Small or no moons are thought to indicate low blood pressure or underactive thyroid gland. Scientists have found that lack of moons on fingernail may suggest deficiency of vitamin B12 or iodine which normally feeds the thyroid gland.
In most cases, the absence or disappearance of the lunulae points only to a minor nutritional deficiency. Sometimes, however, the cause is more serious. Seeking medical attention for any changes in the nails or skin can help a doctor detect serious medical conditions, as early as possible, enabling prompt treatment.
Absent lunula can progressively develop in a person who previously had a normal-sized lunula and can be associated with various systemic disorders. In this case-control study we hypothesised that absent lunula is associated with depression.
In a healthy individual, one can always find the half-moon shape at the bottom of the nail. It is a part of the matrix and reveals a lot about your health. Missing half-moon in some cases can be due to malnutrition, depression or anemia.
A white nail could signal cirrhosis, chronic renal failure or congestive heart failure. Lunula that have a blueish tint could suggest Wilson's disease, a rare inherited genetic disorder in which copper accumulates in the liver, brain and other organs. Red lunula may indicate heart failure, research shows.
Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves. They're uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration. Sometimes fingernails develop harmless vertical ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Vertical ridges tend to become more prominent with age.
Scientists have found that lack of moons on fingernail may suggest deficiency of vitamin B12 or iodine which normally feeds the thyroid gland. Lack of vitamin B12 is linked with loss of coordination and memory, lack of energy and depression among other conditions.
Koilonychia is an abnormal shape of the fingernail. The nail has raised ridges and is thin and curved inward. This disorder is associated with iron deficiency anemia.
Fingernail half-moons are the rounded, white shadows at the base of your nails. Industry term for this is a lunula, which is Latin for little moon. The place where each nail begins growing is known as the matrix. This is where the new cells are made that will make up the nail. The lunula is part of the matrix.
Healthy nails should look pink on the nail bed and white when grown off the nail bed. Any other color could be a sign of a deficiency or disease. For instance, clear, pale nails can be a sign of anemia or poor nutrition. White nails, also known as Terry's nails, are a sign of kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes.
If one damages the lunula, the nail will be permanently deformed. Even when the totality of the nail is removed, the lunula remains in place and is similar in appearance to another smaller fingernail embedded in the nail bed.
Kidney disease can affect the appearance of your fingernails, toenails, or both. 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.
It is widely regarded by many that having a large Lunula is a sign of being a genius. While this may seem a bit more far-fetched and true than psychological healthy living. Lunula is highly regarded by experts and traditional Chinese medicine as an indicator of good health energy and immunity.
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.
In some cases, fingernails turn blue or purplish because of cyanosis, which can also affect the lips and skin. Cyanosis can occur if the blood is not carrying enough oxygen to the fingertips or the person has poor circulation.
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.
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.
Vitamin D ensures healthy nails and reduces the risk of nail peeling and chipping, which can often be caused by nutritional deficiencies. Vitamin D regulates calcium levels in the body which is an essential contributor to having healthy nails.
Nail clubbing is when a nail curves under at the tip of the finger. It could indicate heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lung disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, or HIV/AIDS.
Terry's nails is a type of nail discoloration. The nailbeds look “washed out,” except for a thin reddish-brown strip near the tip. Often, Terry's nails is a symptom of a chronic condition, such as liver failure or diabetes.
The skin and nails of patients with diabetes tend to take on a yellow hue, probably due to metabolism of glucose which has become linked to protein. This hue is most evident in the nails, especially distally, but occasionally evident in the skin.