What Your Nail Colour Reveals About Your Health - and When to See a Doctor

Your nails do not just protect your fingers but also reveal clues to your overall health. Doctors say a touch of white here, a rosy tinge there, or some rippling or bumps can be a sign of serious disease

in your body. Also, issues with your liver, lungs, and heart can also show up in your nails. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, many instances of unusual signs on your nails can even be harmless. Still, there are some specific colours that may prompt you to seek medical help. A few of these concerning signs are:

Pale nails

Caused mostly by fungal infection, nail infections can worsen as the infection grows, making the nails thicken and crumble. In a few rare cases, pale nails also indicate a more serious condition such as severe thyroid disease, lung disease, psoriasis, or even diabetes.

White nails

Also known as leukonychia, white spots on your nails are a common condition that leads to streaks on your fingernails or toenails. In some people, leukonychia appears as one or two medium-sized spots or many tiny specks. In others, the spots may be very large. You may have spots on only one nail, or you may have spots on many nails. Doctors say white spots would usually mean that your nails have experienced some sort of stress, which could be due to an injury, like hitting your nail against a hard surface, an infection, or an allergic reaction. White spots can also be due to side effects of medications.

Bluish nails

Blue nails mostly mean that your body is not getting enough oxygen due to heart or lung issues. However, it can also signify Wilson’s disease, silver poisoning, or vitamin B12 deficiency. Lung diseases can also make it difficult to breathe and affect the amount of oxygen that reaches your blood. Lung diseases that can cause cyanosis may include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, a group of progressive lung diseases that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis. Also, those with congenital heart disease - a heart abnormality present at birth- can have blue nails.

Dusky red half-moons

The AAD said that dusky red half-moons on your nails could signal a range of conditions, including lupus, heart disease, alopecia areata, arthritis, and dermatomyositis. If you spot any of these colours on your nails, you should immediately speak to your doctor.

Puffy nail folds

Chronic paronychia is a condition that causes inflammation, redness, tenderness, and swelling of the skin folds and tissues surrounding the nails. It is usually the result of irritants or allergens, but it can be caused by the fungus Candida albicans, other infections, or psoriasis. It can usually be treated with topical steroids.

Dark streaks

The AAD explains that a new or changing dark streak under a nail could be cancer. “That dark streak could be melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.” Doctors echo this warning, saying you must visit the hospital if you have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury.

Nail clubbing

Nail clubbing happens when your nails appear wider, spongelike or swollen, like an upside-down spoon. Clubbed nails are often a sign of a health condition that needs treatment, such as lung cancer. Treating the underlying condition may help nails return to normal.