Signs Your Nails Are Unhealthy
Generally speaking, if the color or texture of a nail changes, it’s a sign of unhealthy nails. But these characteristics may alter for various reasons.
Discoloration
“Unhealthy nails have unusual colors,” says Colombo, explaining that a yellowish, bluish, or greenish hue is out of character for nails. Essentially, anything besides the pinkish base is a sign that something’s not right.
Jaliman notes that a white or yellow chalky material beneath the nail plate may indicate onychomycosis. This debris develops when fungus breaks down the keratin in the nail, she says. A review estimates that onychomycosis happens in up to 13.8 percent of adults and 0.44 percent of children and adolescents age 18 years or younger.
Discoloration may also be a sign of melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer. A brown or black band around the nail or a darker hue around the outside of the nail could be a sign of melanoma. This dark streak might be accompanied by a bump underneath the nail.
Brittleness
Onychoschizia, more commonly known as nail splitting, refers to soft, brittle, thin nails, per the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD). “A brittle nail feels rough, breaks easily, and is not smooth at the distal ends,” Colombo says.
Colombo notes that brittle nails can be caused by various factors, including fungal and bacterial infections, inflammatory conditions such as lichen planus and psoriasis, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies, hypothyroidism, and aging. According to the AOCD, onychoschizia typically occurs when fingernails are too wet too often (as in those who clean or work with water all day) or too dry.
Splitting down the center of the nail plate could also be a sign of melanoma or another concerning growth.
Softness
Nails that are too hard may suggest previous nail trauma, psoriasis, or a fungal infection, says Colombo. Nails that are too soft can’t function efficiently either.
Nails are often softened by chemicals found in household products, including cleaning supplies, laundry detergents, and nail polish remover.
Peeling
If your nails become soft, they may start to peel layer by layer. This is likely due to external traumas such as harsh chemicals, exposure to too little or too much moisture (excessive hand-washing or wet hand activities), overbuffing, too many gel or acrylic manicures, or picking off nail polish with fingernails instead of polish remover, Colombo says.
Separation From the Nail Bed
Onycholysis is a condition in which the nail plate separates from the nail bed. Common potential causes include infection, injury, adverse effects from drugs or personal care products, and symptoms of conditions such as psoriasis and thyroid disease.
Per the American Academy of Dermatology, a nail separating from the nail bed may indicate melanoma or another concerning growth.
Ridges
Healthy nails have a smooth surface. When a nail starts to develop rough ridges, that’s when you know something’s up, Jaliman says. If the ridges run from the top of the nail plate to the bottom, it’s likely a natural sign of aging, Colombo says. But if they run side to side, something else might be at play.
“Nail ridges can be a sign of vitamin deficiencies or diabetes,” Jaliman says. “For example, iron deficiency anemia can cause nail ridges.” If one of these underlying concerns is the issue, once you treat it, the nails will return to their healthy, smooth, shiny state.
Pits
These can appear as small pinpricks on the nail surface. “Nail pitting can be caused by psoriasis or eczema,” Jaliman says. “When these conditions are treated, the pits will resolve.”
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