Have you ever noticed something new in your fingernails? Perhaps a ridge pattern that wasn’t there before. Maybe their color has changed.
These changes can be easy to dismiss, but experts say we shouldn’t. Our fingernails can be important indicators of underlying health issues.
For instance, dark vertical streaks can be the result of nail biting, but they can also indicate infection in the heart valves or melanoma. Spoon-shaped nails can point to anemia. And rounded, swollen nails can indicate cystic fibrosis.
Brittle nails, color changes and other quirks in fingernail growth should never be ignored. They can point to autoimmune issues, kidney problems and more.
Bear in mind that fingernails grow slowly and nail anomalies may indicate an illness that happened months ago.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, some common manicure practices can lead to unexpected health problems.
The tips of our fingernails and our cuticles help keep the outside world … outside. When nails are trimmed or cuticles pushed back, it can open the door to infection. And some popular gel manicures result in brittle nails and thinning of the nail plate.
A number of supplements claim to promote nail growth through biotin, which is billed as a nail-growing ingredient. But the American Academy of Dermatology says there is no evidence that biotin promotes nail growth or quality in otherwise healthy people.
Beyond their aesthetic aspect, our fingernails’ ability to clue us in on health changes make them worthy of our notice. If we pay close attention, our fingernails can point us to wellness.