What Fingernail Abnormalities Say About Your Health!

Abnormalities that appear on the nails warrant a closer look. 

Certain oddities, such as discoloration, nail separation and spots, can be telltale symptom of viral warts or some medications and infections, like the ones that are used for chemotherapy.

1. White Nails

If your nails are white in general, but with some darker rims, that is indicating to specific liver problems, like hepatitis. Very pale nails may be a symptom of other serious diseases, such as:

• Congestive heart failure
• Malnutrition
• Liver disease
• Anemia

  2. White Dots

  

  If there are small white dots on the nail’s surface, that shouldn’t really worry you, because it is some type of trauma, too aggressive cuticle trim or banged finger.

  3. Leukonychia

  Commonly known as milk spots or white nails, are mostly appearing on the fingernails compared to the toenails, and usually can be located in the central position of your nail plate. The regular nail beds need to have pink color that shows a good blood flow under the nail plate.

  Usually, these white spots are totally benign, even though in some cases it could be indication of underlying illness. Fungal or bacterial infection on the nails might potentially cause, or unusual side effects, of a systemic chemotherapy. This is an often case for people with respiratory condition, kidney failure or arsenic poisoning. Contact with an extreme cold might possibly cause leukonychia, but these kind of spots will simply vanish with time.

  4. Yellow Nails Syndrome

  

  This syndrome is causing a new nails to growth slow, and thicken nails. This is a result of yellowish nail’s discoloration. A most common cause of the yellow nails is fungal infection. As the infection get worse, that nail bed might retract and the nails might crumble, thicken, lack a cuticle and detach from nail bed into places.

  The yellow nail syndrome is usually a sign of respiratory illness, like chronic bronchitis. The yellow nail syndrome is also, usually related to swelling of hands, or lymphedema. In some rare situations, the yellow nails are indicating more complicated conditions, like lung disease, psoriasis, diabetes or thyroid disease.

  5. Blush Nails

  

  The medical term is cyanosis, and is a sign of numerous disorders, so it need to be checked out. The issues are only over-sensitive nerves, controlling the blood flow through the small arteries in the toes, fingers, earlobes and nose.

  This chronic disease might be sign of various breathing and lung issues, such as emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and some other respiratory disorders. Also, it can be a symptom of numerous heart problems, overdose of some drugs, such as benzodiazepines, narcotics, and a few sedatives, or as response to high altitude.

  6. Green Nails

  The green nails are result of pseudomonas infection that is often caused by the environment. That means those who are having low immune system are susceptible to this sort of nail infection that is making the nail to get green color.

  7. Nail Pitting

  

  Ice pick or small hole, like depressions in nails or nail pitting, are familiar to people who are having psoriasis, a condition which is characterized with scaly patched on the skin. A nail pitting might also be related to some connective tissue disorders, like alopecia areata or Reiter’s syndrome.

  8. Rippled Nails

  If the surface of the nail is rippled, similar to nail pitting above, it can indicate to an early symptom of inflammatory arthritis or psoriasis. Also, discoloration of the nail is very common sign, as the skin underneath the nail is getting reddish-brown.

  9. Cracked or Split Nails

  

  Split or cracked nails is very common nail disorder. Brittle and dry nails, which mostly crack or split are linked to thyroid disease. Splitting or cracking combined with yellow hue is indicating fungal infection. Folic acid, low Vitamin C levels and some proteins in the diet, are also causing nail splitting.

  10. Nail Ridges

  These ridges can be either vertical or horizontal. With vertical nail ridgesit may signify nutrition problems, nutritional absorption problems or moisture loss. The horizontal ridges in the nail are usually associated with liver diseases, diabetes or some other chronic diseases. Either the type of ridges may also be cause by nails damaging.

  11. Vertical Ridging or Nail Beading

  

  This occurs as vertical beaded ridge, similar to candle’s wax drippings. With a nail beading, the beads seem to drip down the nail, just like wax, and it’s associated with an endocrine conditions, like thyroid disorders, diabetes mellitus, Vitamin B deficiency, stress, Addison’s disease, or hormonal changes.

  However, just as our skin, the “wrinkles of the nails” are usually caused by the ageing process. Gentle buffing or filing will help to smooth them.

  12. Chewed Nails

  

  Biting the nails can be nothing more but an old habit, but in some cases it is a symptom of persistent anxiety, which can benefit from treatment. Usually, the nail picking or biting is linked to an obsessive compulsive disorder, and this habit is often a way to ease an anxiety or to keep one part of your body occupied, while your mind lacks interest. Some researchers are suggesting that the genes can play a role, but if you cannot stop, it is worth discussing with a doctor.

  
  

  Source: thescienceofeating.com