« Show me your nails and I’ll tell you who you are »… Or almost. Did you know that the appearance and texture of your nails can give important clues about your health? Here are some characteristics to watch for.
Nails are an extension of the skin made of keratin — just like hair. Here is a small diagram with captions, to help you see the vocabulary more clearly:
Do you have spoon-shaped nails?
Normally, your fingernails and toenails should have a slight convexconvex curvature, without any depressions. Isn’t that the case? You may be suffering from koïlonychiea condition in which the nail is concaveconcave and in some cases a central depression forms — which is why this condition is called “spoon-shaped nails.” This can be a sign of anemia, i.e. a low number of red blood cells, associated with an iron deficiency. Certain professions are at greater risk of developing koilonychia, due to chronic exposure to petroleum-based solvents, found in mechanics in engine oils, but also in hairdressing in certain fixing agents. However, since there can be many causes, if in doubt, consider consulting your doctor.
Or strangely (dis)colored nails?
Now let’s look at what’s happening underneath the stratum corneumstratum corneum: the nail bed. The skin under the nail should be pink, indicating good blood flow. Do you notice yellowing? This could be due to a skin disease or fungal infection. On the contrary, do you notice a white discoloration? This is called leukonychia, which can take various forms. Scattered white marks could indicate nail poisoning. heavy metalssuch as lead or arsenicarsenic, while extensive whiteness over the entire nail and involving several fingers may indicate a protein deficiencyproteins.
Finally, if your nail turns purple or blue locally, it is certainly the result of a minor trauma — even if, when you get your finger or toe stuck in a door, we all feel like we are experiencing a huge tragedy. This is a subungual hematoma, which resolves without intervention, except with time, and can sometimes lead to a separation of the nail and the bed… Who has never experienced the goodbyes of an unlucky little toenail?
Did you know?
Some manicures can not only hide the natural nail, but also cause it to weaken. Indeed, the glue used for applying false nails, the resin and UV used for applying semi-permanent gel, and the toxic substances contained in a classic varnish are not without health risks!
Nails are very useful in an emergency!
During a medical emergency, doctors often check the patient’s blood oxygen saturation using a pulse oximeterpulse oximeter, which is placed on the fingertip. Another indicator of good circulatory function is the skin recoloration time (SRT) test, which involves gently squeezing the pad of the index, middle, or ring finger for five seconds. If the blood takes more than two seconds to recolor the area, it may be a sign of dehydrationdehydration, hypothermia, or poor peripheral perfusion. Fingernails can also indicate whether a patient is drowsydrowsy or unconscious, especially via the Glasgow score, an indicator of state of consciousness.
And it doesn’t stop there! There are many nail problems, more or less serious: broken, scratched, swollen nails, ridged nails, marked with red… If you notice a change in the shape, texture or color of your nails, do not hesitate to consult your general practitioner, in order to avoid any complications, particularly infections.
