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.