“By a man’s fingernails, a man’s calling is plainly revealed.” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

YOUR nails can reveal your anxiety levels, your habits, occupation, and health issues.

Nails and disease are two things we usually don’t associate with each other. Think about it. Have your nails always looked like this? Have there been any changes in shape, colour or texture? Most nail conditions are the result of trauma, however, both toe and fingernails can give you valuable warning signs that serious disease may be present.

Pale nails

White nail beds with a darker rim of colour at the tip are referred to as Terry nails and can be a sign of liver disease or congestive heart failure.

White nails

Totally white nails present since birth may be an inherited condition with no implications to general health. If they occur in later life, they may be a symptom of liver disease, chronic renal failure, congestive heart failure, diabetes, chronic hypoalbuminemia, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Yellow nails

So called “yellow nail syndrome” occurs in patients with serious pulmonary disease and lymphedema. In these patients, most, if not all of the nails are yellow. Don’t panic though, remember nail varnish leaves a yellow stain.

Bluish nails

In this condition, the nails are normal in colour but the nail bed is blue. This is commonly called nail bed cyanosis and is a sign of poorly oxygenated blood or more accurately, unoxygenated haemoglobin.

Pitted Nails: Nail pitting is a classic sign of psoriasis. This appears as tiny holes or indents on the nail surface. Rippling on the nail can indicate atopic dermatitis and is also found in people with a zinc deficiency.

Splitting or cracked nails

Brittle nails usually get worse as we get older. They can be a result of protein, folic acid and vitamin deficiency. Dry skin, fungal infections and dermatitis can also cause split nails. On some occasions thyroid disease will be the cause.

Puffy nail fold

The skin around the edge of the nail can easily be damaged. They can easily become infected by trauma. Auto immune diseases can also lead to this condition.

Spooning or concaved nails

Also called koilonychia, the patient’s nails are spoon-like and can commonly hold drops of water in the depression. This may be normal in infants but should disappear with age.

In adults it may be the result of long-term exposure to solvents but more commonly is due to iron deficiency (anaemia). Hypothyroidism and kidney can also lead to spooning of the nails.

Clubbing

Also known as “drumstick fingers”, it is associated with heart and lung disease, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, and AIDS.

Dark pigmentation in nails or melanonychia

Nail pigmentation is quite common in people who have dark skin and this is quite normal. It tends to increase with age and trauma to the nail. In Caucasian people or those with very fair skin, it may indicate malignant melanoma.

If you have noticed any of these abnormalities with your fingers or toenails, it is advised that you should see your physician, dermatologist or podiatrist as soon as possible. It may be nothing but it is always wise to get a firm diagnosis.

Angela Davis BSc (Hons) DPodM MChS is a podiatrist with offices in Montego Bay (293-7119), Mandeville (962-2100), Ocho Rios (974-6339), and Savanna-la-Mar (955-3154). She is a member of the Health and Care Professions Council in the United Kingdom.