Terry nails exhibit a ground glass–like opacity and appear pale or white for almost the entire nail bed except for a 1- to 2-mm distal band of normal pink or brown color. In a revised definition of Terry nails, the distal brown band is 4 times more frequent than a pink band.

Terry nails are the classic nail finding that occurs in about 80% of patients with cirrhosis; other nail findings of cirrhosis include curved nails with or without clubbing and cyanosis of the fingers, flattening of the nail, longitudinal ridging, and nail thickening. Terry nails are seen in systemic diseases, including renal failure, diabetes, and congestive heart failure. The association with hypoalbuminemia is controversial. Terry nails have been associated with aging, particularly in patients with a systemic disease. In a patient younger than 50 years, clinical findings consistent with Terry nails should prompt workup for a systemic disease.