What happens in onychatrophia?

In onychatrophia, the primary characteristic is the atrophy or wasting away of the nail. This condition leads to the fully grown nail losing its shine and can ultimately result in the nail falling off. The process reflects a lack of health in the nail matrix, which is responsible for nail growth. As the integrity of the nail is compromised, rather than becoming longer, changing color, or growing faster, the nail deteriorates and may detach from the nail bed. This degenerative response indicates underlying issues that affect the nail's structure and health, typically pointing to potential trauma, infection, or other health conditions that could be affecting nail growth and maintenance.