When we see lines appear on our nails, or when they become brittle, it’s common for us to believe we have a fungus. But, the truth is, it’s not that simple. Our nails are part of our body’s alarm system, and through them, our bodies sends us messages when we’re ill or when something in our bodies has changed.
We should remain alert when we see changes in our nails, and should go to the doctor so the he/she can examine them. They should know how to “read your nails” and identify any illness you might have or any changes going on in your body.
The most common changes are:
- Lines on your nails can appear due to malnutrition, which had been caused by a previous illness.
- When your nails are weak, and brittle, that can be caused by aging or some other illnesses.
- In some cases, nails can seem thin and concave or dented. They always have their sides curved upwards. This can be associated to anemia, or an iron deficiency.
- White dots or white sides on your nails are the product of an aggressive manicure or powerful detergent. It can also be a zinc or calcium deficiency.
- Causes: When we use ointments or glues on the base (cuticles) of the nail this can cause a permanent deformation.
- Friction on the cuticle of the nails can cause for them to grow flattened, instead of having their normal curvature.
- The constant exposure to nail polish and nail polish remover that are of poor quality can lead to your
Nails being weakened, and/or peeled. They can also appear scaly.Nails can also show if you are suffering fungal or bacterial infections, or systemic diseases like the following:
1. Heart problems and lung diseases, including respiratory Infection and lung cancer, can cause hippocratic fingers. This makes the tip of the fingers get rounded like a ball.
2. Kidney damage and prolonged use of painkillers or anti inflammatory drugs can cause damage to your nails.
3. Liver disease and thyroid issues can cause nail damage which makes them brittle.
4. Grave illness or a major surgery can cause horizontal depressions (lines) on your nails.
5. Psoriasis may cause the nail dented and to lose it top layer.
6. The destruction of proteins, the accumulation of proteins in the body, vitamin E deficiency can all cause inflammation at the tip of the fingers.
7. Skin cancer near the nail can cause it to be deformed.
Some of the these illnesses can be transmitted to other on contact, for this reason, those of you who work in beauty parlors and barbershops should take all of the necessary precautions to protect yourself, and let your client know that he/she should visit their doctor, because they may not have noticed they have a problem.
