Fingernail Problems

What Your Fingernails Could be Telling You

Changes in the appearance of fingernails may mean nothing or can mean many things. The following are some nail changes which may be associated with different illnesses.

Color changes

• White/pale nail bed can indicate anemia.
• White dots or marks on the nails can indicate zinc or other nutritional deficiencies.
• White nails can indicate liver disease.
• Bluish nails can indicate lack of oxygen.
• Yellow nails can indicate respiratory or nail fungal infection or any illness that slows nail growth.
• Brown or black streak/dot under the nail can indicate a bruise/trauma (it will move up as the nail grows) or may be skin cancer.

Texture changes

• Thick or misshapen nails can indicate a fungus, similar to "athlete’s foot."
• Horizontal grooves or lines across the nail can indicate Illness has disrupted nail growth — usually caused by diabetes, circulatory disease, malnutrition or high fever.
• Pitting can indicate psoriasis.
• "Clubbing" or enlarged finger tips with curved nails can indicate many diseases, including lung cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or liver disease.
• Nails separating from the nail bed can indicate thyroid disease, infection, drug reactions or psoriasis.
• "Spoon nails" that curve into the nail bed and make a small cup or depression can indicate iron deficiency anemia.

Splitting, weak or thickened

Weak and/or splitting fingernails are a common problem, and in my experience usually improve with nutritional support and treating hormonal deficiencies.

Discolored, thick or misshapen nails most often occur from nail fungal infections, but may also occur after injuries to the nail bed.

Although the nails that are misshapen will stay that way, the good news is that they grow out and can be trimmed away. The key is to ensure that a healthy nail grows in to take its place. Your nails grow from the base (the little half moon at the bottom of your fingernails) out towards the fingertips, so they can eventually look healthy again.