Nails tell a lot about your health
Every limb of the body is a mirror of how health
you are. Similarly, nails can offer an
important glimpse into your overall health. Having strong and healthy nails
isn't just good news for your manicure—unpleasant nail symptoms could also
indicate bigger health problems. Health
specialists and experts have written extensively on how to take care of nails
and how nails reflect on the health condition. Some of the health issues that can be
identified from nails are given below:
Cracked,
Dry or Brittle Nails
Soft, brittle nails can occur from dryness on the
nail plate, say experts. The problem can
arise from swimming, overuse of nail polish remover, frequent dishwashing
without gloves, or just from living in a low-humidity environment etc. Consult
your doctor if problem persists for a long time. Try slathering them with a super-moisturizing
lotion to soothe cracked nails. Like your skin, nails are absorbent, and lotion
can prevent them from drying out in the future. If that doesn't help, you can
also try taking biotin, an over-the-counter nutritional supplement that
promotes healthy nail growth, say experts.
Yellow
Nails
This can happen naturally with age and can
sometimes be due to nail lacquers or acrylic nails. If you often wear acrylic nails or paint your
nails and are having this problem, try taking a break from the salon and give
nails a chance to recover. Another possible cause is smoking, which can stain
nails and give them a yellowish hue.
White
Spots
Many believe that white spots on nails suggest
calcium deficiency, but this isn't typically the case: "Usually, those
white spots are not very significant”, says an expert. "They're often the result
of minor trauma, such as if you whack your finger against something, and aren't
generally to do with calcium", it is said.
Clubbing
It can happen so slowly, so gradually, that many
people are unaware of the changes taking place in their fingernails until the
new appearance jolts them into awareness.
It is a glum picture: The fingernails are curved downward, feel soft
when pressed, and the tips are swollen. Nail clubbing could be a warning sign
of a serious condition too. The nail
become red, sponge-like, and swollen, almost like tiny balloons. As per experts, this can sometimes be a sign
of liver or kidney disease. If you spot
this problem, consult your doctor.
Vertical Ridges
This is usually a normal sign of aging. Just like wrinkles on your face, you also get
lines on your nails as you age.
Horizontal Ridges
Beau’s lines are
horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your fingernails or toenails and
are a sign that an illness, injury or skin condition interrupted your nail
growth. "This is typically the result of direct trauma
to the nail or a more serious illness, in which case you'll see it on more than
one nail at a time", say doctors. When your body is working overtime to
combat an illness, it saves its energy for the important stuff. Horizontal
lines across the nail plate can also be caused by a drug reaction, for example
if the patient recently had chemotherapy.
Severely Bitten Nails
Nail-biting is a common habit, but if it's
excessive—say, constant biting or picking at the skin around the nails—it could
be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sometimes psychiatric medicine is
required to treat OCD-related nail biting.
Pitting
If nails are covered with pits or dents, it could
be a sign of psoriasis. Consult your
doctor.
“Spoon”
Nails
"Spoon" nails refer to a very thin nail
which has become concave in shape. "This is usually a sign of iron
deficiency anaemia. It can be treated with iron supplements in consultation
with doctors." Extremely pale nails could also be a sign of iron
deficiency anaemia.
Dark
Stripes
If you have black discoloration on your nails, such as black streaks, or a painful growth on the nail, see your doctor immediately. Melanoma that comes from the nail unit is serious, and can sometimes cause black lines or stripes to appear on the nail.
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29 Jan, 2024
29 Jan, 2024
29 Jan, 2024
25 Jan, 2024
Benjamin
26 May, 2022
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