15 Warning Signs from Your Nails

Your body communicates when something is wrong. The color and state of your fingernails can let you know when something is going awry inside your body. Sometimes they can be minor vitamin deficiencies and other times more serious conditions. These changes can be subtle, or blatant and it’s worth noting any differences because many diseases are reflected on your fingertips. As always these are warning signs and it’s important not to rely solely on your nails for a health check. Consult with a medical professional who can consider other symptoms and run blood tests.

1. Red nails
If your nails go from a pink shade to a darker red, you might have heart disease. If the redness extends to the sides of your nails and cuticle, this might be a sign of the autoimmune disease Lupus. There are other possible explanations for this reddening, but it’s best to consult with your doctor, who can run tests.
 

2. Unusually white nails
This phenomenon is often called Terry’s nails and has three possible explanations. One is that you have developed a fungal nail infection, often accompanied by reddened or dark fingertips. Another reason could be that your nails have begun to detach from the nail bed and the blood supply is interrupted. Thirdly, this is also a side effect of chemotherapy. Terry’s nails also might indicate that you have a more severe illness like anemia, iron deficiency, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, organ failure or hyperthyroidism.
 

3. Thick or overgrown nails
If your nails are growing thicker and faster than usual, you might be suffering from a serious fungal nail infection. You might also notice that the nails have become discolored. These symptoms are common results of having either psoriasis or arthritis.
 

4. Detached from the nail bed
When nails begin to detach from the nail bed without trauma or pressure, you might have a hormonal imbalance. Similarly, if your nails have separated, you might be suffering from hyperthyroidism – a condition where your thyroid gland is releasing too many hormones into your system. For both scenarios, a doctor can recommend treatment to reverse these conditions.
 

5. Dark vertical stripes
Many people ignore stripes on their fingernails because they don’t cause any pain however some can indicate very serious illnesses. If you find that you have dark vertical stripes, known as linear melanonychia. This could be a sign of Subungal Melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer that only affects the nail bed.
 

6. Blue nails
If you find your nails suddenly have changed to a blue or purple tinge, it’s likely you have developed hypoxia, a lack of oxygen, often triggered by poor circulation to your feet, ears, and hands. Impaired circulation is easily reversible and is not a serious health issue unless it goes untreated.
 

7. Dents or Depressions
If you start seeing dents or depressions on the surface of your nails this might be a sign of eczema, psoriasis, or reactive arthritis, a form of arthritis that like Lupus, finds your immune system attacking your joints. More than half of psoriasis sufferers experience nail depressions or dents, and therefore it’s recommended that you consult with a dermatologist.
 

8. Discolored nails
Nails should naturally by a healthy pink color and when you notice them altering shades you should take note. If they turn brown, this may indicate that you have a thyroid disease or are malnourished. Green nails indicate a severe fungal nail infection, nail psoriasis or even jaundice, tuberculosis, sinusitis, or lympheodema. If you are taking prescription drugs like antimalarial pills, you might find yourself with grey tinged nails.
 

9. Spoon nails
In medical circles, this is called Koilonychia, a condition known for causing nails to become excessively soft and appear scooped out, much like a spoon. This symptom commonly indicates hemochromatosis, a liver condition where there is too much iron being produced in your system. Spoon nails also commonly indicate hypothyroidism. There are other diseases such as heart disease, anemia and impaired blood flow that are associated with this phenomenon.
 

10. Brittle nails
Characterized by thin, frail, crumbling nails this common nail problem often indicates a deficiency in vitamins, with vitamin B7 being the usual culprit. This can be easily reversed with an over-the-counter multivitamin supplement. Frail nails are also often associated with nail psoriasis, thyroid disorders, or fungal nail infections.
 

11. White stripes
While dark striped nails usually indicate cancerous growth, white stripes are more commonly seen as indicative of a disorder. It usually indicates an imbalanced or a non-nutritious diet, lacking in proteins. This problem can easily be resolved with an increase in proteins rich foods such as fish, quinoa, nuts, seeds, and lean meats.
 

12. Curved nails
This condition is sometimes called nail clubbing and involves an unnaturally large nail bed, curving around the tips of the fingers. It is not an overnight condition and can take several years to form. The cause is often hypoxia, a lack of oxygen. It is not a symptom to ignore as it can be associated with serious diseases like irritable bowel syndrome, liver disease, lung problems, AIDS and cardiovascular concerns.

13. Loose nails
Loose nails not caused by injury can signify fungal nail infection, nail psoriasis, amyloidosis (excess protein in the blood), hyperthyroidism, sarcoidosis or Raynaud’s disease a.k.a. poor blood circulation. In rarer cases, severe allergies to some antibiotics are known to loosen nails from nail beds.
 

14. Blue nail base
If you find your nails are a white shade on a blue nail base, this might be a sign of a nutrient deficiency such as a lack of iron. When the nails are extremely white and the base blue or purple, this could denote a problem with the liver or pancreas. It is also a common symptom in the initial stages of diabetes when your body is not able to process and metabolize sugars correctly.
 

15. Yellow nails
Usually, yellow nails are a sign of an unpleasant fungal infection and it’s advisable to purchase anti-fungal tablets or a topical cream to treat this. You can also treat it with a more natural solution such as applying essential oils. Yellow nails can also be indicative of more serious illnesses namely a lung problem, such as fluid accumulation around the pleurae (a lung membrane) or emphysema.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.      https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations   https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes     https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

WHAT ARE CORNS AND CALLUSES

Corns – This is a protective thickening of the skin that usually occurs on a bony part of your toe. Corns have a very thick center called a core, and this develops over the area that has experienced the greatest friction or pressure. Corns that form on the upper surfaces of the toes are called hard corns, whereas pliable, moist corns that form between the toes are called soft corns.
 Calluses – This is a thickening of a part of the skin that’s exposed to prolonged rubbing. While this is a more common occurrence on the soles of your feet, they can also occur on other parts of the body. For example, laborers and weight lifters tend to get them on their hands due to the heavy lifting they do. This thickened skin can actually be an advantage in these instances because it can cushion the hands and allow the person to function without feeling any pain. On the feet, they usually develop at the base of the toes.

Symptoms
Corns and calluses are usually characterized by the formation of a discolored area (brown, red or black), which occurs due to a small amount of bleeding between the normal and thickened skin. In more severe cases, a separation of the normal and thickened skin can occur, which makes the area more susceptible to infection. Diabetics in particular need to be acutely aware of this possibility if they have severe corns or calluses.

Diagnosis
If you visit your doctor due to the development of corns or calluses on your skin, the first thing he or she is likely to ask you about is your footwear. This question will likely be followed by questions about your foot history and whether you have a history of other medical problems, with particular reference to diabetes and circulation problems. In addition, calluses can be the result of a change in the mechanics of the foot, which causes abnormal amounts of pressure to be placed on certain areas.
To investigate further, your doctor will likely inspect your feet to see whether the skin growths have developed due to foot abnormalities. These include toe deformities, structural problems of the bones, poor bone alignment and problems related to an abnormal way of walking. For corns and calluses developing in these instances, your doctor will likely recommend padding or a shoe insert to prevent them from returning or causing discomfort.

Prevention 

The best way in which you can prevent corns and calluses from forming is by wearing shoes that fit properly. Low-heeled, comfortable shoes that give you enough space around the toes should do the trick. When purchasing, make sure you try on a pair of shoes at the store, or have the salesperson measure your feet to get exactly the right fit. Also consider the material of the shoes that you're buying - you need to ensure that the material is breathable, so your feet get enough air. Here are some other things you can do to prevent corns and calluses: 

• Keep your feet in good condition: Make sure you keep your feet as clean and dry as possible. You can't avoid sweating, but you can avoid your feet being moist for a very long time.
   
• Protect the sensitive areas: If you've planned to do a lot of walking or running, you should coat the areas of your feet that are most sensitive to calluses (like the heels and the bases of the toes) with petroleum jelly, to help reduce friction.
   
• Give your feet a break: Every now and then, change your shoes. Wearing open-toe sandals, for example, is likely to cause your feet to develop calluses, so wear gym shoes sometimes to give your feet a rest. Treatment
  Two things are normally done to treat to treat corns and calluses, namely shaving away some of the thickened skin and a change in footwear or the addition of a foot insert to relieve the stress on your feet.
  After a corn or callus is shaved down, it’s a good idea to treat the affected area with salicylic acid plasters or pads. These are available in regular drug stores, however they aren’t suitable for you if you happen to have circulation problems or neuropathy.
  In more serious cases, foot surgery might be necessary to treat corns and calluses that keep returning.
  
  Do It Yourself: 3-Step Home Treatment Process 
  If you want to have a go at treating corns and calluses yourself, there's a three-step process you can follow. There are different options within each step, so you may want to try the various alternatives and see what works best for you. 
  
  1. Soaking
   This process involves mixing some common food products with warm water and letting your feet soak in the resulting solution. You should also massage your feet during the process for greater impact. The following natural remedies all have some properties that will help reduce the effect of your calluses: 
   
  
  • Baking Soda: This ingredient can act as a natural exfoliant for your feet because of its crystals, which will help soften the hardened skin. Add three tablespoons of baking soda to warm water and soak your feet in it for 30 minutes to get rid of that excess dead skin.
  • Chamomile Tea: This herb is known for having a soothing effect on your skin, and its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce discomfort. Before going to bed, brew 1-2 cups of chamomile tea, add it to a small foot tub of water and soak your feet in it for around 30 minutes. (Make sure you rinse your feet well with water and soap after you're done to avoid getting tea stains on your bed.)
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Use the acidic nature of apple cider vinegar to treat your corns and calluses. This can help the hard skin soften and speed up the healing process. Grab a slice of bread and leave it to soak in apple cider vinegar for 10 hours. Apply the resulting paste to your corns or calluses before you sleep and wrap your foot with a bandage or plastic bag. Wear this overnight and rinse your feet with warm water in the morning.
  • Epsom salt: This is one of the easiest remedies for calluses. Add Epsom salt to warm water and let your feet soak in the solution for about 10 minutes in order to help soften the corn or callus, draw out toxins and even remove them entirely. Scrub the affected area with a soft brush (see step 2) to see if the salt can help remove the hardened skin altogether. Epsom Salt also helps guard your feet against infections. 
  2. Scrubbing
  Scrubbing is essential when treating corns and calluses, and it's easiest to do after you shower (or even after you have soaked your feet using one of the above methods). This process should help eliminate the unwanted hard skin on your feet.
• While your skin is still soft from the soaking, use a pumice stone or foot file to rub away corns or calluses. 
• Rub your feet using a vigorous, circular motion until the skin turns pink.     
• 3. Drying After scrubbing off corns or calluses, make sure you dry your feet thoroughly.
  
• Towel-dry your feet completely to remove any moisture. 

• You can also sprinkle corn starch on the affected area to keep it dry and prevent infections. 

Important note: If you are diabetic, you should seek professional help for corns and calluses, rather than try these at-home methods. 

 this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes

https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement