How do nails warn about your health?

A change in the color of the nails, the appearance of spots on the nails, and other symptoms are warning signs of many diseases.

Taking care of your nails is more than going to the beauty or nail salon. This part of the body, also known as the nail plate in technical terms, can indicate various health problems you may have.

It is important to pay attention to changes in the color of your nails, the appearance of spots on the nails, and other symptoms that serve as warning signs for many diseases. Whenever you have something like this on your nails, it's best to see a dermatologist and, if necessary, get your blood tested or any tests your doctor prescribes right away. And if your test report shows any problems, your doctor may also recommend a biopsy.

There are also some diseases that can affect more than one part of the body and their symptoms can be in both fingernails and toenails. In such cases, the most common health problems are kidney, skin, liver, endocrine, nutrition, and auto-immunity. The good thing is that certain nail changes do not always indicate a serious problem, but can often be caused by normal conditions.

"Toenails are often under-maintained and sometimes more problematic," says dermatologist and Pontifical University Medicine professor Valeria Zanella Franzen. For example, the toenails may be yellow and thick.'

1) Whitening of nails:-

Anyone who notices unusual changes in the texture or color of their nails should pay attention. A change in the color of the nails can indicate a number of problems, such as if your nails are white or have a slight white color, it can be mycosis (infection in the body), psoriasis (dryness in the body), pneumonia and even May indicate heart failure. In such cases, lack of certain nutrients, malnutrition, and low intake of protein foods also cause it.

Dermatologist and member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Juliana Pickett, says that "yellowing of the nails can indicate a lack of blood in the body." It is caused by iron deficiency and can cause the nails to become spoon-shaped.

Sometimes the so-called leukonychia, i.e. white spots or streaks on the nails, start appearing on the nails, but it is not harmful and does not affect any part of the body. To treat these symptoms, doctors usually try to find the cause of the problem from the patient. Therefore, it is important that you undergo several medical tests regarding your health and get examined by a gynecologist or other related specialists such as cardiologists, nutritionists, and others.

2) Yellow nails:-

Yellow nails can also be caused by genetic inheritance or aging of the nail, which can make it yellow and hard. This change in nail color can also be due to an infection in the body, especially fungus. In more serious cases, it also indicates symptoms of dryness in the body, HIV, and kidney diseases. Smokers' nails also turn yellow because they come in direct contact with cigarettes and nicotine. In this case, it is usually in the nails of the thumb and index finger.

3) Nails with white spots:-

These small spots, called 'pitting', may appear singly or intermittently on the surface of the nail. It can be caused by dandruff or itchiness on the body, and other skin and hair disorders. "It can also be related to alopecia areata, a hair disease that needs to be treated," says Giuliana Toma, a dermatologist at the Federal University of São Paulo. Syphilis is also indicated as a transmissible disease.

4) Blue-colored nails:-

Although it is very rare, this discoloration of the nails is caused by the use of a drug. The most common of these are drugs used to treat facial acne, nail acne, and malaria. Dermatologist Wilaria Zanella says that 'when the nails become discolored, the doctor must consider whether the use of a particular drug should be discontinued and another drug should be prescribed instead.'

5) Recurrent pus in nails:-

Recurrent pus in nails is caused by fungus and recurs when treatment is stopped. And if it is not taken care of properly, this can happen again and again. Most of the time this problem occurs in the toes and should be treated for at least six months. A three to four-month treatment is recommended for this on the fingers. However, every person should use the medicine for a reasonable period of time and should take care until the doctor advises to stop the medicine. Along with this, swimming pools, saunas, and tight and hot shoes should also be avoided in order to avoid repeated fungal infections in the nails as they can cause regrowth of the fungus.

6) Lines on nails:-

These lines, known as Beavis lines, resemble horizontal lines and may appear on the nails after a high fever or chemotherapy treatment. When a blow hits this part of the nail, it is normal for lines to form in this area, which makes the nail more wrinkled. But when these lines are deeper and appear only on one finger, they can be signs of melanoma, which is skin cancer.

7) Rough nails:-

According to experts, the most common cause of rough nails is exposure to chemicals that dry out the nails and fingers. In such a case, we should always apply the cream on this part of the body and keep the skin well hydrated i.e. do not allow dehydration. Another widespread reason for this can be a lack of protein, biotin, or other B vitamins in the gland. In the case of vegetarian patients, it is best to supplement with B12 and other nutrients to prevent recurrent nail breakage.

8) Reddish discoloration of the nails:-

Reddish discoloration of the nails, especially in the crescent shape, can indicate the presence of arthritic diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. While redness around the nails can be caused by fungi and bacteria, which attack the nails when we remove their cuticles. "The cuticle is a kind of protection, usually we remove it but we shouldn't," says the dermatologist. And it is recommended to keep it in humidity.

9) Curved nails:-

The main reason for this can be due to the weekly cuticle cleaning, the reason for the formation of blisters is due to the use of a spatula or other strong object during the glazing of the nails. Experts also prohibit and oppose applying artificial nails through a gel. Because the process of removing these nails is aggressive and can seriously weaken and injure the nail bed.

10) Hard-to-heal nails:-

When this part of the body has trouble healing, it can be a sign of diabetes. This is due to the process of blood circulation, which can be associated with disease and even bleeding. Paquet says that "blood circulation is reduced in diabetes, the nails become ugly, thick and marked, and black nail pimples can also form on them, which are called splinter hemorrhoids."