Korean J Dermatol.  1982 Apr;20(2):255-261.

Nail Avulsion by Urea Treatment in Onychomycosis

• Moon DC
• Kwon KS
• Chung TA

Abstract

The authors aimed to apply a nonsurgioal and atraumatic method for avulsing dystrophic nails due to onyohomyoosis by using 22.25% urea ointment under occlusive dressing. One hundred and eighty-nine nails with onychomycosis in fifty-five patients were treated by this rnethod. The results obtained a,re as follows: 1. Of a total of 82 fingernails and 107 toenails in 55 patients, all fingernails and 103 toenails showed an excellent response with easy removal of the diseased nails. 2. The duration tha.t the occluded urea ointment remained in place before sucessful avulsion was 6.7(range, 3 to 18) days for fingernails, and 9.1(range, 3 to 18) days for toenails with onychomycosis. 3. Of 4 nails of control group which were treated with white petrolatum, none showed the significant improvernent. 4. The problems during this treatment were; severe irritation with pain(l case), mild irzitation and/or itching(5 cases), and pin-point bleeding on curettage of nail bed (19 cases). It is suggested the urea treatment has many advantages and seemed to be ideal for patients with digital vascular insufficiency and increased susceptibility to infection.

MeSH Terms

Curettage
Hemorrhage
Humans
Nails
Occlusive Dressings
Onychomycosis*
Petrolatum
Urea*
Petrolatum
Urea