Simply put; Onycholysis is a relatively common nail disorder in its mild form where the natural nail plate lifts and separates from the natural nail bed. It is not an infection, but a disorder. So then why is there so much confusion over what it really is?

The Bed Epithelium

The Bed Epithelium is a type of Epidermis (non living tissue) that closely resembles the lining on the inside of your gob. This tissue gets shed from the distal end of the matrix and becomes fused with the bottom layer of nail plate cells as they form. Because of this, this skin grows out with the natural nail plate.
This skin is very funky and unique in the way that it has small "rail" like formations that end up running the length of the natural nail until the nail plate becomes the free edge. At this point the Bed Epithelium is referred to as "the Solehorn cuticle" until it generally dries up and sheds off.

The Dermis

The dermis is considered to be the nail bed as it contains the many capillaries that feed the tissue and give the nail body is pink colouration. The dermis is living tissue as it contains nerve endings, blood supply, etc...
One funky characteristic about the dermis is that it fits with the Epithelium ridges in a "tongue in groove" fashion.

If the Bed Epithelium ridges pop out o the Dermal grooves, you get Onycholysis.

The condition

Onycholysis is characterised by an abnormal looking free edge, or a free edge that looks as if it is growing back toward the cuticle area.

It can be caused by:

• Trauma
  i.e. Catching the nail in a pickle slicer.
• Mechanical force
  i.e. Nippers, using metal implements to clean under the nail, Jedi Knights that fix x-wing fighters.
• Abrasive Burns
  i.e. Playing quest for fire while blending in a tip. The Bed Epithelium has been know to heat up to 107 degrees to 150 degrees while filing on the natural nail plate. This can scar the Bed Epithelium and promote Onycholysis.
• Some nail conditions
  i.e. Chronic Onycholysis is often a symptom of nail Psoriasis.