How do nails indicate illness?

It is no secret that nails can tell a lot about a person’s health. After all, it is by their color and shape that one can determine what problems the body may have in order to quickly take action. We at joy-pup tell you how nails indicate illness.

Identifying illnesses by nail color

Look at your nails to see if there are any health problems. Assess their color.

• Pale nails may indicate anemia, liver problems, kidney disease, or protein deficiency in the body.
• Yellow nails signal a fungal infection, liver disease, diabetes, or even lung disease.
• Nails with a bluish or purple tint may indicate heart disease, pulmonary pathologies, or circulatory problems.
• Black spots or dark stripes can be a symptom of a nail injury or subungual meningitis.

What the shape of your nails can tell you about your disease

It is important to understand that it is not about the shape of your nails, but how they look and whether they have any defects.

• Concave nails indicate iron deficiency anemia, hypothyroidism.
• Nails with thickened tips are signs of a lack of oxygen in the body.
• The presence of transverse grooves indicates stress, diabetes, zinc deficiency.
• Vertical grooves are not dangerous, but if there are many of them, this can indicate dehydration, impaired absorption of nutrients, age-related changes.

Nail structure and body condition

Be sure to pay attention to the structure of your nails. After all, it can also indicate certain problems.

• Brittle and flaky nails usually indicate a deficiency of vitamins A, E, D and B7 (biotin), thyroid dysfunction or prolonged exposure to chemicals.
• A rough and thickened nail plate is a sign of a fungal infection or psoriasis (if there are pits).
• Nails with dimples and dots indicate psoriasis and eczema.

It is also important to evaluate the lunula of the nail. If it is too large, this may indicate a high load on the heart. But small or absent lunulae indicate poor circulation, liver problems or a deficiency of iron and vitamins.