Nail discoloration selenium

Toxicity and health effects Selenium causes hair and nail loss, discoloration and decay of the teeth, and CNS disturbances, including pain and anesthesia of the extremities. Inhalation of hydrogen selenide causes pulmonary edema. The dusts of selenium produce respiratory tract irritation, while the fumes of selenium dioxide produce metal fume fever. Dermal exposure and ingestion of selenium oxychloride cause skin burns, corrosive injury to the gastrointestinal tract, stupor, respiratory depression, and refractory hypotension. Ingestion of selenious acid causes corrosive injury to the gastrointestinal tract, stupor, respiratory depression, and refractory hypotension... 

Selenosis. Following chronic oral exposure to excessive amounts of the organic selenium compounds found in food, the two principal clinical conditions observed in humans are dermal and neurological effects, as described most completely in the epidemiological study of endemic selenosis in the People s Republic of China. The dermal manifestations of selenosis include loss of hair, deformation and loss of nails, and discoloration and excessive decay of teeth, while neurological effects include numbness, paralysis, and occasional hemiplegia. 

The manufacture and maintenance of drums used in photocopy machines involves use of a selenium alloy. The external manifestations of selenium exposure in this type of setting includes hair loss, deformity of nails, and discoloration of teeth. 

A 56-year old woman developed hair loss, discolored nails, metatarsal cramping, fatigue, and malaise. She had diffuse alopecia, and pulled hairs were in the anagen phase the nails were thickened and yellow distally. The serum selenium concentration was 166 pg/l (reference range 110-160) 7 weeks after the last dose of Total Body Formula . The hair and nails began to improve 2 months after the last dose and were completely normal after 7 months. 

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