What our nails tell us about our health

What if we told you that our nails could tell us something about our health? Yes, they don’t just enhance our hands, they are also indicators of our physical condition.

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We generally take good care of our nails because they are a sign of cleanliness and coquetry to the outside world. However, beyond that, we need to learn to take a closer look at their appearance because it can give us valuable clues about a possible health problem. So keep an eye on them!

Signs of good health

Let’s start by identifying the characteristics of healthy nails that do not indicate any particular health problems.

First of all, they should be uniformly pink in colour. This indicates good oxygenation and blood circulation. Surfaces should be smooth, with no bumps, hollows or roughness, and thicknesses should be even, i.e. neither too thin nor too thick.

Another indicator of good health is the strength of the nails. If they are strong and resistant, and don’t break easily, then this is a positive sign of your general state of health.

Finally, it’s important to look at your cuticles and lunula. Healthy cuticles should be free of inflammation and well hydrated. Lunules, the crescent-shaped area at the base of the nail, should be white and visible.

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Potential signs of health problems

This is where things get complicated. There are a number of warning signs that need to be taken into account, particularly if they are accompanied by other physical symptoms.

The first warning sign is nail discolouration. This can take a variety of forms, the main ones being:

• Yellowing. This may indicate a fungal infection or lung disease.
• The appearance of white patches. While these are often due to minor trauma, they can also indicate a zinc deficiency.
• Blue nails. This abnormal colour is often a sign of poor circulation or low oxygen levels in the blood.
• Black or brown lines. This type of appearance requires urgent medical assessment, as in most cases these lines are a sign of melanoma or other serious conditions.

Changes in the texture of your nails are another indication of your state of health. Here are a few points to consider:

• If they are wrinkled or wavy, this may indicate skin disorders such as eczema or psoriasis.
• If they are crumbly or brittle, this is usually caused by a vitamin deficiency, fungal infection or hypothyroidism.
• If they are ‘pitted’, i.e. small depressions on the surface of the nail, this may indicate psoriasis, or even psoriatic arthritis.

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The third aspect that should alert you to your state of health is the shape of your nails:

• Spoon-shaped nails, an anomaly known as ‘koilonychia’, are nails that curve upwards and may indicate an iron deficiency, or anaemia.
• Pincer nails, an anomaly known as ‘onychogryphosis’, are represented by an excessive curvature that may indicate circulation problems or excessive pressure on the nails.
• Curved nails (digital hippocratism), which curve downwards and swell, can be a sign of lung, heart or liver disease.

Finally, there are certain signs under the nails that should be taken into consideration if they appear. Here are just a few:

• Beau’s lines, which are deep horizontal lines. They may indicate physical stress or serious illness.
• Onycholysis, which is the separation of the nail bed. This can be caused by infection, injury or thyroid disorders.
• Muehrcke’ striae, which appear as parallel white lines on the nails. They generally indicate kidney or liver problems.