Introduction: Nail cosmetology as it is evolving today is a fairly recent development. In some segments of society, the colour and the shape of the nail have become the measure of a woman`s personality and appeal; and an index of her vibrancy. The present study was undertaken to study the different types of nail changes seen in a regular dermatology OPD over a period of six month and prepare an epidemiological data on these findings.

Materials & Methods: All patients attending the Dermatology OPD over a period of six month (01 Jul 2016 to 31 Dec 2016) were screened for various types of nail changes like Onychomycosis, Paronychia, Subungual hyperkeratosis, Pitting, Pterygium, Onycholysis, Onychoschizia, Melanonychia, Half and half nails, Trachonychia, Onychogryphosis, Subungual melanoma, etc. The patients were asked the details of the nail problem and individual nail photographs were taken with regards to the same. Data was further analysed to include the age, sex, whether nail changes were in isolation or in association with skin or hair changes, whether patients had history of any systemic illness and the percentage of various types of nail changes along with relevant investigations for confirmation of the same (30% KOH mount for onychomycosis and histopathology for clinical suspicion of Subunugal Melanoma). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS ver. 21.

Results: Females are more affected than males. A total of 9 % of patients in skin OPD have nail changes which included oychomycosis (39.9%), paronychia (3.4%), onychomycosis and paronychia (13%) subungual hyperkeratosis (13.8%), pitting (15.1%), pterygium (0.6%), onycholysis (5%), onychoschizia (2.9%), melanonychia (4.6%), half and half nails (0.5%), trachyonychia (0.9%), onychogryphosis (0.1%) and subungual melanoma (0.1%). Melanonychia and half and half nails were significantly associated with systemic disease. Conclusion: The nail apparatus is an important structure and has certain indispensable functions. Hence abnormalities of the nail carry both physical and psychological implications and can give us a clue to underlying systemic disease.