Surprising Things Your Nails Reveal About Your Overall Health
Image: Shutterstock / FabrikaSimf
Your fingernails are part of your life, but you may not think about them a ton unless you break one or spend time getting them done. Turns out, your fingernails can actually provide some clues about how healthy you are — yes, really. Let’s take a look to understand the signals your fingernails may be trying to send about your health.
Many nail conditions can be the result of a poor diet and a lack of nutritionally dense foods, physician Dr. Monisha Bhanote tells SheKnows. “However, there are other signs that may indicate to something other than that,” she explains. Here are a few things to look out for.
Pitted or rippled nails
Are your nails are pitted or rippled? Bhanote says this could be an early indicator of inflammatory arthritis or psoriasis.
White spots
Little white spots on the nails aren’t uncommon, physician Dr. Luiza Petre tells SheKnows. She notes that they could be caused by a bunch of different things, including fungal infection, allergic reaction, nail injury, vitamin deficiency or systemic disease.
“Very often, it is also a good indicator that a change in your diet is needed,” she says. “Increasing your intake of calcium and vitamin C can help decrease your chances of developing spots on the nails. But when those white spots are coupled with symptoms of illness, such as an infection or exposure to bacteria, then you may need to seek medical attention.”