Five Things Your Nails Say About Your Health
Nails are layers of keratin, a protein that is also present in our skin and hair. The general condition of nails can give a glimpse of the overall body health of an individual. As a matter of fact, having strong, healthy and good looking nails reflects the sound health of the person. However, unpleasant discolored nails could be an indicator of serious health problems to the person. In the next sections, we focus on various things your nails say about your health.
Things your nails say about your health
Thin and Brittle Nails
Brittle nails are weak, slow growing nails that are very sensitive and can crack from the slightest touch. Nails do break f
rom time to time, but people with brittle nails breaks more quickly. This condition shows the person could be having thyroid hormone or liver problems. Thyroid hormone deficiency leads to hair loss and brittle nails that grow slowly and are more likely to lift away from the nail bed. Similarly, it could be an indicator of liver congestion, biotin deficiency, psoriasis, or skin cancer, brought about by dieting problems. Having brittle nails should trigger the need to seek medical advice.
Yellow Nails
This condition could occur naturally due to advancing age, constant application of nail polish without base coating, or smoking which can give your nails a yellowish hue. Yellow nails could also be as a result of a dangerous fungi infection affecting the nail and the underlying nail bed. To fully ascertain if that this is a health issue, it is advisable to allow few days or weeks without applying nail polish, and using a transparent base coating to avoid staining the nail. If the condition persists, consult a medical doctor.
Dry Cuticles
Dry cuticles show a level of dehydration. People who usually wash their hands a lot are more likely to have this condition. It is recommended to use nourishing cuticle oil to help moisturize the cuticles and the nail bed.
Blue Nails
Blue nail shows that you are not getting enough oxygen and can be as a result of the respiratory impairment or vascular problem known as Raynaud’s Disease. This disease is a rare disorder of blood vessels that leads to slower blood circulation, especially in cold temperatures.
Pale Nails
Pale nai
ls could be an indication of anemia, a blood disorder condition characterized by low red blood cells count. In extreme conditions, this could be a sign of diabetes or liver disease both of which can lead to abnormal blood flow. This problem can be corrected early with dietary changes.
Many other abnormal characteristics occur to the nails that are clear indicators of health problems. They include dark lines, pitting or grooving nails, spoon nails etcetera. I would recommend paying a visit to a medical doctor for proper examination and diagnosis.
