This is most common in people with darker complexions because they tend to have more pigment-producing melanocytes in their skin and nails 6. Stern explains. This is especially the case if the dark streak is changing in some way, like widening or getting even darker.
This is also key to keep in mind if you have dark skin, as you can be more vulnerable to getting melanoma on your hands and feet which can present on your nails. Stern notes that most commonly, nails turn yellow because of nail polish use. Stern explains, and sometimes causing yellow nail syndrome.
If your nails are curving down and have a noticeable rounded edge—kind of like upside down spoons—this could be a sign of clubbing 8. Clubbing can even make the tips of your fingers appear swollen or bulging. It is typically caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood, so it can happen with many different heart or lung diseases.
Lung cancer is the most common cause, but congenital heart problems or infections of the heart or lung can also give nails this clubbed appearance. The most common cause is simply trauma to the nail. This can be a sign of arsenic poisoning. If you have this symptom, your doctor will take hair or tissue samples to check for arsenic in your body. When the nail plate separates from the nail bed, it causes a white discoloration.
This is called onycholysis. This can be due to infection, trauma, or products used on the nails. Pitting refers to small depressions, or little pits, in the nail. Some systemic diseases can also cause pitting.
This is often due to aging, but it can also be caused by:. Sometimes the nail lacks a cuticle and may even pull away from the nail bed. This can be the result of:. These are just some of the signs of abnormal fingernails. In many cases, proper care of your nails is enough to correct their appearance. You can prevent many nail abnormalities by taking good care of your nails. Follow these general guidelines to keep your nails healthy:.
If you have a problem with brittle or weak nails, keep them short to avoid breakage. Use lotion on your nails and cuticles to keep the nail and nail beds moisturized. Shop for nail lotions. If you get professional manicures or pedicures, make sure your nail salon is properly certified and that nail technicians use proper sterilization techniques.
You should avoid long-term use of nail polish and nail polish removers. The condition, called Beau's lines, is associated with uncontrolled diabetes, circulatory diseases or illnesses associated with high fever, the Mayo Clinic says. While nail changes can signal something is going on with a person's health, sometimes the message they send isn't specific to a particular disease.
He adds the warning, though, that "if that happens and it's new, it can be a sign of lung cancer. The term clubbing is used to describe the swelling or enlarging of the tips of the fingers, with the nails curving downwards over the tip. While some people are born with clubbing, if it develops later on it can be a symptom of lung disease, congenital heart disorders, inflammatory bowel disease or liver problems.
Spoon nails, on the other hand, come about when the fingernails soften and curl inward from the sides, creating a concave surface. Also known as koilonychia, spoon nails can be a sign of iron-deficiency anemia. Davis suggests paying attention to, but not fretting unduly, over changes to fingernails. Because there's lots of things that happen to the nails themselves that have nothing to do with any underlying conditions. Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.
All rights reserved. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www. They suggest "sprinkling a little baby powder in your gloves" or wearing "a pair of cotton inserts under the gloves," for wet work. Moreover, rubbing essential oils and applying a moisturizer after you clean or wash your hands can benefit the health of your nails via HealthyLife.
In general, weak nails are a sign of a deficiency in B vitamins, calcium, iron, or fatty acids. Taking a supplement after consulting a medical professional may be a way to regain strength in your fingernails via Woman's Day , or consider a dietary change. Other changes like yellowing of the nails or white spots can be larger issues.
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