What are your nails trying to tell you?

Yellowing or Thickening

Thickened nails, with or without a yellowish tone, are characteristic of fungus that infects the entire nail bed. The infection often happens in the underlying nail plate. So, an oral medicine with doctor’s prescription often helps.

Brittle, Thin, or Lifted Nails

Thyroid regulates metabolism, energy, and growth, and too little thyroid hormone often leads to hair loss, brittle and thin nails, and nails that grow slowly. Thyroid disorder also manifests itself by causing your nail plate to separate from the nail bed in a noticeable way. Lifted nails are due to the increase in thyroid hormone. The hormone can speed up cell turnover and deviate nail from its natural linear growth pattern.

White Lines

Horizontal white lines that span the entire nail, are paired, and appear on more than one nail are called Muehrcke’s lines. These could be an indication of kidney disease, liver abnormalities, or a lack of protein.

Blue Nails

Blue nails mean a lack of airflow in the body. This may be due to respiratory diseases. Some people just have slower blood circulation, especially when exposed to cold temperatures. A physician should check your blood and oxygenation levels if your nails are persistently blue.