6 Things Your Nails Say About Your Health
According to dermatologist Christine Poblete-Lopez, MD, nails can tell a lot about our health status. Furthermore, changes in nails can denote systemic or skin issues.
Be observant to anything that occurs or forms along your fingernails or toenails unexpectedly. Anything that seems abnormal should be redressed. In such a case, book an appointment with your doctor immediately.
The following are the six conditions that can make nails suspicious of a given underlying health condition. However, before rushing into a conclusion, contact your doctor for further diagnosis. Apart from nail symptoms, doctors take into consideration many other factors.
Stress
According to Dr. Poblete-Lopez, fingernails and toenails have similar attributes to hair. Nails just like hair can fall out as a result of prevailing diseases or protracted period of stress. Both nails and hair can show these symptoms. In most cases, prolonged stress gives rise to side-to-side lines to develop on your nails.
Moles or Melanoma
Most people keep complaining about a change in their nail colors, says dermatologist Dr. Poblete-Lopez. Discolorations occur in lines starting from the cuticle to the tip, and they can be harmless moles or cancerous melanomas. Asians and Africa-Americans probably undergo normal pigmentation changes linked to ethnicity.
In case your nail plate develops any brown coloring, you should not hesitate to contact your dermatologist.
These changes pose threat if they occur on one finger rather than all. Brown lines that develop on the cuticle could be a hint of melanoma. Moles are the prime cause of these problems.
Arthritis
Tiny cysts that develop close or on the cuticles are as a result of arthritis. They are non-cancerous and can be well redressed by a hand surgeon.
Psoriasis
This a typical skin disorder normally denoted by scaly, red patches, however, it can also affect fingernails and toenails.
If your nail has a yellow-red discoloring, alias “oil drop” or “salmon patch,” notify your dermatologist as soon as possible. Here are other signs that can denote psoriasis:
Indentations: Here pits or nicks develop on the nail plate, part of the nail that encloses fingertips.
Beau’s Lines: These are lines that develop on the entire nail.
Skin thickening/Nail Loosening: Thickening of the skin beneath the nail, which can oust the nail from its normal position. This usually starts from the tip of the finger all the way to the cuticle.
White areas: Unique white marks on the nails, also known as leukonychia, the cloudy white spots that at times develop on fingernails and toenails are not part of the white areas and aren’t a cause for alarm.
Black Lines: Black lines that stem from the tip all the way to cuticle could be small clots known as splinter hemorrhages or burst capillaries, possible signs of psoriasis.
Redness: The normally pale parts close to the cuticle appear red, which results from congested capillaries, another potential symptom of psoriasis.
Kidney Disease
Sudden changes in nails can indicate possibility of acute or chronic kidney illness, says Dr. Poblete-Lopez.
Beau’s Lines: These lines denote acute kidney disease.
Ridged Nails: Also known as koilonychias, rough nails containing ridges can indicate an underlying kidney disease. These nails more often are spoon-shaped and concave, and they can indicate deficit of iron in the body causing anemia.
White Streaks/Spots: Just like psoriasis cases, distinctive white streaks and marks on nails can signify chronic kidney disease.
Darier Disease
Darier disorder is an infrequent disease that brings about skin rashes and occurs probably in adolescence. It occurs in the fingernails and toenails as extensive reddish or whitish spots that start from the cuticle all the way to the tip. A V-shaped nick close to the fingertip can also signify this disorder.
Prevention
Impending chronic conditions that affect your nails is always overwhelming. According to Dr. Poblete-Lopez, the secret to keeping your nails healthy is by drinking enough water and taking a balanced diet. A diet rich in vitamin B and minerals such as Zinc is highly recommended because it strengthens your nails.
Not all changes in nails signify underlying health condition, says Dr. Poblete-Lopez. However, if you’re discontent of the changes, talk to your doctor.
It’s normal for nails to have longitudinal strips or ridges while others may not look smooth. Provided there is consistency in distribution of the nail, there is no need for alarm. However, if there is something unusual contact your dermatologist.