A nail technician sees a client with a greenish-black discoloration between the natural nail and a lifted artificial enhancement. The condition is most likely:
Explanation
A green-to-black discoloration under a lifted nail enhancement is classically Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a gram-negative bacterium that thrives in the dark, moist gap created when an enhancement lifts and traps moisture. The professional response is to refuse new product over the area, remove the lifted enhancement, and refer to a physician if the discoloration does not clear, because California licensees may not diagnose or treat disease (CCR Title 16 §980.3 and BBC scope rules). Option A confuses the pattern with subungual hematoma, which is purple-red, not green. Option B is a medical diagnosis outside the scope of a manicurist. Option D is a slow, weeks-to-months change and is not greenish-black.
Law Reference: CCR Title 16 §980.3Practice all 484 questions free — no signup required.
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