What dohealthy nailslook like, though?
Your nail beds should be flesh-colored, meaning they skew pink, tan, or brownish.
Cuticles are intact and well moisturized, Dr. Stern adds.
There’s a lot you can tell about your health from your nails.
Here are the most common nail problems that potentially signal something thats more than skin-deep, according to dermatologists.
You have small dents in the surface of your nail.
Your nails are concave, like spoons.
Anyone who suddenly develops spoon-shaped nails should have a workup by their physician, Dr. Stern says.
Your nails are white.
Your nails have brown or black stripes.
But its important to know that this can potentially indicate melanoma of the nail.
The thumb, index finger, and great toenail are the most common digits to have melanoma.
Nail melanoma tends to be diagnosed late, but if you catch it early, its often treatable.
Your nails are yellow.
Dr. Stern notes that most commonly, nails turn yellow because of nail polish use.
So thats a relief!
With yellow nail syndrome, nails appear thick and have a yellow to green hue, Dr. Stern explains.
Because bronchiectasis tends to be chronic, yellow nail syndrome does too, Dr. Stern says.
Your nails turn blue or green.
But blue nails could also indicate some sort of poisoning.
Other times, your fingernail may turn green-ish black if you have a bacterial infection under your nail.
The skin surrounding your nail may become inflamed, swollen, and painful.
Your nails are growing with a downward curve.
Clubbing can even make the tips of your fingers appear swollen or reddened.
Your nail beds might feel soft and it can seem like your nails arent firmly attached to the bed.
It may also be a sign of IBD or another inflammatory problem in the G.I.
tract, like celiac disease.
Your nails separate from their nail beds.
You have ridges in the center of your nail.
In turn, your nails will develop this washboard appearance.
Your nails become thick, overgrown, curved, and opaque.
(Medically, the condition is called onychogryphosis.)
Youll feel much better knowing that your nailsand your overall healthare well taken care of.
