What Your Nails Can Tell You About Your Health

Eyes are often called the windows to the soul, but did you know your fingernails could also be the window to your health? As it turns out, our nails are about much more than just keeping them well-manicured. They could also provide important insight into your overall wellbeing.

Nail Colour

Depending on the colour of your nails, this could be a strong indication that you’re either healthy or at risk of developing (or already have) a disease. If your nails are pale in appearance, this could be a sign of things such as anemia, malnutrition, congestive heart failure or liver disease. White nails can also be a sign of problems with the liver, such as hepatitis, which may also cause the fingers and your skin to appear yellow in colour – also known as jaundice. Your nails can also appear yellow in colour. Yellow nails are most commonly due to a fungal infection, though in rare cases may also be indicative of more serious conditions such as diabetes and thyroid disease. If your nails have a blueish tint or tinge to them, this could be an indicator of a lung problem, such as emphysema, and you may not be getting enough oxygen. Blue nails can also be associated with heart problems. If you have dark lines developing beneath the nail this isn’t something you should ignore, as you may have melanoma, which is a dangerous cancer that affects the skin.

Nail Texture

The texture of your nails can also tell you a lot about your health. If your nails have a ripple-like effect to them along with discolouration (usually appearing reddish-brown), this may be an early indicator of inflammatory arthritis as well as psoriasis. When it comes to horizontal ridges, this could be due to trauma to the nail itself – for example, accidentally slamming your hand in the car door or another kind of hand-related injury. Similarly, if the ridges are vertical, this may simply be a normal part of the aging process and you will have nothing to worry about in terms of your health. Nails that are dry, brittle and frequently crack have been linked to thyroid disease and/or fungal infections. If the skin around your nail (also known as the nail fold) is red and puffy, this is inflammation. Inflammation around the nail fold can be caused as a result of infection (sometimes due to nail biting) or may also be the result of a connective tissue disorder such as lupus. Another nail condition known as “clubbing” occurs when your fingers become swollen and the nail itself curves and becomes rounded in appearance, which could be the sign of liver or kidney disease.

While these are just some of the signs you should watch for, it’s important to note that most issues with the nails are often due to lifestyle factors. Nail biting, for example, as mentioned previously. While this can be a difficult habit to break, there are many reasons why you should strive to do so – the #1 reason being that nail biting could potentially lead to infection; and, if severe, you may need to have the infected area(s) drained surgically. One simply way to keep yourself from biting your fingernails is to wear bandaids. Many drug stores and cosmetic stores also offer safe nailpolish-like varnish that you can apply to your nails, which, if you go to bite your nails, tastes terrible and will defer you from wanting to continue nail biting. This is especially good to use on children that are nail biters. If you happen to bite your nails due to stress, keeping a journal to help you identify your triggers may be beneficial in helping you break the habit.

Family physician, Dr. Ali Ghahary, also says that your diet can play a huge factor in your nail health. If you’re lacking in essential nutrients, your nail health can suffer. Things like protein and grass-fed meat (such as beef), are great for keeping your nails healthy. Leafy greens and berries also contain plenty of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals which can also benefit the health of your nails. Biotin, which is found in things like eggs and omega-3 fatty acids also plays an important role in keeping your nails strong. Find out more on healthy eating and why it matters by clicking here.