What Does A Healthy Nail Look Like

Last reviewed: 03/03/2020

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Your nails say a lot almost your general wellness, and even small changes in their appearance can reveal more than yous think.

Most nail changes aren't caused by anything serious, simply some can suggest that you lot accept low levels of certain vitamins or minerals, or an underlying condition that needs medical attention.

Heart, lung and thyroid disease are just some of the more than serious conditions your nails tin provide clues about.

But to spot these clues, you'll need to know what healthy nails wait similar and the changes that suggest that something may exist wrong.

Signs you take healthy nails

Healthy nails are even in colour, free of any pits or grooves, and feel smooth to the touch.

Simply if they go dry, brittle or modify colour, something may exist wrong with your nails or your overall health.

When nail changes are zippo to worry about

Some nail changes can be harmless. For example, in that location'south ordinarily no demand to worry about:

white spots or streaks - these can oft be caused by injury
darker lines running down the nail
breakable nails - this can be due to ageing or long-term exposure to water, boom smooth or chemic cleaning products

Nails can await and feel different depending on the time of year (they may be more than dry out during the colder months) and how old you are. But if yous notice a sudden change in a blast or the pare around your nail becomes red or swollen, get information technology checked past a doctor.

It's also normal for your nails to change during the class of your life. For case, nails may:

become softer, harder or more brittle during pregnancy
break more hands as you become older
modify colour or even fall off afterwards injury (such as catching your smash in a door)

If you do lose a nail afterwards an injury, it tin can take upwards to 6 months for a fingernail to grow back and xviii months for a toenail to do the same. If an injured nail hasn't grown back after this time, see a medico.

When to see a medico virtually your nails

Blast health is linked to how well your body is functioning and changes in your body can sometimes be seen in them.

So, what type of changes should you lot look out for?

Keep an eye out for any of the following:

white or spoon-shaped nails - this can exist a sign of iron-deficiency anaemia. Check to see if the inside of your lower eyelids are besides stake as this may mean that your body is making fewer red blood cells because your iron levels are depression
thickened or discoloured (white, blackness, yellow or dark-green) nails - this may be caused by a fungal nail infection
pitting - small dents on the surface of the nails can point:
- psoriasis (a skin condition that causes red, crusty areas to class on the peel)
- a type of eczema called pompholyx (a condition that causes modest blisters on the skin)

Meet a doctor if you notice a modify in the texture, colour, thickness or shape of any of your nails and you're not sure why.

As well see a doctor if any of your nails fall off unexpectedly. It's natural for a toenail to modify color and drop off if you've injured information technology, but a good for you nail shouldn't fall off for no reason. If it does, this may be a sign of a health condition.

Find out more than about why nails autumn off.

Keeping your nails healthy

Post-obit a basic nail care routine should assistance to prevent nail harm and other problems. If y'all need more guidance on what could exist incorrect with your nails, have a await at this article on nail abnormalities.