DURING the past eighteen months there have been a number of reports in the literature regarding an unusual nail disorder due to the application of "base coats" or "under coats." In addition, patients with this condition have been presented at various dermatologic meetings throughout the country. The preparations employed are relatively new cosmetics used on nails prior to the application of polish or lacquer and designed to insure greater adherence and to prevent chipping of lacquer. The first of these preparations, "permanail," made its appearance on the West Coast during the latter part of 1946. Because of the early popularity of this preparation, other commercial concerns made available similar or identical preparations such as "everon," "foolpruf," "luron," miraglo,® naylon,® "nailast," "roulac-fixt" and stazon.® Some of the larger and well known beauty shops obtained similar base coat preparations and had them labeled under their own names, informing