What are your nails saying about your health?

There are two kinds of people in the world. The first is those who can’t look at their hands unless their nails have a fresh coat of paint, and the second is those who are okay with just a simple, clear polish. However, this is the extent to which most of us think about our fingernails. We don’t generally think about our nails and how their growth impacts our overall well-being. But we should. If your nails (under all those layers of nail polish) are yellow, brittle, and rough, they may be screaming at you; warning you against something going wrong with your inner system. 

Dr Geoffrey Vaz, MBBS and MD in Dermatology, told us a few signs of healthy nails to look out for. 

Your nail beds are pink or mauve in colour  

Your nail beds should be a natural pale pink or mauve colour. This colour comes from the tissue underneath the nail bed. Dr Vaz said, “Nails should appear pale sort of pink or mauve.” He goes on to explain that if you are able to make the colour temporarily disappear by applying pressure and rapidly reappear when you release the pressure, then you have healthy nails. It’s a sign that you are well-hydrated and that there is adequate blood supply to your tissues. This is called the capillary nail refill test.  

They have a smooth surface  

Nails are considered healthy if they have a smooth surface that feels uniform and ridge-free. However, according to Dr Vaz, vertical ridges aren’t the problem. But if you notice horizontal grooves, it’s time to seek medical attention. Dr Vaz says, “Horizontal ridges, also called Beau's lines, signify a problem. There can be multiple reasons for these ridges to appear—from an indication of a major illness or an infection of the nail plate, to the usage of drugs or even a nutritional deficiency.”  

Ridges may also occur due to overdoing the manicures or frequent hand-washing. 

The folds aren’t puffy 

If the skin around your nail appears red and puffy, then it signifies that your nail fold is inflamed. Dr Vaz says, “This condition is characterised by swelling and redness of the skin around the nails. It can be painful and leaves discharge behind.”

This inflammation around the nail fold is called paronychia and could be a bacterial or fungal infection. It normally occurs when the cuticle gets disrupted facilitating the easy entry of bacteria and fungus in the nail fold causing an infection.  

They don’t break easily  

You have healthy nails if they don’t break or chip at the drop of a hat. If your nails do tend to break easily, it could be an indication of certain underlying conditions such as onychomycosis—a fungal infection of the nail. Dr Vaz says, “The nail gets dystrophic over a period of time and this can even spread to other nails, and it can eventually lead to the separation of the nail from the nail bed.” 

A few other reasons for brittle nails are iron or calcium deficiencies, frequent usage of harsh detergents, or hypothyroidism. 
 
They aren't excessively curved 

If your nails are curving, it’s a tell-tale sign of a few conditions—nails excessively curved downwards or  scooped outwards, indicating iron deficiency (anaemia). Healthy nails will be uniform and grow upwards without any curves or ridges.