Get into the habit of checking your bare nails every once in a while for any changes that may be taking place. If you see any abnormalities, your visit to a doctor is due as only a physician can tell you what is wrong and guide you to proper treatment and care. And it’s not just nail/skin problems we are taking about; abnormalities in nails can signify many a serious health problems.

Pale nails

If your nail beds look pale, it is an indication that you may have anaemia which that results from low levels of iron and can lead to inadequate oxygen in the blood. This causes the skin and tissues to become pale, particularly the tissues under the nails.

More seriously, pale nails could also be a sign of early diabetes or liver disease, both of which can lead to impaired blood flow.

You’ve heard of reading palms, but have you ever heard of reading nails? Don’t scoff, the state of your nails can give crucial hints to your overall health

Yellowing or thickening

Discoloured nails could indicate a variety of different medical conditions. Yellow nails can be a sign of tuberculosis or several other lung conditions. Nails which are brown could indicate thyroid disease. Sometimes one part of the nail turns white and the other part is dark; known as ‘half and half nails’, it be a sign of kidney failure. It is believed that kidney failure causes chemical changes in the blood that encourages a skin pigment to be released into the nail bed.

Thickened nails, with or without a yellow-ish tone, are characteristic of fungal infections that generally traverse the entire nail bed.

Dark lines

Dark brown or black vertical lines on the nail bed should never be ignored, though they are common in people with dark skin. These can be a sign of melanoma (skin cancer), which requires early detection and treatment. Subungual melanoma is the form of skin cancer that affects the nail bed and it only affects one nail.

Pitting and grooving

Depressions and small cracks in your nails are known as “pitting” of the nail bed and are often associated with psoriasis, an inflammatory disease that leads to scaly or red patches all over the body. Up to 50pc of patients with psoriasis have pitted nails. These could also be a sign of eczema or arthritis.

Deep lines or grooves that go from left to right across the nail could signal an illness or injury and are also associated with serious physical stress.

Brittle, thin or lifted nails

If your nails seem to crack at the slightest touch, it could mean your thyroid is amiss. Thyroid gland regulates metabolism, energy and growth; too little thyroid hormone often leads to hair loss, brittle and thin nails, and nails that grow slowly. Thyroid disorder also manifests itself by causing your nail plate to separate from the nail bed. Lifted nails are thought to occur because the increase in thyroid hormone can accelerate cell turnover and separate the nail from its natural linear growth pattern.

White lines

Stripes on your nails are only a good thing if they are painted on. Horizontal white lines extending across on more than one nail are called Muehrcke’s lines. These could be an indication of kidney disease, liver abnormalities or malnutrition, especially low levels of protein in the blood. They are thought to be caused by a disruption in blood supply to the nail bed because of underlying disease.

Shorter horizontal white marks or streaks, however, are likely to be just the result of trauma to the base of your nail. These may last from weeks to months and usually will disappear on their own.

Blue nails

Just like blue face is an indication that one is lacking airflow, blue nails mean the same thing — you’re not getting enough oxygen to your fingertips. This could be caused by respiratory disease or a vascular problem called Raynaud’s Disease, which is a rare disorder of the blood vessels. Some people just have slower blood circulation, especially when exposed to cold temperatures, but it’s better to have a physician check your blood and oxygenation levels if your nails are persistently blue.

Clubbed nails

People with lung problems, for example emphysema and lung disease, can develop “clubbed” nails, where the tissue beneath the nails thicken and the fingertips become rounded and bulbous. The fingernails curve over rounded fingertips. Clubbing can also be a sign of heart problems or even stomach or bowel cancer.

Curved nails

If you are suffering from iron deficiency your nails may curve inwards like spoons, i.e. Instead of the nails curving down and covering the finger, they will begin to rise up on the sides and at the front. Spoon shaped nails, known as koilonychia, can also be a sign of lupus.

Folding nails

Paronychia is when the nail folds, the tissue which supports the nail, becomes inflamed. It is often caused by infection, injury or irritation but can also be seen in those who have diabetes or HIV.

Streaked nails

Red or brown little streaks under the nails could indicate a number of underlying diseases including an infection to the heart valves.

So, once in a while check your nails for any abnormalities but instead of panicking at any change in colour or shape pay a visit to your physician to have check-up done. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, August 3rd, 2014