Contents
Nails say a lot about the condition of our body. It is a good idea to watch them carefully from time to time, as changes in shape and color are the first warning sign that something inappropriate is happening with your health.
- Nails are made of the same material as hair. Healthy nails have a uniform color and an even surface
- The changes appearing on the nails may be a symptom of mineral deficiencies, but also of developing diseases
- The most serious nail disease is the disappearance of the plate. It can affect one or more toenails at once, on the hands and feet
- More information can be found on the TvoiLokony home page
What do healthy nails look like?
Healthy nails have a uniform light color and an even surface, firmly adhering to the bed. They are transparent, pale pink in color, should be relatively hard and resistant to minor injuries.
The thickness of the plate is genetically determined. While the original functions of nails were long replaced by a knife and fork, they still serve to protect the fingers from damage and enhance the ability to grasp and handle objects. They are made of the same building blocks as hair – keratin, lipids, minerals and calcium.
They form in a matrix called the nail pocket. This is where cell division takes place, so any damage to that site affects growth and shape. Nail aesthetics is not everything. The basis of their health, as in the case of hair, is their diet and following a few rules. First of all, avoiding contact with chemicals, too long soaking in water, excessive polishing, as this may damage the plate and make the nail more sensitive to injuries, mycoses and viruses; shortening them properly with the right tools and not cutting the skins.
Medonet Market offers a strengthening and moisturizing elixir for nails and cuticles with snail mucus.
Warning signs visible on the nails
Nails are like litmus paper. They send out warning signals that they have been mistreated or that some life processes in the body are not working properly. This can manifest itself in different ways. For example, a change in shape, color, or the appearance of point discoloration. The reasons are usually trivial, but they can also turn out to be a serious warning sign. It is impossible to do a nice manicure on damaged nails, but this cannot be the only concern in the case of noticed changes.
When the nail plate turns yellow, it is usually caused by frequent painting of nails with colored nail polish without using a base coator smoking cigarettes. Occasionally, the use of beta-carotene supplements or consuming a large amount of carrot jump causes a color change. This is a sign that you should limit your consumption. Also, tetracycline antibiotics or ringworm turn yellow nails. These changes are completely reversible and harmless.
A more serious signal is the change of color to blue – blue. It can be a lung or heart disease, or a disorder of copper metabolism. It must not be ignored, especially when we observe the same changes at the tips of our fingers.
The real alarm signal is the appearance of a black spot or a clear line under the nail plate that does not disappear as it grows. In this case, you should consult a dermatologist as soon as possible, because it may be a symptom of a dangerous cancer – melanoma. Another common disorder is the so-called blooming of nails, i.e. the appearance of many small white spots on the plate. This is a symptom of zinc, protein or calcium deficiency or nail psoriasis. Spots sometimes appear due to trauma.
Zinc is essential in the process of direct protein synthesis, contributing to the growth of strong and beautiful nails. At Medonet Market you can buy a dietary supplement today that allows you to provide the daily dose – Zinc ALT 635 mg.
To support healthy nails, we recommend regular use of Hair Skin Nails – Pharmovit liquid supplement.
White lines on the nail plate
When we observe parallel white lines on the nail plate, forming rhythmically distant semi-circles, remaining in a constant position, despite the nail growth, it may indicate a low level of albumin in the blood plasma. The condition of the nails improves when the serum albumin level returns to normal. This condition is called the Muehrcke Lines. They can appear in malnourished people or during chemotherapy.
See also: Lunules on nails – when do they appear and what do they say about your health?
Furrows on the nail plate
Vertical furrows on the nails most often appear with age. And in young people, they can mean hormonal disorders or problems with circulation, but also deficiencies of magnesium or calcium. They are often present in people with psoriasis, hypothyroidism or gastrointestinal conditions.
On the other hand, horizontal furrows are nothing more than damage caused by too deep removal of cuticles or pressure on the nail matrix with manicure tools or too tight footwear.
When it comes to splitting and delamination of the plate, it is most often caused by detergents, shortening with a wrong file, or deficiencies of vitamins and minerals in the body. Usually it goes hand in hand with poor hair condition. Oral supplementation with appropriate zinc, magnesium and calcium preparations and the application of oiling substances directly to the nail plate work well to improve the condition of the nails.
Changing the shape of the nails
The shape of nails usually remains unchanged throughout life and is genetically determined. If it starts to change, it is worth checking your health more closely. When the nails become convex, they start to resemble a spoon-shaped upside down, they become rounded, which may indicate severe hypoxia in the body caused by lung and bronchial diseases. It is also worth examining the liver in this case.
When, on the other hand, the nails become flat, even concave with the edges raised up, it is worth knowing that it is not only a cosmetic problem. It’s anemia caused by iron deficiency. Instead of building up the plaque with acrylic, blood tests should be done quickly.
On the other hand, when the shape of the nails begins to lengthen in an unnatural way, the plate becomes convex and begins to bend at the ends, as if turning into bird’s claws and is unnaturally hard, it is worth paying attention to the circulation. When many depressions appear on the nail at once, and the nail itself resembles a tailor’s thimble, we are dealing with the so-called the plate’s thymus. These changes may arise as a result of injuries, but also accompany psoriasis or alopecia areata.
Nail plate atrophy
The most serious nail disease is the disappearance of the plate. It can affect one or more toenails at once, on the hands and feet. This is a gradual and relatively slow process, but may end up with complete loss of the nail. The most common cause of this condition is nail psoriasis, a disease that is difficult to treat. However, a quick visit to the doctor, early diagnosis and selection of the right therapy can significantly stop this process and improve nail regrowth.
Another disease is the “detachment” of the nail plate from the substrate, i.e. onycholysis. At the point of separation, the nail changes color. It can turn white, yellow, and even green when mycosis attacks the free space. The lesions enlarge and the plaque begins to fall off.
Usually, onycholysis is caused by mechanical injuries, the effects of chemicals, the abuse of certain types of manicures as well as diseases such as psoriasis or thyroid disorders. Sometimes it is caused by long-term antibiotic therapy. Fortunately, this type of nail damage is easy to treat and reversible relatively quickly.
Author: Beata Mietkowska, Medexpress