Green nail syndrome is infection with Pseudomonas, a type of bacteria.
(See also Overview of Nail Disorders.)
The photo on the left shows green nail syndrome with onycholysis of the fourth fingernail and green discoloration due to the presence of pigments produced by Pseudomonas. The photo on the right shows the nail bed after clipping off the detached nail plate.
© Springer Science+Business Media
Green nail syndrome is caused by an infection with Pseudomonas species. It usually develops in people who have onycholysis (partial separation of the nail bed from the nail plate or loss of the nail plate) or chronic paronychia and whose hands are often in water or exposed to irritants. The nail in the area of onycholysis becomes greenish in color.
Green nail syndrome may be treated with antiseptics or antibiotics. Topical gentamicin ophthalmic drops are very effective.
