National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Cosmetology Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the NOCTI Cosmetology Exam. Test your skills with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with detailed explanations. Ace your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the term for ingrown nails?

Onychophagy
Onychocryptosis
Onychomycosis
Paronychia

The correct answer is: Onychocryptosis

Ingrown nails are scientifically referred to as onychocryptosis. This term comes from the Greek words "onycho," meaning nail, and "cryptosis," meaning hidden or buried. Onychocryptosis occurs when the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin, which can lead to pain, redness, and sometimes infection. This condition is commonly seen in toenails but can also affect fingernails. The other terms provided relate to different nail conditions: onychophagy refers to nail biting, onychomycosis designates a fungal infection of the nail, and paronychia describes the inflammation of the skin around the nail. Understanding these definitions helps clarify the correct association of the term with its specific condition.