A popular writer and author of Living Beauty (Fitzhenry and Whiteside) 2005, Lisa Petty quoted that nails are the one which ensures the most in the situation where the body is not treated well.
So, this Canadian writer, aging expert and nutritionist claim that nails are doorways to our body. The supplements which one consume are reached to the skin, hair and the end to nails. Thus, the nail can act as a mirror to the health issues in our body.
It is amazing that just looking at the nails we can actually detect the health issues the person is going through. The brittle, yellow or ridged fingernails actually indicate the nutritional deficiencies and health problems like anemia or thyroid disease. The toenails and fingernails are made of keratin protein and are the exceptionally touchy piece in our body.
The nails are shaped based on the combination of lymph vessels, grids, veins, and nerves. The shape of your nail depends on your genetic coding, whereas some of the qualities of nails are common to all.
Like our nails are translucent and reflect the pink color of blood following through the tiny veins beneath it. It is nor fragile and feels smooth.
You have to aware that lack of nutrients can make your nails stained, plain ugly and hard. In order to save your nails and your body from health issues, you can just make small changes in your diet and start to take supplements to support them.
WHAT’S THE HALF-MOON SHAPE ON MY FINGERNAILS?
The half-moon shape at the base of your fingernail is known as a lunula. Lunulae cover the bottom of your nail, just above your cuticle.
Lunulae are part of your nail matrix. The matrix refers to the tissue just beneath your nail. It contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels. It also produces the cells that become the hardened nail plate, which is what you see.
Although everyone has a nail matrix, not everyone will see or have a lunula on each nail. Those who do have a lunula may notice that they vary in appearance across each nail.
Read on to learn more about what these half-moons look like, when their appearance could be cause for concern, and when to see your doctor.
WHAT CAUSES ABNORMAL COLORING?
Here are some of the most common reasons for abnormal lunulae:
TETRACYCLINE THERAPY
Tetracycline medications are antibiotics that are usually used to treat acne and skin infections. Extended use may cause your lunulae to turn yellow.
DIABETES
Pale blue lunulae may be a sign of undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes. This is a chronic, lifelong condition that affects the body’s ability to control blood sugar.
EXCESSIVE FLUORIDE INGESTION
Taking in too much fluoride, like that found in toothpaste, can turn the lunulae brown or black.
SILVER POISONING
Blue-grey lunulae may be a sign of silver poisoning.
YELLOW NAIL SYNDROME
This condition typically produces thick, slow-growing nails. The middle of your nail may begin to rise, causing the lunulae to disappear completely. Your entire nail will take on a yellow appearance.
It isn’t clear what causes this syndrome, but it may be tied to:
- chronic sinusitis
- pleural effusion
- recurrent pneumonia
- lymphedema
- rheumatoid arthritis
- immunodeficiency disorders
TERRY’S NAILS
This condition causes the bulk of your nail to appear white, completely erasing the appearance of the lunula. It’s characterized by a pink or red band of separation near the arc of your nails. Although it can happen on one finger only, it usually affects all fingers.
In older adults, this condition is usually a natural sign of aging.
In some cases, it may be a sign of:
- diabetes
- liver disease
- kidney failure
- congestive heart failure
WILSON’S DISEASE
This is a rare inherited disorder that occurs when too much copper accumulates in your organs. It’s known to cause blue lunulae.
SEVERE RENAL DISEASE
The portion of your nail containing the lunula may turn white, sometimes creating a nail that’s half-brown and half-white. This is sometimes called half-and-half nails and maybe a sign of renal disease.
CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE
People who experience chronic renal failure may produce more melanin, which can cause your nail bed to turn brown.
HEART FAILURE
If your lunula turns red, it may be a signal of heart failure.
Other significant nail-related diseases!
1. WHITE SPOTS
The white spots on the nails due to insufficient zinc levels in the body. The natural source of zinc is pumpkin seed, peas, sesame seeds, and red meat.
2. SOFT NAILS WITH CURL UPWARD
The soft nails with curl towards up direction are due to little iron in the body. The solution for this issue 325 mg of iron sulfate at least 3 times a day.
3. YELLOW NAILS
The yellow nails are the result of a deficiency of vitamin E in the body. The solution for this issue is very simple, you just have to start the supplement of vitamin E. The natural source of vitamin E consists of sweet potatoes, peanuts, hazelnuts, wheat germ oil and almonds which you can add in your daily diet.
4. SPLIT OR BRITTLE NAILS
This condition of nails is due to lack of moisture and vitamin B in the body. To resolve this issue You can start the intake of gelatine, calcium supplements, and colloid minerals to get rid of this condition.
For pregnant women biotin can be dangerous, thus one should not take this supplement without the instruction of a physician.
5. VERTICAL RIDGES
The malnutrition or deficiency of vitamin and minerals are reflected through the vertical ridges. You can use almond oil and chamois buffer and polish your nails. Do this 2-3 times a day. Do not go for ridge fillers as it consists of synthetic chemicals in it.
6. HORIZONTAL DENTS OR RIDGES
The horizontal dents are actually a sign of nutritional deficiencies, high fever, psoriasis or can cause due to trauma after surgery. The supplements of protein and vitamin A are advised by Petty to cure this condition.
7. FUNGUS
The frequent exposure of nails to warmth and dampness leads to fungus issue in the fingernail. The greenish, yellow or messy look of nails indicates the fungal infection. You can use tea tree oil soak to get rid of the fungal infection in the nail.
AT WHAT POINT YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED
Here are some health indication of nails which are serious and you should get medical help for such conditions.
- Blue nail beds indicate issues in blood flow
- Fragile nails indicate hypo- or hyperthyroidism
- Upward-bending nails lead to thyroid infection
- Yellow nails represent the chronic bronchitis
- White nail beds indicate liver infection
- Red nail beds lead to coronary illness
In the above condition, you must go for a health check-up and treat the issues on an immediate basis.
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