Another paragraph for the week. It took me weeks to get it done.

What your nails say about your health

Today nails are mostly regarded as a purely aesthetic feature of our bodies. In fact, it is estimated that the global nail polish market will reach up to 15.55 billion dollars by 2024. However it turns out that your nails may not be a platform for contemporary design but also a mirror of your general health status. How can the color, texture, and other features of your other nails reflect your internal health problems? Let’s find out!!!

The color of your nails

In most cases, yellow nails indicate a fungal infection. If not treated in time, this condition can worsen and your nails can require a greenish tint and become crumbly. Other possible causes of yellowing include aging, lung issues caused by smoking and frequent use of low quality acrylic nails.

White nails with a strip of pink at the top “Terry’s nails” can be a sign of congestive heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes and some liver problems such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. Sometimes “Terry’s nails” can be also caused by aging. If your nails are extremely pale, you probably have a nutritional deficiency or a circulation problem preventing the blood from reaching your fingertips. In severe cases, this can lead to anemia or an iron deficiency in your blood.

Dark red nails indicate that you have heart disease. If the redness extends to the sides of your nails and cuticles, this might be a sign of an autoimmune disease called lupus. 

Bluish or purple nails usually means that your body doesn’t get enough oxygen. Among other possible causes are heart issues and lung problems such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Other nail colors can be a sign of various health problems. For example, if your nails turn brown, this can indicate that you have a thyroid disease or nutritional problems.

Grey tinted nails are usually caused by taking prescription drugs like antimalarial pills. 

The Texture of Your Nails

Brittle, split nails are usually linked to hypothyroidism, a condition where your thyroid works too slowly.

Dry and crumbly nails may indicate a deficiency in vitamins A, C and B7, also known as biotin. Another possible reason for this nail problem is the overuse of nail polish remover.

Vertical ridges are usually a normal sign of aging just like wrinkles on your face. But if they become prominent at a young age, this might mean you are suffering from a vitamin B12 or magnesium deficiency.

Horizontal ridges, “Beau’s lines” are typically the result of a direct trauma to your nail. However, if you see them on more than one nail at a time, they may also be a sign of a serious illness with a high fever such as scarlet fever or pneumonia.

Nail pitting may indicate skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis. It can also be an early sign of connective tissue disorders, such as inflammatory arthritis, a disease that affects your joints.

Nail Growth

Spoon nails, Koilonychia, a phenomenon whereby your nails look like a spoon with raised ridges and a scooped out depression may be a sign of hemochromatosis. This is a disorder where your body produces too much iron. They’re also associated with iron deficiency anemia, heart disease and poor blood circulation.

Nail clubbing appears when your fingertips become enlarged in your nails curved downwards. This nail growth can be a sign of low oxygen in your blood which is usually caused by lung disease. Clubbing can also be related to liver or kidney disease, heart problems, inflammatory bowel disease and AIDS. 

Nails that are detached from their beds usually indicate hypothyroidism, which is when your thyroid gland releases too many hormones into your body. Loose nails can also signify a fungal infection, psoriasis, poor blood circulation, or amyloidosis. (Amyloidosis is an excess amount of protein amyloid in your organs and tissues.) 

Other nail features

Dark vertical lines extending from the cuticle to the tip of the nail may be a sign of subungual melanoma, a really dangerous type of skin cancer. So even if those lines don’t cause any pain in your nails, it’s better to make an immediate trip to your doctor once you’ve noticed them.

Although most people believe that white stripes, “Mees’ lines” signal a 

Calcium deficiency. That’s not actually true. Those white discolorations on your nails usually indicate an imbalance diet lacking in protein. They can also appear after an episode of poisoning with heavy metals as a result of kidney failure.

Red puffy skin around your nails usually indicate inflammation of the nails full. If the inflammation is accompanied by major swelling, this could be due to an infection called paronychia. Other possible reasons for the reddish nail fold include connective tissue disorder, Lupus disease in particular.  

Remember to stay healthy and stay safe and stay on the healthy side of life. :) 

Thanks for the information!