Worn down, shiny nails are nail plate abnormalities seen in underlying conditions that lead to repeated trauma of the nail surface and free edge. The chronic rubbing and scratching associated with pruritic conditions such as atopic dermatitis, lymphoma, chronic erythroderma, among others, may lead to a glossy or shiny appearance to the nail plate as well as a worn-away dystrophy to the free edge.

Certain manual occupations, including handlers of heavy plastic bags, have been described with worn-down, shiny nails. The term bidet nails describes nail abnormalities due to chronic rubbing of the nails against a hard surface, such as a bidet.