Your fingernails may sometimes provide clues about your general health. Changes in their colour, shape, thickness or growth can be linked to everyday injuries, infections or certain medical conditions. However, nail changes alone cannot confirm that someone has a particular illness.
1. Unusually pale nails: Pale nail beds may sometimes be associated with anaemia or other health problems. A blood test is needed to establish the cause.
2. Yellow nails: Yellow discolouration may result from fungal infections, frequent nail polish use or other conditions. Thick and crumbly nails may suggest a fungal infection.
3. Spoon-shaped nails: Nails that curve inward like a small spoon can sometimes be associated with iron-deficiency anaemia.
4. Deep ridges: Vertical ridges are common as people grow older. Horizontal grooves across the nails may sometimes appear after illness or significant physical stress.
5. Nails separating from the skin: Nail lifting can happen because of an injury, fungal infection, skin condition or thyroid problem.
6. Dark lines or patches: Some dark marks follow an injury, but a new or changing dark band should be examined, particularly if it affects one nail.
How should you care for your nails? Keep them clean and dry, avoid biting them, wear gloves when using cleaning products and do not share nail-cutting tools.
Final thoughts: Healthy-looking nails do not guarantee that everything inside the body is healthy. Nevertheless, persistent or unusual changes deserve attention. Seek medical advice if you notice unexplained dark marks, pain, swelling or changes affecting several nails.
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