Discoloration
Half-and-Half (Lindsay’s nails)
Look for an arc of brownish discoloration. May occur in a small percentage of people who have kidney failure. Internal diseases and nutritional deficits can cause changes in the appearance of the nails.
Terry’s nails
The nail looks opaque and white, but the nail tip has a dark pink to brown band. May accompany cirrhosis, congestive heart failure, adult-onset diabetes, cancer or ageing.
Cyanosis
A bluish discoloration visible at the nail bases in select patient with severe hypoxemia or hypoperfusion. As with clubbing, it is not at all sensitive for either of these conditions.
H; Hands; NAILS, fingers, general; discoloration, nails; blueness (59) : acon., aesc., agar., apis, apoc., arg-n., arn., ars., asaf., aur., cact., camph., carbn-s., carb-v., chel., chin., chin-ar., chin-s., chlf., cic., cocc., colch., con., cupr., dig., dros., eup-pur., ferr., ferr-ar., ferr-p., gels., gins., graph., ip., manc., merc., merc-s., mez., mur-ac., nat-m., nit-ac., Nux-v., op., ox-ac., petr., ph-ac., phos., plb., rhus-t., sang., sars., sep., sil., sulph., sumb., tarent., thuj., Verat., verat-v.
Paronychia (felon)
Inflammation of the nail folds, which appear red, swollen and tender. The cuticle may not be visible. Causes: fungal infection, secondary bacterial infection, people who’s hands are often in water are more susceptible.
H; Hands; NAILS, fingers, general; panaritium, nails (53) : all-c., alum., Am-c., am-m., anac., Anthr., Apis, arn., asaf., bar-c., benz-ac., berb., bov., bufo, calc., caust., chin., cist., con., cur., Dios., eug., ferr., Fl-ac., gins., Hep., hyper., iod., iris, kali-c., kalm., lach., led., lyc., merc., Myris., nat-c., nat-h., nat-m., nat-s., Nit-ac., par., petr., phyt., plb., puls., rhus-t., sang., sep., Sil., sulph., Tarent-c., teucr.
NAILS; pulp, of; nails recede, leave raw surface: sec.
redness; fingernails: apis, ars., cortiso., crot-c., lepi., lith-c., ozone, upa., x-ray
inflammation, fingernails; around: con., hell., kola., nat-m., nat-s., ph-ac., sil.
H; Hands; NAILS, fingers, general; fungus, under (4) : ant-c., graph., petr., thuj.
H; Hands; NAILS, fingers, general; inflammation, fingernails (1) : kali-c.
H; Hands; NAILS, fingers, general; inflammation, fingernails; root of (2) : hep., stict.
Due to Candida
Ringworm
Staphylococcal
Splinter Haemorrhages
Looks like a splinter underneath the nail, virtually 100% diagnostic of Sub-acute Bacterial Endocarditis (SBE). A bacterial infection affecting the valves of the heart. Occasionally caused by Trichinosis, a parasitic infection caused by eating raw or undercooked Pork.
D; Diseases; ENDOCARDITIS, heart: abrot., acet-ac., Acon., Ars., ars-i., Aur., aur-m., bism., bry., cact., calc., cocc., coc-c., colch., dig., ferr., iod., kali-ar., kali-c., kali-i., Kalm., lach., led., nat-m., naja, ox-ac., phos., phyt., plat., plb., sep., Spig., spong., tarent., verat-v.
D; Diseases; TRICHINOSIS (3) : ars., bapt., cina
Absent “half moons”
Pituitary problems or poor circulation.
NAILS; lunula absent: lyc., puls., tub.
White hue at base of nails:
Liver disease: chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis.
Yellow nail syndrome
Yellow nail syndrome is characterized by yellow or green nails that lack a cuticle, grow slowly, and are loose or detached (onycholysis). May be associated with swelling of the hands and feet (lymphoedema), or a lung diseases e.g. chronic bronchitis. Yellow nails can indicate internal disorders long before other symptoms appear. Some of these are problems with the lymphatic system, respiratory disorders, diabetes, and liver disorders.
NAILS: discoloration; yellowish: am-c., ambr., ant-c., ars., aur., bell., bry., calc., canth., carb-v., caust., cham., chel., chin., Con., ferr., hep., ign., lyc., merc., nit-ac., nux-v., op., plb., puls., Sep., Sil., spig., sulph.
White spots (Leukonychia)
Caused by trauma to the nails, over vigorous/excessive manicuring.
alum., ars., nit-ac., ozone, sep., Sil., sulph., thal.
Melanonychia
vertical pigmented bands or nail ‘moles’. A sudden change in the nail plate could indicate a malignant melanoma or lesion. Commonly occur in dark-skinned people, and are normal.
Brittle nails
Hypothyroidism: brittle nails – which separate easily from the nail bed (Onycholysis) accompanied by dry, yellowish skin, fatigue, slow pulse, chilly, coarse hair that falls out.
Hyperthyroidism: brittle nails – which separate easily from the nail bed (Onycholysis) and are concave (spoon nails)
Brittle nails – may also suggest iron deficiency anemia, kidney and circulatory problems.
NAILS; brittle: alum., alum-sil., ambr., anan., ant-c., ars., but-ac., calc., calc-f., cast-eq., caust., clem., cupr., dios., fl-ac., Graph., hep., hydrog., lept., lyc., med., merc., morg., nat-m., nit-ac., ozone, phos., Psor., rad-br., ruta, sabad., sec., sel., senec., sep., sil., spig., squil., sulph., syc-co., thuj., tub., x-ray
Nails that chip, peel, crack, or break easily – suggest a nutritional deficiency, lacking hydrochloric acid, protein or minerals.
NAILS: cracked: ant-c., ars., lach., nat-m., sil.
Crumbling away of fingernails: but-ac.{Butyric acid: a volatile acid obtained from butter}
NAILS; scatter like powder when cut: sil.
Summary:
Liver Diseases: White Nails
Kidney Diseases: Half of nail is pink, half is white
Heart Conditions: Nail bed is red
Lung Diseases: Yellowing and thickening of the nail, slowed growth rate
Anemia: Pale nail beds
Diabetes: Yellowish nails, with a slight blush at the base
Nutritional deficiencies
Vitamin A and calcium deficiencies – dry brittle nails.
Vitamin B deficiency – horizontal and vertical ridges, that break easily.
Vitamin B12 deficiency – dry, darkened nails with rounded and curved nail ends.
Protein deficiency – white bands
Ayurvedic analysis:
Ayurveda considers nails as the waste product of the bones.
Dry, crooked, rough nails that break easily indicates a predominance of the Vata constitution.
Soft, pink, tender nails that are easily bent are indication of a Pitta constitution.
Thick, strong, soft and shiny nails indicate a Kapha constitution.
Longitudinal lines: indicate inability of the digestive system to absorb food properly.
Transverse grooves: may indicate the presence of long-standing illness or malnutrition.
Yellow nails: alert us to liver problems or jaundice.
Blue nails: indicate a weak heart.
Redness: shows an excess of red blood cells.
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If you want to see images of all these conditions, you can download this powerpoint presentation (2.64 MB) that compliments this article.
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Gabrielle Traub
Chair: World Homeopathic Awareness Committee
Wellness Kliniek
3268 Governor Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
tel: Appointments (858) 457-0374 X 0
tel2: Voicemail (858) 457-0191 X 19
Ann Williamson
I have been using a nail hardener given to me by a friend. I did not have instrucions how to use it. since I started to use it the nail growth has been very good and the nails have hardened like bone. but each nail appears brusied from the point of when I used the nail hardener. Do you have any idea why this has happened
Eric
It comes onycholysis. A reaction to nail hardeners or acrylic nails.
Jojo
The tip of my finger nails is light brownish in color. 4 months ago I was detected as having hepatitis B, and since then I have been following medical treatment, and later I realized that the brownish light color on my finger tips has vanished but now it has return back. Please is the light brownish color at the tip of my finger nails a sign of Hepatitis B?
Sreeja Shaji
Don’t know whether my query pertains to this site. But still since it has to do with nails I thought I can ask. Can you tell me what causes excessive nail biting. Does it indicate any deficiency in diet other than anxiety or stress. Please advise.
kuyoni
You have a problem with self esteem, you have no confidence in yourself. Try to gain self esteem, have belief in your self worth and it will stop.
Sarina
Nail biting does not always have to do with self esteem. My immediate thought is that some people bite their nails when they are nervous. Further, http://www.brainphysics.com/nail-biting.php says it is an impulse control disorder or OCD. There is a lot of good information there and also suggestions on normal treatment for it. I’m just saying you should look into things further before jumping to a “diagnosis” and I use that term very lightly.
Silent Storm
I have found that nail biting can be triggered by sugar intake. I use to bite my nails all the time especially when I got nervous. i also consumed white sugar, white flour, and white rice products. When I got off of those products I found that I never would bite my nails. This is a very simple solution to nail biting.
Silent Storm
tracy butler
I found this to be true for me also. After getting sugar out of my diet for a long time I noticed that I had finger nails and hadn’t noticed that I wasnt’t biting them anymore.
Rhonda
Hi, My dad is has in-stage Kidney Diseases he has about 8/9% renal function in the pass 4 month we have seen some of his finger nail beds go dark/brownish color and get very ruff, some nail have even lifted from the nail bed. But then some are just fine and growing normal. His nurse does think this is renal related more of maybe a fungus. What do you think? Thanks Rhonda
angela
My son is 5 years old and his nails are not growing since a year. does any one have any information. i really appreciate your help in this regard. angela
dr.seema more
thanks for this valuable information…this will definately help us in diagnosis and prognosis of acase.
Debby Bruck
Superb and complete information with illustrations about nails and nail deformity related to disease. Thank you so much Gabrielle
Catherine
Thanks for the very informative segment!
I get multiple tiny brown lines at the tips which appear somewhat similar to splinter haemorrhages but on a much smaller scale (no more than 2mm). Randomly placed though predominantly appearing on my thumbs and index fingers – usually 2 or 3 on each nail at the very tip where one would expect an actuals splinter to have been wedged but there’s no actual trauma. Occassionally it appears further up the nail.
As it doesn’t hurt and cause any discomfort I’m wondering if its a indication of something I’ve overlooked?
Dr.Jyoti Methawani
very nice illustration with repertorial rubrics.I liked it though small part of body that is usually not taken in to diagnostic approach except for few conditions like anaemia,jaundice but how much these nails are important for the prognosis,it should b taken in to consideration during head to toe examination of patient.thank u so much for such a excellent article DR GABRIELLE
Mema
Wow, great info, very thorough article and pictures! The pictures are very helpful! I’ve suspected leaky gut and that my amalgams are off gassing more, which would also lead to more digestive issues, as well as I do not have a gallbladder. I’m also currently nursing my 18 m old. And I’ve always had vertical ridges in my nails off and on through the years, but recently they’ve gotten very thick on my thumbnails. And I think this definitely clarified it for me.
Longitudinal lines: indicate inability of the digestive system to absorb food properly.
Dr. Sayeed Ahmad
What a wonderful article it is with valuable information and knowledge on this important subject of nails. Thanks to Author of this article.
With best regards
Sincerely yours
Dr. Sayeed Ahmad
rajesh malaviya
really new approach regarding nails,it can be added to repertory too,
David Chapman
Thank you for the valuable work in collating this information on nails. Nails provide an excellent tool in diagnostics, but It’s difficult to find the information in one place.
rachel
I’ve found the same splinter-like symptoms as Catherine and am wondering if they may be a symptom of something as well? The ones I have are on my ring finger and my thumbs.
Sophia
When I am pregnant the white tips of my nails seem to extend further back down my nail, so half of the nail ends up white. ie the white tips start from half way down the nail. It starts with my little finger and ring finger and I wonder if this is normal and/or if it indicates any difficiency. It starts just after ovulation so I actually see it as an early pregnancy indicator! I have had 2 miscarriages in the last year so would appreacite any advice. They go back to normal within a couple of weeks after I miscarry.
I lived abroad for a few years where the doctors routinely look at your nails when they examine you, but no-one here seems to care when I mention this. Hope you can help.
Pat Hogen
Sophie,do you smoke/drink spirits?
For starters…please get a 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 test.VERY IMPORTANT!
Have your B12 levels checked and folic acid,B6 and in fact all the B vits are important.Chromium.Take quality VitC product.
Average GP may do the basic checks but are light years behind the times as far as nutritional information/knowledge is concerned.Their incentive is money from pushing Big Pharma`s products…you are not going to have the 8 laws of health listed for you,let alone explained.
With nutritionists/epidemiologist in the family,the first port of call for the sick individual is a hair analysis,we all have regular ones too….to monitor heavy metals.Blood tests are good for some things as are urine tests but a sample of the last six months of hair growth(approx 1″ nearest scalp)will reveal an awful lot.
If you have heavy metals stored in the body,these interfere with metabolic processes and need removing using a safe procedure.They can be stored in the body for many years causing problems if not removed.
Few examples from the thousands done in the last 30 years.Plumber(&his wife!)-high Lead,Mechanic-Cadmium&Lead),Ceramics student-high cobalt,many individuals with high Mercury or Aluminium or Arsenic.Even a nobbled racehorse mystery solved as well as many other fascinating revelations.
Smokers very often show high Cadmium levels among others.Smoking itself triggers Liver into phase 1 detox mode but it`s phase 2 which is the one needing a helping hand in the average unhealthy individual.
Will Ullrich
Do you know of a good place to find information on natural hygiene? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
suzie bunie
What does a sudden black thick line on the index finger mean? The line goes from the cuticle to the end of the nail longitudenally? The other symptom is fatigue.
Worried
edel
Hi
My 4 year old’s nails grow a bit strangely. It’s as though the “underneath” grows first and another grows on top but at a slower rate and the 2 layers never quite join as the tops of them are alot weaker and you can actually pull them off with your fingers because it’s really soft. He does by the way suck his thumbs. His diet is well-balanced & loves vegetables (miracle!)
I’d very much appreciate if you could throw any light on this.
Thanks a mill
Edel
Katrina Graham
Fantastic informative article on Nails – what they reveal…
Really helped me with a case today.
Thanks so much
carly
I have been getting holes at the bottom of my nails, and the holes are in the first few layers of the nail. I bite my nails a lot, and I was wondering if this could be the problem?
Glo D'Gal
This is an excellent article. As I read this article and compared the information to my own nails, I found that the information certain aspects of my own nails and health were consistent.
Thank you for doing this article. It was very informant and easy to understand. I look forward to reading more of your articles.
Philip Johnson
Dear Dr. Traub,
Thank you for the most interesting information about nail conditions and what they might signify. I have one nail (left hand, number three, whichever side you start counting from) which has either the spoon nail defect or Beau’s line, I’m not quite sure which. The transverse depression does go right across the nail, but it doesn’t have a crusty ridge (which your photo shows for Beau’s line). The corresponding finger on the right hand has a recurrent longitudinal split at the tip which I keep opening up. The only solution seems to be to keep it filed ultra short so that it won’t catch in anything. I also notice a fine, even, londitudinal line structure (but no splits) on whole length of the ring fingers of both hands. The little fingers of both hands hseem to have no discernable half-moons (yet all the other fingers do have them). I wonder if there is any significance as to which finger of a hand is abnormal, or to which hand the abnormality is manifest on? And is it usual to have the three symptoms I describe all at the same time?
I’m sure you have plenty to do with your time, but I’d be grateful for a brief response if you are able.
Thank you
Philip Johnson
Ann Stewart
The best site on the Web covering fingernails and what causes their abnormalities! Great work!
balwan
I am having the same signs on my nails of both the hands. Although i get these lines on all the fingers and thumbs. They appear randomly. Start with slight pain at the site and the red line appears later which turns black within 3-4 days.Is it some deficiency disorder?
SANKHU SHEKHAR CHAKRAVARTI
Worthy Doctor, My elder brother has been sufferinng from nail disease.His nail is wrinkled with bleeding and pain. I suggest for SILICA i.e (SiO2) am I right? Please suggest me.THANKYOU. Your obedient SANKHU.
gausia
hiii
have dotted nails
what it indicates?
Hw to cure?
plz tll me in detail……..
Daryl
Great article and very helpful with the pictures. There are 2 things I have though that weren’t present in the article. One is one slightly raised line under my thumbnail from matrix to end that caused a split at the end. Going on 5 plus years. Then 2 weeks ago I notice 2 finger nails and 4 toe nails have a softer spot in the shape of a V starting at the end (not the matrix). Looks funny and I want to get rid of all of this. Help?
anita
I usually have nicely shaped nails that grow to a reasonable length and are all straight and uniform, but recently the nails on my middle fingers seem to dip down towards my finger on one side. This is more pronounced the longer they get. They look normal if I cut them right back.
Any ideas what might be causing it please?
Ken
I was wondering if you ever found out what is wrong with your nails? I am experiencing the same thing for about three weeks now!
janice
I am curious why my 10 month old boy’s nails are growing on the sides of the nail, but not in the middle part of the nail. I am talking about the white section of the nail that you trim. I will need to trim the left and right sides of the white part, but the center area does not grow out from the nail bed. His nails used to grow nicely and quickly as my other children. He gets almost 100% of his nutrition from nursing. I have not seen this before. Thanks for any help.
Shelly Tanner
HI,
Could you please help me, I have a 11 yr old son that 4 yrs ago his fingernails turned white. I had the docs check his kidneys, liver enzymes, they just checked his iron a few months ago and it was somewhat low. He also has dark circles under his eyes. I am worried about him.
Also, me, I have a small red streak on my right pointing finger, and the tips of some of my nails curve down to one side, also on my right thumb nail I have a wide vertical band, I have no lunas except my thumbs and they are not white, they are pinkish white with a red band above the luna. the nail beds are also redish pink and white in the middle of some of them. This all started 3 years ago for me.
Thank you,
I hope you can help me.
Shelly
sue
What makes your nails grow in broken? Both my mother and I have thumb nails that grow in cracked on the side in the pink part. In my case my right index finger also grows in cracked, always on the same side in the same place. This same nail twists when it gets long (if it doesn’t grow in broken). (ie: looking at the nail the right side dips and curls under and the left side “bubbles” up)
Aaron
My grandfather is 80 years old. When he was a boy he got yellow toenail foot fungus that for years he has incorrectly called athletes foot as a slang term for his problem. He has suffered severely from Heart Disease for 30 years, surviving two major open heart surgery procedures, the first of which was a triple bypass in 1981. Recently he has been in failing health, white blood cell count high, pig valves from 2001 surgery are starting to deteriorate, and the yellow toenail foot fungus is as bad as ever. Is he too old/too frail of health to try things like tea tree oil or other topical solutions to cure the fungus??
Alan V. Schmukler
Dear Aaron,
Suppressing an external symptom always risks creating a more serious problem. He’s lived with it all these years, so I would leave well enough alone.
Badal Majumdar
For a practitioner, this article is invaluable. It has clearly
narrated how a disease can be diagnosed through observing nails. Also,
improvement of nail-deformity can be used as a pointer to the improvement
of internal disease. Thanks to the author with gratitude.
Merrick Swaffar
my nails get white bands all the way acrose them parrallel with the cudical. the discoloation grows out with the nail. it starts out as an opaque white and then grows out and becomes more solid. it has been ongoing for over a year, but i have not experienced any other symptoms. some times it compleatly goes away when thenails grow all the way out, and then reapears after a couple weeks. one thing that i have noticed is that it does not occur on the thumb or pinkie nails. any help would be exelent thanks.
LAVONA
Thank you so much for this article. It was a God-send. I have for years gotten acrylic nails because I can’t seem to grow my own. But I have recently stopped because I thought that it was what was causing my nail damage. They are brittle, dry, and chipped and crack all of the time. My toe nails are the worst. the have a very dark hue to them and they get really thick especially the big toe. I used to get B-12 shots and I stopped but I have noticed that the darkening went away during that time. I have recently had my gallbladder removed and I am not the best at taking vitamin supplements and earting right. I have such discomfort from eating until I go someday without eating anything until at night before bed. Wow some things are really going to have to change. Thanks again for the eye opener.
N Sahi
Amazing compilation…very helpful! Thanks a tonne!
N Sahi
Very useful compilation. Thanks a tonne!
Robin C
My nails are quite thin and are tearing easily. THere are also longitudinal lines or ridges. What could be wrong? Would like to have healthy nails.
tmr
Have always had healthy nails but lately they have turned yellowish from the tip to middle of nail –also have ridges but have always had those. I do use colored nail polish. Could the sudden discoloration be from the polishes or should I look further?