What your nails say: Seven alarming signs you shouldn't ignore
Nails tell a lot about our health. Sudden changes in their appearance should prompt us to visit a doctor. What do different types of ridges, lines, and colour changes in the nail plate mean? An internist explains.
27 July 2024 20:51
Dr. Bhavini Shah, writing for WalesOnline, warns about signs of diseases that appear on the nails. Although it is normal for them to become more brittle with age, there are certain changes that a specialist should examine.
The internist emphasizes that you should also consult a doctor if the skin around the nail becomes painful, red, swollen, and itchy, as this may indicate an infection.
Seven alarming changes. When you notice them, go to a doctor
Spoon nails
Nails take on a shape similar to a spoon when there are significant iron deficiencies in our body, leading to anaemia. The nail plate bends inward in this case. Dr. Bhavini Shah, speaking to WalesOnline, emphasized that this symptom often appears in women after pregnancy when iron levels significantly drop. Other symptoms of anaemia include headaches, pale skin, shortness of breath, and persistent fatigue.
Split nail tips and irregular plate
Are the tips of your nails delicate, splitting, or breaking, and the plate wrinkled and changing colour? If so, you likely have hyperthyroidism. This organ produces excessive amounts of hormones, which affect our health.
Brittle nails
Nails that break easily, split, and grow slowly? Are there white lines on the plate? These may be symptoms of hypothyroidism, which produces too few hormones.
Red/purple lines
If you haven't hit your nail but see red or purple lines underneath, it could be a sign that you have heart disease.
White nails
If you notice that most of your nail is white, see a doctor. According to the doctor, this is a symptom indicating potential liver problems. Especially in the case of accompanying symptoms such as loss of appetite, yellow skin, and fatigue without an apparent reason.
Small indentations
Indentations and pits in the nails can be possible signs of skin conditions such as psoriasis or alopecia areata. In the case of eczema, the skin becomes dry, cracked, itchy, and painful.
Horizontal lines
- Deep lines or grooves on the nails are known as Beau's lines. This temporary nail growth disorder is usually caused by severe illness or infection. In some people, Beau's lines developed after having COVID-19 - explains Dr. Shah in WalesOnline.
These symptoms can also occur when our overall health is not the best. Be sure to consult a doctor then.
