P

• Paronychia - bacterial infection of the nail fold caused by a break or tear in the skin surrounding the nail plate, it causes pain, redness and swelling

• Pathogen - a micro-organism capable of causing disease   

•  Pathogenic - harmful and disease producing  

• Petrissage - kneading movements used in massage treatment

• pH - the degree of alkalinity and acidity measured on the pH scale

• Photosensitise - to become sensitive to UVL

• Physical - relating to the body

• Physiology - the biological study of the functions of living organisms and their parts

• Policy - a course of action, principle or procedure considered to be advantageous

• Posterior – back

• Pronation - to rotate the hand or forearm so that the palm faces down or back

• Prone - lying face down

• Proximal - nearest to the point of origin

• Pseudomonas - a bacterial infection that occurs between the nail plate and an artificial nail or the nail plate and the nail bed, often leading to discolouration of the nail and lifting of the nail plate away from the nail bed

• Psoriasis - a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterised by red areas covered with dry silvery scales of skin. It is not contagious but can be inherited. When it affects the nail plate it causes pitting, dry and often crumbly nails, in extrene cases the nail plate separates from the nail bed altogether

• Pterygium - a forward growth of skin from the cuticle over the nail plate

• Psychological - relating to the mind and emotions