This article was written by Aly Walansky and repurposed with permission from Daily Makeover.
If you ever go for a dermatologist screening, they'll request that you remove your nail polish. This is also true if you end up in surgery. Why all the hate for polish? Turns out, your nails can reveal serious concerns about your health. Check out these revealing signs.
Darkened Nails
These can mean a few things, says Jessica Krant, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and founder of Art of Dermatology. First, it could be just a natural, genetic pigmentary change, like a freckle. But if there's a dark streak along the nail from cuticle to tip and there's only one—or it's changing fast—it may mean something more serious: melanoma of the nail, says Krant. This is a form of skin cancer and potentially deadly. Some nail fungus infections can also be dark gray or green.
These can mean a few things, says Jessica Krant, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and founder of Art of Dermatology. First, it could be just a natural, genetic pigmentary change, like a freckle. But if there's a dark streak along the nail from cuticle to tip and there's only one—or it's changing fast—it may mean something more serious: melanoma of the nail, says Krant. This is a form of skin cancer and potentially deadly. Some nail fungus infections can also be dark gray or green.
Blue-ish Nails
And by that, we mean blue-ish nail beds, which signify that your fingertips aren't receiving enough oxygenated blood, says Krant. This can be a sign that your circulation is bad in your hands and feet or that your lungs aren’t properly oxygenatating the blood in your whole body—either due to lung disease or heart disease.
And by that, we mean blue-ish nail beds, which signify that your fingertips aren't receiving enough oxygenated blood, says Krant. This can be a sign that your circulation is bad in your hands and feet or that your lungs aren’t properly oxygenatating the blood in your whole body—either due to lung disease or heart disease.
Whitened Nails
These can mean several bad things, but the most serious thing to worry about is liver disease, says Krant. So if you notice this, make sure to bring it up with your doctor.
These can mean several bad things, but the most serious thing to worry about is liver disease, says Krant. So if you notice this, make sure to bring it up with your doctor.
Thinning Nails
Thin, peeling, or spoon-shaped nails (ones that are curved in a concave instead of convex way) are associated with iron-deficiency anemia, says Krant.
Thin, peeling, or spoon-shaped nails (ones that are curved in a concave instead of convex way) are associated with iron-deficiency anemia, says Krant.
Brittle Nails
If you have nails that are hard but break easily, this can be a sign of dryness or possibly hypothyroidism—especially if you also have thinning or unusually dry hair, says Krant.
If you have nails that are hard but break easily, this can be a sign of dryness or possibly hypothyroidism—especially if you also have thinning or unusually dry hair, says Krant.
Longitudinal (Vertical) Ridges
These usually develop normally with age. "It's a sign that the nail matrix (the root of the nail under the cuticle) is drying out," says Krant. "Sometimes it's possible to make it better by keeping extra-heavy moisturizing emollients and ointments on the cuticles and nails."
These usually develop normally with age. "It's a sign that the nail matrix (the root of the nail under the cuticle) is drying out," says Krant. "Sometimes it's possible to make it better by keeping extra-heavy moisturizing emollients and ointments on the cuticles and nails."
Horizontal Ridges
A deep horizontal ridge with normal nail on either side usually means there was some specific trauma, stress, illness, or other metabolic disruption for a defined period before the nail went back to normal growth patterns, says Krant.
