Nails are usually smooth and have consistent coloring but as the age progresses vertical ridges may develop and the nails tend to become more brittle. Spots, discoloration, nail separation, etc may result from injuries to the fingers & hands, viral warts, infections, and few medications such as chemotherapy.
Few changes in the nails can also be due to medical conditions and need immediate attention. One should consult the doctor if the following symptoms are seen:
A variety of conditions changes the texture and shape of the nail and results in nail disorder. Few of the common nail disorders are:
Beau’s line - depression running across the fingernail and can be the sign of malnourishment. And beau’s line can be caused due to:
Clubbing - the nail thickens and curves around the fingertips. The low levels of oxygen in the blood cause it and it is associated with:
Koilonychia - the fingernails scoop outward and for raised ridges like a spoon and it can be a sign of:
Leukonychia - nonuniform white spots appear on the nails as a result of injury or trauma and are harmless if the individual is healthy. However, it can also be associated with a nutritional deficiency or poor health and the factors are:
Mees’ lines - transverse lines across the fingernails and can be a sign of arsenic poisoning and the doctor will take the sample of the hair or tissue to check for arsenic.
Onycholysis - the nail separates from the nail bed and causes white discoloration. The factor for cause are:
Pitting - small depression or little pits on the nails and the causes are:
Terry’s nails - the tips of nails has dark bands is if often due to aging, other causes are:
Yellow nail syndrome - nail becomes thick and grows slowly. Sometimes while pulling the cuticle the whole nail comes off. This causes due to: