Nail abnormalities are problems with the color, shape, texture, or thickness of the fingernails or toenails.
Beau's lines; Fingernail abnormalities; Spoon nails; Onycholysis; Leukonychia; Koilonychia; Brittle nails
Just like the skin, the fingernails tell a lot about your health.
- Beau's lines are depressions across the fingernail. These lines can occur after illness, injury to the nail, and when you are malnourished.
- Brittle nails are often a normal result of aging. However, they also may be due to certain diseases and 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.
- Leukonychia is white streaks or spots on the nails.
- Pitting is the presence of small depressions on the nail surface. Sometimes the nail is also crumbling. The nail can become loose and sometimes falls off.
- Ridges are tiny, raised lines that develop across or up and down the nail.
Call your health care provider if you have:
- Blue nails
- Clubbed nails
- Distorted nails
- Horizontal ridges
- Pale nails
- White lines
- White color under the nails
If you have splinter hemorrhages, see the doctor immediately.
The health care provider will look at your nails and ask questions about your symptoms. Questions may include:
- Type
- What is the abnormality?
- Are the nails an abnormal color?
- What color are they?
- Are there red lines running the length of the nail (splinter hemorrhage)?
- Are they an abnormal shape?
- Has the texture changed?
- Has the thickness changed?
- Are the nails pitted?
- Are the nails detached?
- Are there ridged nails?
- Which direction does the ridging go?
- Does the whole end of the finger look enlarged?
- Is there a lack of luster?
- Are the nails brittle?
- Location
- Is it the hands?
- Is it the feet?
- Is it only on one side?
- Are both sides the same?
- Is it only one specific nail?
- Aggravating factors
- Have you had an injury to the nail?
- Do you bite your nails?
- Do you pick your nails or rub the fingers or toes chronically?
- Are the nails frequently moist?
- Do you use nail polish?
- Other
- What other symptoms are also present?
Diagnostic tests will depend on what other symptoms, if any, exist. These may include x-rays, blood tests, or examination of parts of the nail in the laboratory.
- Do not bite, pick, or tear at your nails (in severe cases, some people may need psychological help or encouragement to stop these behaviors).
- Keep hangnails clipped.
- Wear shoes that don't squeeze the toes together, and always cut the nails straight across along the top.
- To prevent brittle nails, keep the nails short and avoid nail polish. Use an emollient (skin softening) cream after washing or bathing.
Using the vitamin biotin and clear nail polish that contains protein can help strengthen your nails.
Review Date:
4/17/2009
Reviewed By:
Michael Lehrer, MD, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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