Living with Anonychia
A condition present from birth in which fingernails and toenails are abnormal or missing.
Understanding Anonychia
Nail changes range from damaged-looking nails (onychodystrophy) to no nails at all (anonychia). In total anonychia congenita, all fingernails and toenails are absent. It is noticed in newborns and infants and can run in families.
Signs & symptoms
GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition, but its summary describes the nail changes:
- Nails that look abnormal or damaged (nail dystrophy)
- Missing nails (anonychia)
- In some people, all fingernails and toenails absent
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include genetic specialists and skin, hair, and nail specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Genetic specialists (geneticists); Skin, hair, and nail specialists (dermatologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Children's Skin Disease Foundation
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD says changes in genes (also called variants) cause anonychia. It may be inherited in a dominant way (one changed copy of the gene) or a recessive way (a changed copy from each parent).
Also known as: absent nails; ann - anonychia; aplastic nails; congenital absent nails; isolated anonychia; isolated congenital anonychia
Patient organizations
- Children's Skin Disease FoundationSkin diseases · United States
Broader rare-disease groups
- Global GenesRare Diseases · United States
- National Organization for Rare DisordersRare Diseases · United States
- Genetic AllianceRare Diseases · United States
- RARE FoundationRare Diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Anonychia.
Explore research for Anonychia
Explore actively recruiting Anonychia studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Anonychia with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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