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Published on: December 5, 2015
Nail Changes during Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Patients at an Academic Center
Justin Matushansky1, Yu Wang2, Michelle J Chang3
1Leon Goldstein High School for the Sciences, New York, New York, USA.
Introduction:
Physiological changes in skin and hair are common during pregnancy. There are limited data on nail changes during pregnancy. Therefore, our study objectives were to determine prevalence and types of nail changes in pregnant women.
Methods:
A prospective study was conducted in the Weill Cornell Obstetrics and Gynecology waiting room, where a 32-question survey was administered to pregnant and nonpregnant patients.
Results:
There was a total of 167 subjects (73 pregnant, 94 nonpregnant). Nail changes were reported by 25/73 (34.2%) and 12/94 (12.8%) pregnant and nonpregnant women, respectively (p < 0.05). Onychocryptosis and leukonychia were more common in pregnant (12.3% and 13.7%, respectively) versus nonpregnant women (5.3% and 0%, respectively) (p < 0.05). The majority of patients reported no changes in nail growth, thickness, brittleness, during their pregnancies.
Discussion/Conclusion:
Most nail changes in pregnant and nonpregnant women are similar. Physicians should educate women that onychocryptosis and leukonychia are common and benign findings during pregnancy.
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