ARE YOUR NAILS HIDING HEALTH ISSUES? KEY INDICATORS TO LOOK FOR | AFFINITY HEALTH
Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality health coverage, explores how your fingernails can reveal insights into your overall health.
“For many of us, nails are just a small part of our appearance. However, a change in colour, texture, or shape can be a sign of disease, according to the American Academy of Dermatology,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health.
What Are Nails Made Of?
Nails are mostly made up of a protein known as keratin. This protein forms the nail plate, which is the hard part of the nail. Beneath the nail plate lies the nail bed, which delivers blood and nutrients to support nail growth. The cuticle serves as a shield at the base of the nail, while the lunula (the white crescent-shaped area) is part of the matrix where new nail cells are generated.
Nail growth occurs slowly, at around 3.47 millimetres each month. Any changes you might notice in your nails could reflect something that happened in your body weeks or even months ago.
Common Nail Changes and What They Could Mean
Changes in Colour
Nails typically exhibit a pink hue with a subtle shine, indicating good blood flow and a healthy nail bed. If the colour of your nails is off, it could mean underlying health issues are at play.
Yellow Nails
One of the common indicators of a fungal infection is nail yellowing, medically referred to as onychomycosis. Typically, fungal infections start at the nail tip and progress downwards towards the cuticle, resulting in nail thickening, crumbling, and yellow discolouration. The good news is that many fungal infections can be resolved with over-the-counter antifungal creams or prescribed medications.
Yellow nails can also sometimes signal more severe health conditions. For instance, they could be a feature of yellow nail syndrome (YNS) – a rare condition often linked with lymphedema (swelling due to lymph fluid accumulation) and respiratory disorders like chronic bronchitis. Yellow nails in individuals with diabetes could indicate a condition called diabetic nephropathy.
Pale Nails
Leukonychia – characterised by white spots on the nails – is usually harmless and is often caused by minor injuries like hitting your nail against a hard surface. However, persistent white spots on nails could hint at a zinc deficiency.
When nails are white with a darker edge (referred to as Terry’s nails), it might signal liver issues such as hepatitis or cirrhosis. White nails can also be caused by iron deficiency anaemia. If the body lacks sufficient red blood cells to transport adequate oxygen to tissues, various body parts, including the nails, become pale.
Blue Nails
Blue nails, often called cyanosis, usually indicate reduced oxygen levels in the blood. This might be the result of congenital cardiac abnormalities or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Raynaud syndrome is another condition associated with blue nail discolouration.
This disorder is marked by episodes where blood flow to body parts—typically the fingers and toes—is briefly restricted, often triggered by cold or stress. In some instances, having blue nails could indicate the presence of Wilson’s disease, a genetic condition characterised by an abnormal buildup of copper in the body.
Changes in Texture
The texture of your nails can also provide insights into your health. Healthy nails are typically smooth without any pits or grooves.
Depressions or Pits
If you notice depressions or pits on your nails, it could indicate conditions like psoriasis or connective tissue disorders like Reiter’s syndrome. However, vertical ridges on the nails are often harmless and more common with age.
Lines
Beau’s lines, which are ridges on the nails, can signal a pause in nail growth due to injury, severe illness, malnutrition or chemotherapy. Sometimes, Beau’s lines may also indicate diabetes or circulatory issues.
Cracked or Brittle Nails
When nails become brittle or cracked, it could result from ageing or frequent exposure to water and chemicals. However, persistent brittleness might be due to needing more nutrients like biotin or iron. In rare cases, thyroid diseases, like hypothyroidism, may be attributed to the underlying causes of cracked nails.
Changes in Shape
Changes in nail shape can also sometimes indicate health issues.
Spoon Nails
If your nails are spoon-shaped (koilonychia) – curving upwards at the edges like a spoon – it could indicate iron deficiency anaemia or haemochromatosis. Spoon-shaped nails may also indicate heart disease or hypothyroidism.
Clubbing
Nail clubbing occurs when the nail extends over the fingertip and begins curling around the side of the fingers. This often occurs along with swelling or bulging of the tips of the fingers or toes. Clubbing usually occurs in the thumb and index finger before affecting other nails. Clubbing may suggest low oxygen levels in the blood and is often connected with lung illness. It can also indicate heart, inflammatory bowel, or liver disease.
When to Seek Medical Advice
While some changes in nail appearance may be harmless and purely cosmetic, others could point to health issues. If you detect any changes in your nails, such as discolouration, pitting, ridges, or changes in shape, you should visit a healthcare practitioner. Your nails might be conveying information about your health that warrants examination.
About Affinity Health
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