[Subungual calcification in the normal nail bed of the toes]

Subungual calcifications in the normal nail bed begin in women during the 3rd decade and obtain an incidence of 47% from the 8th decade. These calcifications appear in men two decades later and obtain in old age an incidence of only 14%. The 1st toe is involved three times as often as the 5th toe. In about 10% the subungual calcifications of the toes are combined with the same subungual calcifications of the digits. Subungual calcifications of the normal nail bed are considered as a normal reaction of ageing, which is not influenced by diseases with a tendency of tissue calcification.