What is the first thing you think about when you hear the term: fingernail? The first thing on our mind is nail polish or the fact that it’s something we tend to chew on when we are nervous. Well, nails are more than things to be painted or bitten, they can be health indicators of what is happening in our bodies! So fascinating right?
Firstly, how do healthy nails look like? Healthy nails should have white tips with a smooth finish and subtle shine. Your cuticles should be intact, and your nailbeds should be fresh coloured (natural flesh pink, tan or brownish).
Here are the most common nail problems that potentially signal something that’s more than skin-deep:
BRITTLE NAILS
Brittle, rough and splitting nails are the most common to be experienced by people in general. They are usually caused by repeated wetting and drying of nails, but sometimes may be a sign of an iron deficiency.
Tip: Focus more on giving your body enough iron through vegetables, meat or supplements. Some vegetables that have a great source of iron – spinach, sweet potatoes, peas, broccoli and string beans.
SOFT, WEAK OR PEELING NAILS
Soft, weak or peeling nails bend and break easily. They might be caused by being overexposed to moisture, bad chemicals; such as cleaning detergents, nail polish removers and nail treatments. They can also indicate that your body is lacking calcium, iron, fatty acids and vitamin B.
Tip: Stay with your natural nails for a while without having any chemicals applied on them. Consider taking multivitamins with the right nutrients to make the nails stronger.
RIDGES
Ridges are describes as little horizontal or vertical waves on your fingernails. Generally, the vertical waves are not a concern, unless they are accompanied by change in nail colour. Horizontal waves are concerning as they could be a sign of kidney disease or another underlying condition.
Tip: For vertical ridges, buff the surface of your nail bed to smooth them out. For the horizontal ridges, see a healthcare professional as it might be something more serious.
CHANGE IN COLOUR – YELLOW
Yellow nails are quite common and are usually caused by an infection or a reaction from a product you have been using. Yellow nails may also indicate more serious health issues such as psoriasis, thyroid conditions or diabetes.
Tip: You can use natural treatments such as tea tree oil or multivitamins to help with the infection. If the colour of your nails does not go back to normal after a few weeks, talk to a healthcare professional.
CHANGE IN COLOUR – WHITE SPOTS
Multiple white spots on the nail usually occur due to a zinc deficiency, an allergic reaction, a fungal infection or because of an injury to your nail.
Tip: Keep your nails natural and monitor them. If the spots remain or re-appear, consider seeing a health professional to figure out what is causing the white spots.
Your nails might not be the first place you look to for signs that you’re killing it at this life thing, but next time you are wondering about your health, just look at your fingers. The clue just may be at your fingertips!
The Rubybox HQ
Images and article inspired by healthline.com
Very informative I will have to look at the correct vitamin supplement..
My nails are always breaking and they not strong enough at all….I am really happy to see this information
Thanks for your tips i love my nails
I can’t stand the change in colour ones terrible lol my current nails ain’t done as well but they still look proper. This is very informative I actually loved reading this piece had no idea that nails can be health indicators. Something to add to the health indicator list.
My nails are changing colour with white spots i did n’t know that is due to zinc deficiency and allergies. Thanks for the information
My nails are changing colour with white spots i didn’t know that is due to deficiency and allergies. Thanks for the information
Very informative.My nails have been breaking,this information is an eye opener
Thanks for the useful information and the importance of taking care of our hands and I have been suffering with yellow nails I didn’t know it was cause by the infection from the product I was using and the importance of taking multivitamin
Thank you for this informative piece, it was an eye opener as my nails has those whitish spots so I guess I should visit my Doctor
Thank you for this insight, I am getting my iron supplement now.
I need to get me zinc.
Thank u for the tips
I love my nails short n neat
This is so Very Educational and great awareness as to what might be the cause. I’ll definately keep my eyes peeled in future for the tell tale signs 😉 Thank You Rubybox ☺
My nails are changing colour with white spots i did n’t know that is due to zinc deficiency and allergies. Thanks for the information
Such an informative article. One I truly needed as my nails are rather weak. Will take better care of them
Thank you for your help and I’ll most definitely be looking after my nails
So so informative. I really found it interesting. Thank you for giving us that tips and signs to look out for. And also giving us guidelines to take care of our nails. Much appreciate it rubybox