What Does Your Nails Say About Your Health?

They say that your eyes are the window to your soul, but did you know that your finger nails are the window to your health. As early as 400 BC Hippocrates (an ancient Greek physician who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine) taught that the nails reflect the condition of the internal body.

In a healthy environment, such as a good diet, lots of fluids, good skin etc, a nail grows approximately .1016mm a day and 3.175mm each month. It takes approximately six months for a new nail to grow a full length from the cuticle to the tip of your finger.

Abnormalities in your nails, such as ridges, discoloring, splitting etc, can often provide early clues to common medical problems, or severe systemic diseases.

To assess your own nails, they need to be washed, nail polish removed and examined in good light. The following may tell you something about your diet, lifestyle, or healthy that you would have otherwise been unaware of:

• dry, brittle nails: regularly submerged, or in contact with irritating chemicals such as detergents, disinfectants, industrial chemicals, nail polish remover etc. May also be a Vitamin A, or Iron deficiency, silica deficiency;
• splitting nails: hydrochloric acid deficiency;
• very soft nails: contact with strong alkali, malnutrition, endocrine problems, possibly even chronic arthritis;
• hang nails: lack of protein, folic acid, or Vitamin C;
• no moon: genetics, or underactive Thyroid;
• overlarge moons: genetics, self induced trauma, such as picking, or overactive Thyroid;
• lifting nails (coming away from the nail bed): allergic reactions to nail products, reaction to medicines, chemotherapy, Reynaud’s Phenomenon, Lupus, mail psoriasis, fungal, or bacterial infections, Thyroid disorder;
• spoon shaped nails: iron deficiency, Thyroid disorder;
• inversion of the nails: lung problems;
• thickened nail plate: heredity, poor circulation, mild, or persistent trauma to the nail, such as a sharp knock, fungal infection;
• rippled nails: psoriasis, or arthritis;
• pits, or depressions: psoriasis, or eczema, hair loss condition;
• vertical ridges: somewhat normal, but may indicate an iron deficiency;
• horizontal ridges: ageing, poor absorption of vitamins and minerals, nutrition, circulatory problems such as Reynaud’s Phenomenon, injury, infection, severe illness, such as pneumonia, kidney failure, diabetes, Thyroid disorder;
• darkened nails: Vitamin B12 deficiency;
• blue tinge to nails: lack of oxygen to the blood, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disorders, Lupus, Erythermatosus;
• half white, half pink nails: fungal infection, kidney disorder;
• pale white nail beds: anaemia, liver problems;
• purple, or black nails: generally as a result of trauma, such as a sharp knock, but it may also reflect a Vitamin B12 deficiency;
• brown, or black streak nails: generally starting at the base of the nail and extending to the tip, is a clue to possible melanomas;
• red, or pink mails: may indicate poor peripheral circulation;
• red lines at the base of the nail: may indicate Lupus, or connective tissue disease;
• white spots: although generally this reflects an injury to the nail matrix (such as squashing your finger in a door), it can also reflect a zinc definciency;
• white bands: may indicate a protein deficiency;
• white, soft and/or crumbly nails: possible fungal infectection;
• yellow, thick, slow growing nails: is a possible clue to lung problems;
• yellow tinted nails, with a blue colour to the base: may reflect diabetes;
• yellow nails: fungal disease, diabetes, psoriasis, or may simply be heredity;

However, before becoming too alarmed, consider your daily activities. For example, heavy smokers will tend to have yellow nails and fingers. Although studies have shown that smoking eventually leads to lung disease and cancer, the colour of your nails may at this stage, just be stained. Hairdressers who regularly have their hands covered in hair dye will have dry, brittle and brownish stained finger nails. Finger nails that are constantly painted will also become discoloured and week.

There are several ways you can improve the condition of your nails and aim for generally healthier finger tips. Why not consider:

• limiting the amount of time your hands spend in water. Try using rubber gloves;
• avoid chemicals on your hands, whether they be work related, cleaning, or home maintenance chemicals;
• wear gloves when doing manual labour, or gardening;
• regularly push back your cuticles (using a proper tool), add nail conditioning oil and rub it in and finish with a good hand cream. Keep your nails filed and in good condition;
• allow your nails to rest for a few days in between nail polish coats;
• take multi-vitamins, calcium, magnesium, or iron supplements to strengthen your finger nails and promote growth. At the same time, you will be supplementing your bones and your hair;
• consider taking silica, or horsetail, which is also known for improving the strength in hair, bones and nails;
• eat foods that are high in protein, including legumes, grains, nuts and seeds;
• include essential fatty acids in your diet, such as flaxseed oil and soy products;
• such vegetables as parsley, pumpkin, carrots, broccoli and onions contain silicon, sulphur, calcium and phosphorus, which all aids in strengthening your nails;

Not only will your nails look good, you will also feel better.

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