Nails aren’t just part of your appearance; they can signal your overall health. They can reflect wellness or point to neglect, poor hygiene, unhealthy habits, or internal disease. Changes in color, spots, unevenness, splitting, or brittleness are signs that deserve attention.
Shape and Color
A healthy nail is firmly attached and features a clearly defined, rounded, light-colored lunula near the cuticle. A healthy nail plate has an even color, typically pink or flesh-toned. You can judge health by color changes in the nails. Dull nails may indicate anemia. The appearance of stripes and spots can suggest a problem with the spleen. Blue crescent-shaped spots can be a sign of poisoning. Milky-white spots result from incomplete keratinization of the nail plates and can be linked to deficiencies in calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E — and sometimes to liver cirrhosis.
White nails may signal liver disease or diabetes, while half-white, half-pink nails can occur with kidney disease. A semicircular shape of the nail of the fourth finger may indicate possible kidney failure. A triangular shape of that nail can be characteristic of spinal issues. Wavy ridges often point to rheumatism. Yellow nails suggest lung or infectious diseases. A blue hue signals a lack of oxygen in the blood, while dark blue or dark brown nail coloration can indicate a malignant tumor. Nail melanoma can slowly destroy the nail plate and may sometimes appear colorless due to low melanin levels.
Bumpy Surface
The texture of the nail surface is another indicator of health. A textured or soft nail plate is abnormal. A healthy nail typically has a uniform consistency: a hard, smooth keratin layer without grooves, dents, or bumps. So how do bumpy nails point to disease? Thickening or distortion may be signs of onychogryphosis (a condition related to aging) or platonychia (a congenital anomaly). The nature of the irregularities can suggest their origins. Triggers for wavy nails include chronic and endocrine diseases, contact with chemicals, injuries, and deficiencies in certain nutrients.
For example, transverse grooves (known as Beau’s lines) can result from trauma to the keratin layer during a manicure or from nail-biting, but they can also indicate metabolic disorders, past fungal infections, and other diseases. Transverse grooves on the nails may point to a deficiency in zinc and vitamin B1, while longitudinal ridges on the nail plate suggest a lack of vitamin B6. Such nails are often seen in vegetarians and those on diets that exclude meat (a primary source of zinc). This symptom is usually accompanied by other signs: white spots, slowed nail growth, and brittleness. The problem of wavy nails is often improved by adjusting the diet. Make nuts, dried fruits, tomatoes, zucchini, cabbage, beets, apples, and plums staples in your meals.
Nail Defects
Diagnosing disease through the nails can reveal disruptions in the body, whether local or systemic. Irregularities, cracks, and splitting of the nail plate can be symptoms of a group of conditions known as onychodystrophy, which can be congenital or acquired. An example of the congenital form is koilonychia—a dystrophic condition characterized by spoon-shaped nails. This concave deformation most often appears on the fingernails. Contributing factors include frostbite, injuries, infections, diseases, and contact with chemicals.
Acquired onychodystrophies include onychoschizia and onychorexis, which refer to splitting and cracking. Their causes can be mechanical, related to typing or improper manicure techniques; chemical, provoked by exposure to alkalis or household chemicals; or biological, arising from immune deficiencies, fungal infections, and certain chronic diseases. If cosmetic treatments do not help, consult an endocrinologist, because sometimes nail splitting is caused by thyroid issues. Brittle nails can indicate a lack of fatty acids, iron, protein, zinc, calcium, and B vitamins. Contact with synthetic cleaning agents can also lead to splitting and brittleness. Protect your hands with silicone gloves when doing household chores.
Fungal Infections
Half of all nail diseases are caused by onychomycosis—an infection of the nail plates by fungi that feed on keratin cells. To penetrate nail tissue, fungi produce enzymes that break down the plate. Nail deterioration can therefore be a symptom of a fungal infection. This condition typically begins with a pale appearance of the affected nail plate, followed by color changes to white, yellow-brown, purple, green, and black. Signs of fungal infection include longitudinal yellow-white or brown stripes within the nail plate, white round spots on the nails, thickening, and itching.
If left untreated, the infection can lead to total destruction of the nail plate. The affected nail may need to be filed down, trimmed, or completely removed, and treatment can last from 12 weeks to a year. Toenails are more frequently affected by fungi than fingernails, and infection can occur through shoes, clothing, and household items. Avoid using others’ towels and personal items, disinfect manicure tools, and visit communal showers, saunas, and pools only in appropriate footwear. Avoid tight shoes and choose socks made from breathable materials. Risk factors include sweaty feet, older age, low immunity, diabetes, poor blood circulation in the extremities, injuries, and artificial nails.
Nail Psoriasis
Nails affected by psoriasis can help diagnose conditions whose connections may not be obvious. This chronic condition shows up as skin inflammation that affects the nail plate. It develops in people with a genetic predisposition. The onset of nail disease can be triggered by skin infections (such as streptococcus), constant friction from ill-fitting shoes, injuries, burns (including sunburn), scratches, and bites. Other contributing factors include stress, fatigue, obesity, smoking, and alcohol abuse. Respiratory diseases (like angina) and certain medications (for hypertension, multiple sclerosis, bipolar disorder, or malaria) can also provoke nail psoriasis.
Symptoms include loss of transparency in the nail plate, thickening of the nails or of the skin beneath the nails, pinpoint depressions on the nail surface, and peeling. In cases of mycosis, the nail turns yellow and crumbles. Diagnosis is typically made after a clinical examination of the nails and skin. Depending on severity, treatments may include immunosuppressants, topical glucocorticoids, phototherapy, creams, starch baths to moisturize the nails, or laser treatment. The simplest prevention is to maintain nail hygiene and avoid compromising the integrity of the nail plate.
Nail Separation
Diagnosis can also cover onycholysis—spontaneous partial separation of the nail from the nail bed or complete detachment. Common causes of nail separation include fungal infections and primary inflammation from psoriasis, eczema, or lichen. Other possible causes include trauma, chemical exposure, thyroid disease, and the use of antibiotics and retinoids. To help prevent nail separation, supplements with iron and vitamins, antifungal medications, and treatments for psoriasis can be beneficial. Trim separating nails regularly, avoid frequent contact with water, and wear gloves during wet tasks.
Keep nails on both hands and feet dry and clean. Apply moisturizing products to the nail plates daily. Avoid injuries, clean under the nails regularly, and prevent bacterial infections under artificial nails by monitoring the color of your natural nail plates. Avoid products that contain acetone or formaldehyde. Cut nails straight, not too short, and don’t cut the cuticle — gently push it back instead. Do home manicures and pedicures after a bath or shower, when the nail plate softens. Proper care and preventive measures help maintain the natural beauty of healthy nails.
Taking Action
Getting healthy, attractive nails takes consistent care and dietary attention. Stick with the routine — results appear after a few weeks, so don’t expect a single treatment to fix everything.
Dietary Adjustments
For healthy nails, include vitamins A, C, D, E, and K in your diet. Eat calcium-rich foods like fatty fish or hard cheese (calcium is better absorbed with fat). Iron, important for nails, is found in meat, soy, and legumes; pair iron-rich foods with vitamin C–rich vegetables such as cabbage to improve absorption. Selenium and gelatin can improve nail structure, so prepare jellied dishes and aspics regularly. Drink juices made from oranges, grapefruits, carrots (with cream), parsley roots, and celery. A vegetable cocktail of a quarter of a green pepper, a whole cucumber, four carrots, and three cabbage leaves can also help strengthen your nails.
Proper Care
For splitting nails, don’t cut them; file them, always in one direction. Apply a protective coating with vitamins E and R to strengthen nails and prevent brittleness. Use care products containing biotin to nourish nails and cuticles, and apply such treatments at night. To prevent splitting of brittle nails, use products that contain natural alpha-hydroxy acids, especially if you frequently use household chemicals. Before applying nail polish, use a protein-rich natural base to protect the plates from staining. Use smoothing products with silicone compounds and ceramides in flexible base coats to prevent yellowing. Give your nails a break from acetone-based removers, aggressive manicure products, and artificial nails. Don’t overdo artificial enhancements — healthy natural nails are always in style.
