muntwyler J, Hennekens CH. A randomized, 12-year primary-prevention trial of beta-carotene supplementation for nonmelanoma skin cancer in the physician's health study. Arch Dermatol. 2000; 136:179–184.

9. Bendich A. Biologic functions of dietary carotenoids. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1993; 691:61–67.

10. Marsden RA, Dawber RP. Erythropoietic protoporphyria with onycholysis. Proc R Soc Med. 1977; 70:572–574.

11. Sayre RM, Black HS. Beta-carotene dose not act as an optical filter in skin. J Photochem Photobiol B. 1992; 12:83–90.