Can your toenails tell your health?

Your toenails tell a lot about your overall health. A fungal infection often causes thickened yellow toenails. Thick, yellow nails also can be a sign of an underlying disease, including lymphedema (swelling related to the lymphatic system), lung problems, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
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What does a healthy toenail look like?

Healthy nails are usually clear in color and don't have any major issues like cracks, indentations, ridges, or abnormal shapes. If your toenails are turning yellow, it could be a result of something less serious, like aging or nail polish. Or it could be due to a more serious issue, like an infection.
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What your toes say about your health?

Your feet can tell you a lot about your general health condition or warn you of underlying health conditions. From pesky foot pain to more serious symptoms, such as numbness, your feet often show symptoms of disease before any other part of your body.
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What do changes in toenails mean?

Changes in your nails such as splitting, pitting, ridges, the appearance of black streaks, and more, can indicate a number of diseases, including hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, psoriasis, and even melanoma. Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. Lack of vitamin B12 is a big one.
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What diseases affect your toenails?

Toenail abnormalities causes and symptoms
  • Toenail fungus. Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a common condition. ...
  • Ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails are one of the most common and most painful toenail problems. ...
  • Toenail trauma. ...
  • Clubbed nails. ...
  • Discoloration of the nail plates. ...
  • Nail-patella syndrome. ...
  • Leukonychia.
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Tell-nail Signs of Your Health



Can your nails show signs of illness?

Did you know your nails can reveal clues to your overall health? A touch of white here, a rosy tinge there, or some rippling or bumps may be a sign of disease in the body. Problems in the liver, lungs, and heart can show up in your nails.
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What are signs of unhealthy nails?

See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:
  • discoloration (dark streaks, white streaks, or changes in nail color)
  • changes in nail shape (curling or clubbing)
  • changes in nail thickness (thickening or thinning)
  • nails that become brittle.
  • nails that are pitted.
  • bleeding around nails.
  • swelling or redness around nails.
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What do renal failure nails look like?

Nail changes.

People who have advanced kidney disease can develop: A white color on the upper part of one or more nails and a normal to reddish brown color below, as shown here (half-and-half nails) Pale nails. White bands running across one or more nails (Muehrcke's nails)
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What are 8 common nail disorders?

Local Nail Abnormalities
  • DYSTROPHIC NAILS (SELF-INDUCED) Dystrophic nails (Figure 2) can be caused by repeated manipulation of the nail plate (e.g., manicures/pedicures, biting, rubbing). ...
  • LEUKONYCHIA. ...
  • LONGITUDINAL MELANONYCHIA. ...
  • ONYCHOMYCOSIS. ...
  • PARONYCHIA. ...
  • SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA. ...
  • SUBUNGUAL HEMATOMA.
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What is the white hard stuff under my toenails?

In medical terms this is called onychomycosis or tinea unguium,” says Batra. The fungal infection breaks down the keratin in the nail to form a white or yellow chalky substance under the nail plate. "As keratin debris spreads under the nail, the nail plate typically becomes lifted up off of the nail bed.
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What do Covid toes look like?

COVID toes: One or more toes may swell and turn pink, red, or a purplish color. Others may see a small amount of pus under their skin. Sometimes, people who have COVID toes have other symptoms of COVID-19.
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Can your feet show signs of heart problems?

Here are some signs relating to the legs and feet that may be a sign of heart disease: Absent hair growth on the feet. Dry, thinning, and/or shiny skin on your legs and feet.
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What are signs of diabetic feet?

Signs of Diabetic Foot Problems
  • Changes in skin color.
  • Changes in skin temperature.
  • Swelling in the foot or ankle.
  • Pain in the legs.
  • Open sores on the feet that are slow to heal or are draining.
  • Ingrown toenails or toenails infected with fungus.
  • Corns or calluses.
  • Dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heel.
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What the color of your toenails say about your health?

A healthy toenail is a shade of pale pink, much like your fingernail. Any yellowing or tinges of black color means something is not right. For example, if your toenails become yellow, you probably have a fungal infection. Yellowing can also be the result of smoking or a side effect of diabetes or a liver condition.
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Why do toenails get thick?

Toenails can thicken as a result of sudden or repeated trauma or injury. Mostly, this happens to people involved in sport or exercise, such as soccer players, runners, and dancers. It can also affect people who wear ill-fitting shoes. Often, thick nails due to injury are mistaken for fungal infections.
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What does a fungus toenail look like?

Nail fungus can cause the nail to become thick or ragged and appear yellow, green, brown or black. An infected nail may separate from the nail bed. Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail.
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What does nail dystrophy look like?

If you have dystrophic nails, your nails might look thick, oddly shaped or colored yellow or brown. Usually, these nail changes happen because of a skin condition or infection.
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What doctor treats toenails?

For prompt, effective treatment of your toe nail condition , you should see a podiatrist as soon as possible, especially if you notice certain changes to your nails. These abnormalities may include toenail deformities, discoloration, or thickening.
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What are the 3 examples of nail disorders?

COMMON NAIL DISEASES AND NAIL ABNORMALITIES
  • Nail fungus or onychomycosis: ...
  • Psoriasis of the nail: ...
  • Lichen planus of the nail: ...
  • Onycholysis: ...
  • Paronychia: ...
  • Onychorrhexis, onychoschizia, or brittle nail syndrome: ...
  • Pseudomonas nail infection:
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Can fingernails show heart problems?

Ripples on nails or pitted nails may be caused by a skin disorder, psoriasis, eczema, or arthritis. Nail clubbing is when a nail curves under at the tip of the finger. It could indicate heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lung disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, or HIV/AIDS.
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What are the first signs of kidney problems?

Signs of Kidney Disease
  • You're more tired, have less energy or are having trouble concentrating. ...
  • You're having trouble sleeping. ...
  • You have dry and itchy skin. ...
  • You feel the need to urinate more often. ...
  • You see blood in your urine. ...
  • Your urine is foamy. ...
  • You're experiencing persistent puffiness around your eyes.
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What color is urine when your kidneys are failing?

Light-brown or tea-colored urine can be a sign of kidney disease/failure or muscle breakdown.
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What does iron deficiency nails look like?

Spoon nails (koilonychia) are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia or a liver condition known as hemochromatosis, in which your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat.
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Can vitamin D deficiency cause nails?

Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency (al. S. M., 2011) – Deficiencies specifically in vitamins A, D, E, and K typically will cause nails to be softer, termed hapalonychia.
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What do ridges in your nails mean?

Ridges in the fingernails are usually signs of aging. Slight vertical ridges commonly develop in older adults. In some cases, ridges may be a sign of health problems like vitamin deficiencies or diabetes. Deep horizontal ridges, called Beau's lines, may indicate a serious condition.
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