Our fingernails and toenails are crucial for our daily activities.
As per the consensus among several researchers and medical professionals, nails play a vital role in protecting our digits, enhancing our senses and serving as tools for performing daily functions.
Although women typically use their nails for creative expression through art, observing the appearance of your natural nails can confidently indicate or reflect various aspects of your body’s health, including deficiencies and skin conditions.
Here are examples of what the colour of your nails says about you:
Brittle nails
Do you have rough, splitting nails that often crack easily? This is a condition known as onychoschizia. According to wellness hub Healthline, this is a common occurrence among many people and is often caused by the drying and wetting of nails. It is, therefore, highly recommended that one wear gloves when doing dishes.
White spots
Dr Sara Norris, a naturopathic doctor, explains that white spots often appear in the nails of children starting slightly before puberty. This is known to be a result of zinc deficiency. While this is the most common reason, other factors often include allergic reactions, fungal infections and injury. Those who experience this should avoid using polish and allow the nail to grow. If the colour remains, speak to a health practitioner.
Clubbing
Clubbing is the process that occurs when one’s fingertips swell and nails start to curve and become rounded. Dr John Anthony, a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic, explains that this is usually associated with liver or kidney disease.
Additionally, a study which appears in a 2021 Clinical Medicine article highlighted that “clubbing can also occur in conditions related to lungs and the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., lung cancer, IBD).”
Absence of half-moon
“Healthy nails are generally pink and usually have a white, rounded curve like the half-moon at the base of each nail. The absence of the half-moon could indicate signs of depression, anaemia, malnutrition, anxiety, dizziness, as well as weight loss and weight gain,” explains the health-focused publication Health Shots.
Bluish nails
The above-mentioned publication notes that blue nails simply tell you that your body isn’t getting enough oxygen. This can be because of lung and heart ailments.
Also see: How to strengthen your nails
