Mees lines are associated with arsenic poisoning, Hodgkin lymphoma, carcinoid tumours and chemotherapy (i.e., cyclophosphamide, vincristine and doxorubicin).
Mees lines are also associated with acute systemic stresses, such as acute renal failure, heart failure, ulcerative colitis, breast cancer, infections such as measles and tuberculosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, and with exposure to toxic metals such as thallium.
What causes Mees' lines? Historically, Mees' lines have been associated with poisoning from arsenic or other heavy metals, such as thallium or selenium. But the symptom also may be related to: Altitude sickness.
Zinc deficiency can cause Beau's lines and white spots on your nails. Iron deficiency can cause vertical nail ridges and koilonychia (spoon nails). Spoon nails have a depression in the middle, like the center of your nail was scooped out.
Mees', Beau's and Muehrcke's lines are all transverse lines seen on finger or toe nails. Only Beau's lines are grooved. Mees' and Beau's lines move distally with nail growth. Mees', Beau's and Muehrcke's lines are associated with systemic illness, trauma, poisoning, medications and high-altitude mountaineering.
Mees' Lines are a change that occurs in the color of the nail with no palpable ridges, typically described as white bands traversing the nail bed, running parallel to the lunula across the entire nail bed of the individual. This finding is indicative of arsenic [5], thallium [6], or other heavy metal poisoning.
Also known as splinter hemorrhages, these stripes occur due to damage to the blood vessels. Grooves across the nails: Grooves across the nails, known as Beau's lines, can occur due to lupus or Raynaud's phenomenon.
2 Nail changes in vitamin B12 deficiency present as hyperpigmentation of nails like bluish discoloration of nails, blue-black pigmentation with dark longitudinal streaks, and longitudinal and reticulate darkened streaks. The nail pigmentation associated with B12 deficiency is more frequent in patients with dark skin.
Nail psoriasis is an autoimmune condition. It causes discoloration, pitting and changes in your fingernails and toenails. There isn't a cure, but treatments can alleviate related symptoms.
Koilonychia is indented nails. Instead of growing straight, your nails look concave, like spoons. In many people, koilonychia is a sign of iron deficiency. Usually, you can get rid of spoon nails by treating the underlying cause.
Mees lines may be confused with Muehrcke lines (i.e., apparent leukonychia), which are paired white lines caused by vascular congestion in the nail bed. Muehrcke lines are easily distinguished from Mees lines because Muehrcke lines fade with digital compression and do not migrate with the growth of the nail.
Mees Lines are a true leukonychia, a colour change of the nail with no palpable ridges; also called “leukonychia striata” or “Aldrich–Mees Lines.”
Mees' lines (also known as Aldrich or Reynolds' lines) are transverse white bands on the nail plate laid down during periods of stress. Common associations are poisioning (arsenic, thallium, fluorosis), severe infection, renal disease, cardiac failure, and malignant disease.
Signs of melanoma in and around the nails include a brown or black streak under the nail, a bump or nodule under the nail, darker skin around the nail, a nail that is lifting and pulling away from the nail bed, or a split down the middle of the nail.
Nail changes.
People who have advanced kidney disease can develop: A white color on the upper part of one or more nails and a normal to reddish brown color below, as shown here (half-and-half nails) Pale nails. White bands running across one or more nails (Muehrcke's nails)
Subungual melanoma presents as brown-black discolorations of the nail bed. It can present as either a streak of pigment or irregular pigmentation. The discoloration can progress to thickening, splitting, or destruction of the nail with pain and inflammation.
Very pale nails
Healthy nails are generally pink. Very pale nails may indicate illnesses, such as anemia, congestive heart failure or liver disease.
Mental and emotional stress can affect nail health and growth. Severe emotional stress, such as a divorce, death in the family or job loss, can cause Beau's lines. Anxiety disorders are another possible cause.
Nails may darken, crack or become brittle. White ridges or bands of discoloration may appear along the nails.
If your nails are peeling, brittle, or have vertical ridges, you may be vitamin D deficient. Dubbed “the sunshine vitamin,” one of the best sources is sunlight. It can also be found in fatty fish, beef, liver, egg yolk, and fortified dairy, orange juice, and cereals.
When your body lacks calcium, your nails become thinner, weaker, and brittle. You may notice that they break easily and just don't look as healthy as they used to. Although nails and bones are made up of different substances, they're similar enough that poor nail health may be an early marker of bone density problems.
Nail changes
These are most common in people who have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Some people develop a nail infection, which can cause splitting or crumbling nails and discoloration (A), or swollen skin and discoloration around the nails (B). Sometimes, visible blood vessels appear around the nails.
Nail abnormalities associating systemic disorders are very important for both rheumatologists and dermatologists because they are easily examined and may be the only initial signal of this disease [17].