The human fingernails are made for many important things, not just manicures. One certain fact is that the human fingernails are one of the most important parts of the human body, this is because they can tell if someone is suffering from a hidden health condition, just by checking the state of the fingernails. Fingernail abnormalities should not be ignored because they can actually save life. Here are ten most common fingernail abnormalities.
1) Nail Clubbing
When your nails or your fingers grow a bulbous tip, it’s caused by a decrease of oxygen available in the body. This can indicate chronic lung disease, such as cystic fibrosis, or even lung cancer. Clubbed nails may also indicate liver disease, dysentery, and even an overactive thyroid. Once you see signs of clubbing on your fingernails, see a doctor immediately.
2) Spoon Nails
They’re called spoon nails because the nails become soft and look like they’re scooping out. They’re usually an indication of iron deficiency anemia. They can also be a symptom of hemochromatosis, a liver condition wherein the body takes in too much iron from food. Aside from that, spoon nails are also associated with hypothyroidism and heart disease.
3) Terry’s Nails
When you suffer from Terry’s nails, the fingernails look almost white while the tips are color pink. Normally, the white nails are just a sign of aging. However, in other cases, Terry’s nails indicate a more serious health condition, like diabetes, kidney failure, congestive heart failure, and liver disease.
4) Beau’s Lines
If your nails have indentations that appear across them, you are suffering from Beau’s nails. The indentations usually appear after suffering from an injury to the nailbed or because of a serious illness. That can include diabetes, high fever, and peripheral vascular disease. Beau’s lines can also be an indication of zinc deficiency.
5) Loose of Detached Nails
Nails can also loosen and become separated from the nailbed. When that happens, the part of the nail that gets separated changes in color from a healthy pink to a green, yellow, or white tinge. Loose and separated nails can be a result of injury or an infection. It can also be caused by psoriasis or a thyroid disease.
6) Yellow Nails
When you suffer from yellow nail syndrome, the nails tend to grow very thick and slow. Hence, the yellowish discoloration. It can be caused by a fungal infection, but it’s often a symptom of diabetes, or liver, heart, kidney, or respiratory disease.
7) Dark Stripes
Some people have a black or brown discoloration on their fingernails. It can be caused by trauma to the fingernails, or even fungal or bacterial infections. This can also be caused by medical conditions like Addison’s disease or psoriasis. In more serious cases, dark discolorations on fingernails can also signal a more serious type of skin cancer
8) Pitted Nails
Pitted nails look like tiny pinprick holes on your nails. It’s often the result of nail matrix inflammation, which can be associated with connective tissue disorders, like Reiter’s syndrome or alopecia areata. It’s also common with people who suffer from psoriasis, lichen planus, and eczema.
9) Vertical Ridges
Vertical ridges on the nails are also among the nail abnormalities that may develop because of aging, trauma, injury, or other hidden medical conditions. The ridges can be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis. If the ridges develop more quickly over a short period, it can also be an indication of a rare health condition known as lichen planus.
10) Severely Bitten Nails
If you have the habit of gnawing at your fingernails when you’re stressed or bored, it can be a symptom of an underlying psychological condition. This may be a sign of obsessive compulsive disorder, and even psychiatric disorders like ADHD or ODD. Nail biting can be considered as a kind of self-mutilation and have both physical and emotional effects to a person.
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