X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

5 Nail symptoms that you should never ignore

3 min read
5 Nail symptoms that you should never ignore

Most people think of their nails as an afterthought, but did you know that the health of your nails can tell a lot about your general health too?

Did you know that your nails can actually tell a lot about the state of your health? That’s why it’s important to never ignore these five fingernail symptoms of disease. 

Fingernail symptoms of disease

1. A brown vertical stripe on the nail

Of all the fingernail symptoms of disease, this one might possibly be a sign of melanoma. In some cases, skin cancer doesn’t start with a mole or a dark spot; it can actually start in one of your nails.

For Caucasians, 1% of melanomas start in the nail. However, for African Americans, 20% of melanomas start in the nail. That’s why you should never simply ignore this sign as it might possibly be a symptom of something worse.

2. Brittle nails

Brittle nails commonly happen due to an issue with your diet or because of the chemicals that your hands can get exposed to.

If you’re malnourished or lack certain nutrients, then your body won’t have enough nutrients to help build healthy nails. This is why malnourished people, or those with eating disorders, can have brittle nails.

Additionally, most people think that calcium is important in having strong, healthy nails. In fact, nails are made of keratin, a type of protein. That’s why protein is also important if you wish to have strong nails.

fingernail symptoms of disease

Don’t let pretty manicures hide common fingernail symptoms of disease

3. Nail clubbing

Nail clubbing, or when fingertips enlarge and the nail curves around the finger is a sign of low oxygen in the blood, and can possibly be a sign of lung disease.

It can also be with inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and AIDS. If you see that your nails seem to be clubbed, then you might want to go to a doctor to get a checkup.

4. Spoon nails (koilonychia)

Spoon nails is a condition when nails look like they’ve been scooped out.

Spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia, or sometimes a liver condition called hemochromatosis where your body absorbs too much iron from the food that you eat.

They can also be associated with heart disease and hypothyroidism.

5. Horizontal lines in your nails (Beau’s lines)

Horizontal lines in your nails, or Beau’s lines, are indentations that run across your nails.

These fingernail symptoms of disease are mainly a sign of nail trauma when the cuticle under the nail has been injured, or due to a sickness. Beau’s lines can possibly be a sign of zinc deficiency, but they’re also a sign of other diseases such as high fever, scarlet fever, measles, mumps, and pneumonia.

Partner Stories
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance

Also read: Cancer signs in children you shouldn’t ignore

Sources: mayoclinic.org, today.com

 

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Nasreen Majid

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • 5 Nail symptoms that you should never ignore
Share:
  • 10 Things Your Nails Reveal About Your Health That You Shouldn't Ignore

    10 Things Your Nails Reveal About Your Health That You Shouldn't Ignore

  • Latest parenting trend: DIY nail designs for tweens

    Latest parenting trend: DIY nail designs for tweens

  • Neighbour Complains Of Crying Baby, Mum Hits Back With A Witty Letter

    Neighbour Complains Of Crying Baby, Mum Hits Back With A Witty Letter

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • 10 Things Your Nails Reveal About Your Health That You Shouldn't Ignore

    10 Things Your Nails Reveal About Your Health That You Shouldn't Ignore

  • Latest parenting trend: DIY nail designs for tweens

    Latest parenting trend: DIY nail designs for tweens

  • Neighbour Complains Of Crying Baby, Mum Hits Back With A Witty Letter

    Neighbour Complains Of Crying Baby, Mum Hits Back With A Witty Letter

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.