Photo-onycholysis: two cases induced by doxycycline.

Abstract

Photo-onycholysis is a phototoxic reaction, which is usually drug-induced. It consists of the separation of the nail from the nail bed due to ultraviolet radiation. We report two cases of female patients who developed distal onycholysis while receiving doxycycline. Among the drugs that cause photo-onycholysis, the most frequently cited are tetracyclines, psoralens and fluoroquinolones. Photo-onycholysis is often distal, half-moon shaped and can be surrounded by pigmentation. Spontaneous recovery follows within a few months of discontinuing the drug.