This article isn’t about fancy nail art or anything. Our nails are meant for way more than nail polishes, they also help us to diagnose certain diseases.
There could be a change in shape or color or there could be a few spots or lines on the nails, depending on the disease.
Koilonychia
It is also known as spooning of nails. The edges curve upwards giving the nails a spoon shape. It usually happens in iron deficiency anemia (decreased hemoglobin), hemochromatosis ( a condition in which the liver absorbs too much iron from the food), hypothyroidism.
Pitting
Tiny depressions on the nail caused by psoriasis(a skin condition), alopecia areata ( Spot baldness/ patchy hair loss).
Green/Black
Pseudomonas ( a type of bacteria) infection.
Blue
Cyanosis (decreased oxygen in the body), or it can color due to side effects of certain drugs.
Yellow
Jaundice and also frequent use of nail polishes can cause yellow nails. Give your nails a chance to breathe!
Half White Half Brown
Kidney failure.
Pale Nails
Due to anaemia ( decreased hameoglobin).
Terry’s Nails
Dark pink arch at the tip of the nails mainly due to aging but can also occur in liver/kidney/heart failure and diabetes.
Beau’s Lines
Depressions or indentations on the nails caused due to any disease that affects the growth of the nails.
Mees’ Lines
Arsenic poisoning causes tranverse white lines on the nails.
Loose Nails
Due to injury or fungal infections.
Clubbing
Thickening of the nail bed. It occurs because of decreased oxygen leading to the increased blood supply.
Paronychia
Inflammation of the nail caused by infection or inflammation.
In the world of modern technology lots and lots of tests are available. Hence, to diagnose diseases on the basis of mere clinical examination is an art which every medical student should learn.
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