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Mayo Clinic Minute: Fingernails are clues to your health
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Take a peek at your fingernails. Do they have ridges or chips, or are they discolored? Dr. Rachel Miest, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, says the condition of your fingernails may be clues to your overall health.
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Many people develop lines or ridges from the cuticle to the tip. Dr. Miest says that the ridges are actually completely fine and just a part of normal aging. But there are other nail changes you should not ignore that may indicate liver or problems, nutritional deficiencies and other issues.
Here are six examples:
- Pitting
This could be a sign of psoriasis. - Clubbing
Clubbing happens when your oxygen is low and could be a sign of lung issues. - Spooning
It can happen if you have iron-deficient anemia or liver disease. - "A Beau’s line"
It’s a horizontal line that indicates a previous injury or infection. - Nail separation
This may happen as a result of injury, infection or a medication. - Yellowing of the nails
This may be the result of chronic bronchitis.
"The fingernails are absolutely a wonderful reflection of a person’s overall health," says Dr. Miest.
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