Did you know that about 10% of all dermatological conditions are nail-related?

It is rightly said that your nails are windows to your health. A healthy nail looks smooth and of a consistent color. It is normal for your nails to grow brittle or have vertical ridges as you grow old but any abnormalities such as discoloration, spots, etc. could be symptoms of a medical condition, stress, or poor nutrition.

Do note that certain medications can also change the appearance of your nails, so to be a hundred percent sure about an illness, it is always better to consult a doctor first.

Let us start with the basic anatomy of a fingernail or toenail.

What are Fingernails made of?

Your nails are made out of layers of a protein called Keratin – the same substance your body uses to build hair and top of the skin.

Keratin plays a major role in keeping your nails healthy by protecting them from damage.

Nail Anatomy – The different parts of Fingernail

Leave alone the general public, even some nail technicians do not know the different parts of the nail.

So let us first learn the anatomy of a nail. A nail comprises of the below parts:

1. Matrix
2. Lunula
3. Eponychium
4. Cuticle
5. Nail Plate
6. Nail Bed

Matrix: Area where your fingernails and toenails start to grow. The matrix creates new skin cells pushing the old and dead cells outwards as nails.

Lunula: It is the crescent part present at the base of the nail. It is bluish-white and opaque that is visible through the nail plate. It is also called as “moon”.

Lunula is not visible on all nails. Most often it is present on your thumb or index finger.

Eponychium: Thick layer of skin at the base of the fingernails and toenails.

Cuticle and Eponychium are different. Eponychium comprises live skin cells whereas the cuticle consists of dead skin cells.

Cuticle: It is the thin layer of dead tissue located at the edge of your fingernails or toenails. The cuticle helps to protect new nails from bacteria when they grow out of nail root.

Nail Plate: Hard part of the nail, made of keratin. Commonly the word nail is referred to as nail plate only.

Nail Bed: Soft tissue that sits underneath and supports the nail plate while it grows.

Nail Signs and Health

1. Pale Nails

Pale or white nails mean you might be having less red blood cells. If the nail bed is mostly white with dark rims near the top, this might mean you may be suffering from hepatitis.

Pale finger nails may be symptoms of

1. Liver Problems
2. Anemia
3. Heart Disease
4. Diabetes
5. Malnutrition

How to Fix it?

If the pale nails are caused due to Anemia, then increase the intake of iron-rich foods.

1. Beans
2. Lean Meat
3. Green Leafy vegetables
4. Raisins
5. Peas
6. Apricots
7. Poultry

2. Beau’s Lines

Beau’s lines are horizontal lines that run across the nails. The indentations can appear due to a variety of reasons.

Beau’s Lines may be symptoms of:

1. Uncontrolled Diabetes
2. Illnesses associated with high fever e.g scarlet fever, measles, mumps, pneumonia, COVID
3. Zinc deficiency
4. Injury to nails
5. Certain medications

How to Fix it?

If caused due to Zinc deficiency, have foods rich in zinc.

Example of foods that are high in zinc :

1. Oysters
2. Red meat
3. Poultry
4. Beans
5. Nuts
6. Whole grains
7. Fortified Breakfast cereals
8. Dairy products

3. Spoon Nails

Also known as Koilonychia, spoon nails are soft, extremely thin and bend outwards(concave), or sometimes, are even flat. The curve is deep enough to hold a drop of liquid.

Spoon Nails may be symptoms of:

1. Iron Deficiency
2. A liver condition called hemochromatosis – Body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat
3. Blockage of blood in vessels
4. Excessive Stress
5. The autoimmune disease Lupus
6. Continuous exposure to solutions that are petroleum-based, soaps, detergents

How to fix it?

If the symptoms are caused due to Iron deficiency, consume foods rich in iron.

4. Terry’s Nails

Terry’s nails are almost entirely white. The tip of the nail has a small pink or brown band. Since the nail is white, lunula is not visible.

According to a review article in American Family Physician, Terry’s nails are found in 80% of nails.

Terry’s nails may be symptoms of:

1. Liver Diseases especially a condition called Cirrhosis
2. Congestive Heart Failure
3. Type 2 Diabetes
4. Peripheral Vascular Disease
5. Chronic Kidney Failure
6. HIV
7. Aging

How to Fix?

Terry’s nails don’t need to be treated. They will go away if the underlying condition is treated.

5. Yellow Nails

They are very common than we think. The nails thicken and nail growth slows with yellow nail syndrome. They may not have a cuticle and detach from the nail bed.

Yellow Nails are Symptoms of:

1. Fungal Infections
2. Reaction from a product you are using
3. Respiratory Diseases such as Chronic Bronchitis
4. Rheumatoid arthritis

How to Fix?

Treating the underlying illness. If yellow nails are caused due to an infection, you may try to apply vitamin E oil or tea tree oil.

6. Pitting

Nail Pitting may look like shallow or deep holes in your nails. They look like dents on your nails. They may appear on your fingernails and toenails. You may also get them if they run in your family.

Pitting may be symptoms of:

1. Psoriasis
2. Eczema
3. Joint inflammation

How to Fix?

Seeing a certified Dermatologist for a diagnosis is essential.

7. Split or Cracked Nails

If you are suffering from both cracking and splitting of nails, it may be due to a fungal infection. Generally, harsh chemicals like household cleaners or physical stress may be the culprit behind splitting but if they aren’t the reasons, then they might be symptoms of other medical illnesses. Nail splits can be horizontal, across the nail’s tip, or vertical, splitting the nail in two. They can also be caused due to prolonged exposure to moisture.

Split or Cracked Nails maybe symptoms of:

1. Hypothyroidism
2. Infections
3. Psoriasis
4. Liver Diseases
5. Kidney Diseases
6. Skin cancers

How to Fix?

If the split is caused due to long term exposure to moisture, try to refrain from keeping your hands in water for a long time.

According to Healthline, If your nail split extends to your nail bed, you might need to visit a doctor. Your nail may have to be removed and your nail bed may need stitches.

8. Vertical Ridges on Nails

They are often normal signs of aging due to a slowing of cell turnover. Most of the time ridges are harmless. But, if you experience other symptoms like discoloration, brittle nails with jagged edges, then it may be a cause of concern.

Possible causes of Vertical Ridges are:

1. Lichen Planus
2. Psoriasis
3. Hair Loss – Alopecia areata
4. Fungal Nail Infection
5. Anemia
6. Peripheral Vascular Disease

How to Fix?

If the cause is Anemia, then consume food high in iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B, Keratin. Have a balanced diet rich is nutrients.

9. White Spots on fingernails

White spots on nails are very common. They may appear as tiny dots spread across your nail or for some people they may be larger and stretch across the entire nail.

They are mostly caused due to injury. Also frequently getting manicures and pedicures done can damage nail beds.

Other Potential Causes for White Spots are:

1. Allergic Reaction
2. Fungal Infection
3. Nail Injury
4. Mineral Deficiency

How to Fix?

If your white spots are infrequent and if it is because of an injury, it may not be a cause of concern.

If it is caused due to minerals deficiency which can be diagnosed by a doctor, try to increase your intake of zinc and calcium.

Some Minerals Rich foods are:

1. Nuts
2. Lentils and Beans
3. Green Leafy Vegetables
4. Whole Grains
5. Yogurt

10. No Half-Moon or Lunula

Check your thumb or forefinger, you might find a little rounded white curve at the base of your fingernail. They are known as fingernail moons. Most of the time not having it doesn’t mean anything because it could be just hidden under your skin. But, if you experience additional symptoms like your nail turning red and accompanied by fatigue, weight loss or gain, dizziness, unusual cravings, poor eyesight, and anxiety then, you need to get yourself checked by a physician.

Possible causes of no half-moons are:

1. Anemia
2. Malnutrition
3. Depression

How to fix it?

Most of the times, they are harmless but if you experience the above mentioned symptoms, go to the doctor immediately.

11. Dark or Black Line on Nail

This condition is called a splinter hemorrhage and may occur due to a variety of reasons. This condition is caused by damaged blood vessels underneath your nail. Most of the times they are harmless and they occur due to a symptom called linear melanonychia. This condition occurs when pigments in nails known as melanocytes take excess pigment.

Serious Causes of Black Line on Nail include:

1. HIV
2. Skin Cancer
3. Taking drug medications such as chemotherapy drugs, anti-malarial drugs

How to Fix?

Splinter hemorrhages appear as small black or deep red lines on the nails and they are harmless and heal on their own. If a person has multiple black lines across several nails, it needs to be checked by a doctor as it may correspond to a more serious medical condition.

Other Nail Symptoms and Diseases

Takeaway

Seeing a change in your nails may not always mean that you have a disease. But, if you see other symptoms accompanying it, there might be a serious health issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.