subject: What Your Fingernails Say About Your Health [print this page] Except for the regular or occasional manicure, most of the time we hardly ever pay attention to our fingernails. But did you know that you nails may indicate tell-tale signs about your overall health? Little things like a spot of white or red here and there, small irregularities like wrinkles, may be signs and symptoms of a disease or illness.
Bluish Nails
Nails that have a tinge of blue may be sign of a very serious condition. Bluish nails may signal that your body is not getting enough oxygen which could signify a lung infection such as pneumonia. Bluish nails are also linked to certain heart conditions.
Cracked or Crumbly Nails
If have nails that are dry, brittle and crack or crumble often with a hint of yellow tinge, it could caused by a fungal infection. Dry, crumbly nails that frequently split or crack are also associated with thyroid disease.
Dark Lines Under the Nails
Dark lines underneath the nails may look ominous. And with good reason: dark lines under the nails may sometimes be caused by melanoma which is the most lethal type of skin cancer. If you have dark lines beneath your nails, have it checked by your doctor as soon as possible.
Nail Biting and Picking
Nail biting is fairly common. More often than not it is simply an old habit that you would not think twice about or associate with any disorder. However, nail biting may be a sign of a persistent anxiety. Consider asking your doctor about it. Nail biting and picking has also been linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If you cannot keep yourself from doing, talk to your doctor about it.
Pale Nails
Pale nails may indicate a number of serious illnesses including anemia, congestive heart failure, liver disease and malnutrition.
Rippled or Wrinkled Nails
If the surface of your nails appears to have ripples, wrinkles or pits, it may be an early signal of inflammatory arthritis or psoriasis. Your nails may also appear discolored and the skin beneath the nail may appear reddish-brown.
Swollen Nail Folds
If your nail folds (the skin around the nails) look red and swollen, you may have inflammation of the nail folds. This inflammation may be caused by lupus or other similar disorder of connective tissues. Inflammation of the nail fold may also be caused by an infection.
White Nails
White nails are not be confused with pale nails. Nails that are almost completely white with dark rims may be a sign of liver problems such as hepatitis and jaundice.
Yellow Nails
Your nails may sometimes appear yellow especially if you have left your nail polish on for too long. However, yellow nails may also be a sign of a fungal infection. If left untreated, the infection may worsen causing the nail bed to withdraw and the nails to become thicker and brittle. In some cases, yellow nails may be an indication of more serious diseases such as diabetes, psoriasis, lung disease or acute thyroid disease, but these are quite rare.
