Have people ever taken a hard look at your fingernails and commented about your health? Did you think they were kidding you? Well, then you are in for a surprise! Your nails say a lot about you; if you are not healthy, your nails can leak that information to anyone who can read nails. Crazy, right? So what do you do about it? Read about these signs and take care of your health accordingly so that your nails only spread good details about you. How? Well, we will help you with what your nails say about you.
Let us first find out which signs are normal and which are not.
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What’s good and what’s not
Our fingernails are made of laminated layers of protein known as keratin. These grow at the base of your nail under the cuticle. If your fingernails are healthy, then they are likely to be smooth. They will not have pits, grooves and cracks. The color of the fingernails too, will be uniform and consistent. You will not find spots or discolorations of any sort on the nails if they are healthy.
Our nails develop vertical ridges which run from our cuticles to the nail tip. These ridges are unhealthy, but with age they become more prominent, and therefore look awful. Our nails can also develop spots and lines. This could be because of injury or deficiency of vitamins.
Sometimes fingernails develop harmless vertical ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Vertical ridges tend to become more prominent with age. Fingernails can also develop white lines or spots due to injury, but these eventually grow out with the nail.
These ridges and spots are still normal; however, if you see any of the following signs, then you need to consult a dermatologist immediately:
- Discoloration of the entire nail or the appearance of a dark streak under the nail
- Alteration in nail shape, for example curled nails
- Thinning of nails
- Thickening of nails
- Separation of the nail from the surrounding skin
- Bleeding around the nails
- Swelling around the nails
- Pain around the nails
Suggested read: Want Stronger Nails? Here’s How!
What your nails say about you
Here are some signs that your nails are giving you. To be able to read them, skim through this guide.
1. White Spots
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Do you have little white clouds on your nails? Well, those white spots appear due to a systemic cause. Any guesses? The deficiency of calcium causes the appearance of these white spots.
These pesky dots can also be caused by trauma to the nail. A trauma to the end of your finger too, can result in these marks. Our nail is built by the matrix (layer of cells) at the base of your nail. When this matrix is damaged, these white spots develop.
Wearing nail polish for a long time also causes the breakdown of the nail matrix, which further leads to formation of pesky white marks. If the white spots are powdery in appearance, then it is best that you undergo an antifungal nail treatment to get rid of the white spots. However, if the spot is caused by trauma to the nail, then it best to wait it out; the nails will grow soon.
2. Brittle Nails (Onychoschizia)
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Weak nails are more likely to crack and become brittle. They get chipped, and therefore, look very ugly. The three common factors that contribute to brittle nails are aging, frequent exposure of the nails to water, and long-term use of nail polish and lacquers.
Certain diseases also cause brittle nails. Most common of these include, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, lichen planus, alopecia areata, anemia, fungal infection, psoriasis, lung conditions, and disorders in the endocrine.
Frequent use of astringent, nail polish removers, dehydration, nutritional deficiencies and an extreme cold and dry environment can also cause brittle nails. Traumas and shocks can also result in nails cracking and becoming weak.
Other health conditions that might have brittle nails as a primary symptom are hepatitis, jaundice, lupus or heart disease.
3. Yellow Nails
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While yellow nails can be stains from nail polishes, it can also be signs of a deadly disease like diabetes. If it is the former, then you can get rid of it by getting a good manicure. However, if it is the latter, then you need to visit a doctor and get yourself checked thoroughly. Yellow Nail Syndrome (the nail thickens first and then turns yellow) is a sign of respiratory disease like bronchitis.
According to the National Organization of Rare Disorders,
“Yellow nail syndrome is occasionally associated with the accumulation of fluid in the membranes surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity (pleural effusion). Pleural effusions can cause shortness of breath, chest pain and a cough. Additional respiratory problems may occur in yellow nail syndrome such as chronic infection and inflammation of the main air passages (bronchial tubes) out of the lungs (bronchitis), destruction and widening of the small air passages out of the lung (bronchiectasis), ongoing inflammation of the membranes that line the sinus cavities (sinusitis) and/or chronic inflammation or infection of the lungs (recurrent pneumonias). Individuals with yellow nail syndrome may have a history of respiratory problems before developing characteristic nail findings.”
4. “Lifting” Nails (Onycholysis)
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Do your nails appear separated from the nail bed? Are you a chef or a health care worker? Then, it is more likely to happen to you. But what is this. This condition is called Onycholysis, which is caused by irritation to the nail resulting from excessive water exposure.
Nail hardeners, manicure that is too aggressive, or use of glues can also cause damage to your hair. If you notice discoloration of your nails to white, green, or yell, then that could be caused by a thyroid condition. It can also be caused by psoriasis to injury and infection. If you are noticing these
your doc if you think something more serious could be the cause and try to keep your hands dry whenever possible.
5. Vertical Ridges
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Like we mentioned earlier in the post, vertical ridges are thin line that run up your nail, vertically. They are not anything scary, but can be considered a sign of aging. To prevent this you need to keep your cuticles moisturized and nails hydrated all the time.
Suggested read: Here’s The Best Nail Strengthening Polish You Need To Invest In Right Now
6. “Spoon” Nails (Koilonychia)
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Are your nails curling up? If they are, then you need to start worrying! According to experts, a thin nail tends to become concave when it grows because of deficiency of iron. If you are anemic, you are more than likely to develop curled up fingernails. To fix this problem, you need to take iron supplements.
Also, consult a doctor to find out if this is anything more than anemia. Spooned nails could also be caused liver disease, heart disease, and/or hypothyroidism.
7. Pitting Nails
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Do your fingernails have little indents that appear like they were created by mini ice pick? This condition of pitting nails occurs mainly in people who have psoriasis which is a skin condition. Also those who have alopecia areata can also have the condition of pitting nails. For those of you who are not aware, alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that results in loss of hair patches.
To take care of this, try creams with vitamin A and vitamin D. You can also use steroid creams to treat your condition. If you have psoriasis, then we suggest you visit a dermatologist and get the right treatment.
8. Clubbing
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The last nail condition on our list is clubbing. If you think your nails have become softer, but the nail tips are bulging, then you might be dealing with a major issue here. When there is an increase in the tissues around the edges of your fingers (around the nail curves), then you might be suffering from a lung disease.
According to experts, having low oxygen in blood can also cause this condition. Clubbing are also liked with inflammatory bowel diseases, AIDS, liver diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
Chronic cardiothoracic illness or respiratory problems can be contributors to clubbing of nails. If you notice this symptom, then it is suggested that you visit a specialist and get yourself thoroughly checked.
Suggested read: How To Treat Brittle Nails At Home In No Time
That is all we have on today’s post on what your nails say about you. Was this helpful?
Will you be recommending it to others too? If you have makeup queries regarding nail care that you would like to share with us, then please do so in the comment section below. Our experts will get back to ASAP.
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