How Can You Tell Your Health Issues From Your Nails? - Fixanswer

Spoon nails (koilonychia) are soft nails that look scooped out . The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia or a liver condition known as hemochromatosis, in which your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat.

Do nails show health?

Your nail may even turn a purple color, meaning you have a circulatory issue. Black toenails indicate an injury beneath your nail, but it can also be a symptom of a bacterial infection, a deficiency of Vitamin B12, or anemia . In extreme instances, black toenails can be a sign of cancer or liver or kidney disease.

What do ridges in your nails mean?

Ridges in the fingernails are often normal signs of aging . Slight vertical ridges commonly develop in older adults. In some cases, they may be a sign of health problems like vitamin deficiencies or diabetes. Deep horizontal ridges, called Beau’s lines, may indicate a serious condition.

What do nails look like with liver disease?

White Nails

If the nails are mostly white with darker rims , this can indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis. In this image, you can see the fingers are also jaundiced, another sign of liver trouble.

What are the five nail disorders?

This article therefore helps clinicians to find the right treatment of the 5 most common nail disorders ( brittle nails, onycholysis, paronychia, psoriasis, and onychomycosis ) and provides practical tips that might improve patients’ compliance.

Can vitamin D deficiency cause brittle nails?

Vitamin D regulates calcium levels in the body which is an essential contributor to having healthy nails. If you find yourself with brittle and weak nails, it could mean a lack of Vitamin D .

Can B12 deficiency affect your nails?

Both iron and B12 are necessary for keeping nails strong and healthy. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can result in entirely blue nails, bluish-black pigments with wavy longitudinal dark streaks and brownish pigmentation ( 5 , 6 ).

Can low iron make your nails weak?

Cause: Anemia

It can happen when you lose too much blood. You can also get it if you don’t get enough iron in your diet or have a condition that keeps you from absorbing it. Anemia can make your nails brittle or cave inward in the shape of a spoon .

Do thyroid problems cause nail ridges?

Horizontal ridges can be caused by trauma to the nail and may be deep or discolored. The can also indicate malnutrition, psoriasis or a thyroid problem . Check with your doctor if you see horizontal ridges on your nails; they may indicate a more serious problem.

What does Beau’s lines look like?

Beau’s lines are horizontal (transverse) depressions in the nail plate that run parallel to the shape of the white, moon-shaped portion of the nail bed (lunula) seen at the nail’s origin . They result from a sudden interruption of nail keratin synthesis and grow distally with the nail plate.

What Vitamin Are you lacking when you have ridges in your nails?

Vertical ridges on nails due to vitamin A deficiency

Brittle nails accompanied by vertical ridges can be signs of a deficiency in vitamin A, calcium, and zinc.

Can fingernails show signs of heart disease?

Fingernails: Possible problems

Nail clubbing is sometimes the result of low oxygen in the blood and could be a sign of various types of lung disease. Nail clubbing is also associated with inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and AIDS .

Can diabetes affect your nails?

Summary. People with diabetes are vulnerable to infections in and around the nails, including Gram-negative bacteria or fungi . Neuropathy and glycaemia increase the risk, as does damage to the nail or adjacent skin, for example by distorted or sharp-edged nails. It is vital to have good nail care in both hands and feet ...

What are signs that your liver is not functioning properly?

Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice)
Abdominal pain and swelling.
Swelling in the legs and ankles.
Itchy skin.
Dark urine color.
Pale stool color.
Chronic fatigue.
Nausea or vomiting.

Does your liver affect your nails?

Fingernails: Possible problems

Terry’s nails can sometimes be attributed to aging. In other cases, Terry’s nails can be a sign of a serious underlying condition, such as liver disease , congestive heart failure, kidney failure or diabetes.

What is the most common nail disorder?

Brittle nail, simple chronic paronychia, and onycholysis represent three of the most prevalent nail disorders. Brittle nails are characterized by increased fragility of the nail plate due to damage to the nail matrix or changes to nail plate cohesion, caused by internal and/or external factors.

How can you tell if you have low vitamin D?

Fatigue.
Bone pain.
Muscle weakness, muscle aches, or muscle cramps.
Mood changes, like depression.

How do you know if you’re low in vitamin D?

The most accurate way to measure how much vitamin D is in your body is the 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test. A level of 20 nanograms/milliliter to 50 ng/mL is considered adequate for healthy people. A level less than 12 ng/mL indicates vitamin D deficiency .

What are the symptoms of B12 deficiency?

Weak muscles.
Numb or tingling feeling in hands and feet.
Trouble walking.
Nausea.
Decreased appetite.
Weight loss.
Irritability.
Lack of energy or tiring easily (fatigue)

Is zinc good for nails?

Your nails may be slow-growing, brittle and easily cracked too, she explains. This is because a steady level of zinc in the body is needed for the growth of tissue and cells in the nails and when this is lacking, general nail problems can occur, which at its worst, can manifest as white spots. The good news?