There are two types of people in life: those who keep their nails clean all the time, and those who have it on their to-do list. However, whatever you do, the nail plate can be an open door to more information about your health and well-being. Studying nail color, texture and surface appearance is often associated with malnutrition and disease. Your signs and efforts are trying to tell you something.
Dry, cracked or broken nails
Sometimes dry, brittle nails are a reflection of lifestyle changes and the products we use such as water, nail polish and soap. But if your nails are always brittle, thin and brittle, it’s time to see a doctor. “People with dry skin, hair and nails are signs of an underactive thyroid,” said Dr. Sandy Skotnicki, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Toronto says. A study conducted in 2013 in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism found that gender and age are associated with a higher prevalence of the disease, the condition of the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone for the body to function properly. It is diagnosed in women aged 46 to 54. Your doctor will do a blood test to check your level of thyroid hormone.
ribs or kidneys
It turns out that it’s not just the skin that gets pimples: Over time, you’ll notice that your nails are getting better. “Nails grow longer. However, a straight line can mean something completely different,” says Dr. says Peter Wignewicz, MD, assistant professor of dermatology. “It’s a sign of stress,” says McMaster University’s Department of Medicine. What will you do if your efforts go wrong? “Pimples or spots can indicate psoriasis (a chronic skin disease that causes red, itchy skin),” says Dr. Skotnitsky says. A 2015 Canadian study found that more than 90 percent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have nail deformities.
dark line
If you’ve ever been bitten by a nail (oops!), you know that blackheads don’t heal right away. But sometimes black dots and lines appear under your nails for no reason, so it’s good to talk to your doctor. “Most people don’t know that Bob Marley died from acral melanoma, which is characterized by dark lines under his fingernails,” Dr. Skotnitsky said. “[This type of skin cancer] is more common in people of color and occurs with age.”
effort effort
Nicotine causes yellow nails if you smoke regularly or blow your nails. “If the nail is yellow and raises the nail bed, it can indicate a fungal infection,” says Dr. Skotnitsky says. For patients with these symptoms, the doctor will give a prescription to kill the fungus and prevent it from spreading. In rare cases, purple nails are associated with serious conditions such as lymphedema (an increase in lymph fluid in the body) or breathing problems. These health problems can weaken the nail, prevent new nail growth, and cause it to turn yellow.
White label
If you work with your hands, you may break some nails or hit the nail plate and leave a white mark. “A small white head is called traumatic leukonia and it is not harmful,” Dr. Wigewicz said. And if it’s more than a small area and half of the nail is white, “it can be a condition called Terry’s nail, which is associated with liver disease or kidney disease.” In 1954, Dr. Richard Terry was the first to describe cirrhosis of the liver (a condition caused by irreversible liver damage). In this case, the head of the nail has a white hemispherical shape and no lunula.