Background/purpose: Photoonycholysis may be seen as a part of Segal's triad, photosensitivity followed by discoloration of the nails and onycholysis. But the latter may also appear, independently, in the absence of photosensitive reaction elsewhere.
Methods: Photoonycholysis may result from drug intake, porphyria cutanea tarda, erythropoietic porphyria, erythropoietic protoporphyria, variegate porphyria and pseudoporphyria. Rarely, spontaneous photoonycholysis may be observed.
Results: Four distinct subtypes have been recorded without relationship between the responsible drugs and the different clinical varieties of photoonycholysis. Primary photohemorrhage can occur; it can also be associated with polydactylous photoonycholysis type III.
Conclusion: The inability to reproduce photoonycholysis experimentally should be emphasized.