Nail Can Describe Your Health

Did you know that the shape and color of the nail can describe how your overall health status? Changes in nails may indicate a disturbance in the body, such as liver, lungs and even heart. The nail is an important structure that acts as a protective and improve sensation in the fingertips. The fingertip has many nerve endings, which make it possible to get health information just by looking at the shape and color of the nail.

Here are some of the shape and color of the nails and their meaning, as quoted by WebMD :

Normal Nail

Normal and healthy nails look pink and shiny. Nails are also look strong. There is no abnormalities such as dry or cracked, and will bend a little when pressed not too hard.

Fingernails grow faster than toenails with a speed about 3 mm per month and it takes 6 months for the nail to grow from the root to the edge of the line. While the speed of your toenails grows 1 mm per month and require 12-18 months to grow from the root to the edge of the nail.

Pale Nail

Pale nails can sometimes be a sign of serious illness, such as anemia, congestive heart failure, liver disease and malnutrition

White nails

If most of the nail are white with dark edges, this can indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis. In this picture, you can see the fingers are also yellow, other signs of liver problems.

Yellow nails

One of the causes of yellow nails is fungal infection. If the infection worsens, the nail can be detached, thickened and destroyed. In rare cases, yellow nails can indicate more serious conditions such as thyroid disease, diabetes, lung disease or psoriasis.

Bluish nails

Nail with bluish tint can mean that the body is not getting enough oxygen. This could indicate an infection in the lungs, like pneumonia. Some heart problems may also be associated with bluish nails.

Corrugated nails

If the surface is corrugated nails, it may be an early sign of psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis. Discoloration of the nails are also common, the skin under the nails may appear reddish brown.

Cracked skin

Nails dry, brittle and often cracked or split has been associated with thyroid disease. Nail cracks, combined with more yellowish color may occur due to fungal infection.

Swelling around the nail

If the skin around the nail appears red and swollen, it is commonly known as inflammation of the nail fold. This condition can occur because of lupus or connective tissue disorders. The infection can also cause redness and inflammation of the nail fold.

There is a dark line

Black line in the nail should be investigated as soon as possible. This condition is sometimes caused by melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.