19 Health Problems That Show Up in Your Nails

Unusually pale nails, with white rather than flesh-toned nails beds, could be a sign of anemia — too little iron in your blood.

Atypically pale nails can also be a sign of congestive heart failure. It's uncommon and worth bringing up with your doctor. White tips of nails are normal and healthy, but an entirely white nail is not.

Sometimes called Terry nails, nails that are opaque white are frequently seen in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis — a deterioration of the liver due to excessive, prolonged alcohol consumption.

Liver diseases, such as hepatitis, affect the organ's ability to manufacture the blood's proteins, including albumin. This lack shows up in cloudy or ridged nails. This can also show up as a side effect in medications prescribed to treat hepatitis.

Just as other white areas of bodies become yellow if the liver is jaundiced, nails, too, can appear yellow. If a dermatologist determines your yellow nails are not due to a fungal infection, be sure to talk to your doctor about what might be causing yellowing in your nails.

Poor nutrition — not getting your vitamins and minerals, or not eating enough in general — shows up in the nails. Malnutrition can show up in the weakening of nails. Over time, it can cause nails to invert and "spoon" or develop ridges.

Dark spots under the nail bed can easily happen through injury. However, bruises and scabs under the nail bed eventually go away. Dark spots that appear without memorably slamming your fingers in a door or are otherwise suspicious could be melanoma, a serious form of cancer. Show your doctor or dermatologist, if your gut tells you something is off.

Nails may also show signs of thyroid problems, particularly hypothyroidism. It causes nails to be weak, brittle, and to split easily. If you're experiencing other signs of thyroid issues and nail problems, as well, it's time to talk to your doctor.

Nail fungus is common and can show up on fingernails or toenails. Fungus can cause nails to yellow or leave dark spots in the nail bed. Over-the-counter ointments can be effective in getting rid of the fungus. Doctors can also prescribe stronger medicines for persistent cases.

Clubbing nails, in which they become less oval and more circular, with the tops somewhat spherical, can be a sign of poor lung health. Clubbing can also occur in those who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease.

Redness around fingernails or a yellowish hue are frequently seen in people with diabetes. Reduced circulation is the underlying cause of the discoloration. It's usually only in those with advanced diabetes, but if it's a recent change for you, it doesn't hurt to bring it up with your doctor.

Psoriasis is a skin disorder that causes skin cells to shed and build up at a much faster rate than normal. The result is red, inflamed, flaky skin that can also be very itchy. Psoriasis also shows up under fingernails and toenails, causing redness, yellow discoloration, and the thickening and cracking of nails.

Emphysema can cause clubbing, hardening, whitening, and other nail discoloration. Emphysemic lungs have to work harder than healthy ones and poor circulation is a consequence. Lack of sufficient oxygen to extremities, such as fingers and toes, can mean a change in the state of nails, which require adequately oxygenated blood to look good.

Rippled or ridged nails are frequent symptoms of inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid. The nails develop vertical lines and are also weakened.

Lupus can cause nails to not only crack but also to fall off. It also sometimes causes red spots to develop under the nail bed, or blue or red areas to appear around the nail. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder, in which the body's ability to fight infection turns on itself.

Nail biting, a bad habit that many of us indulge in, can be a sign of issues such as stress, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. If you've been a lifelong chewer, or recently developed the habit, talk your doctor about how to stop. See what's behind your urge to bite and chew.

Pitted nails are also associated with psoriasis. However, in other cases, it's a symptom of connective-tissue disorders, like Reiter's syndrome. It can also be a symptom of alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that also causes hair loss.

Puffy nail folds show up in a number of health issues, including lupus and connective-tissue disorders. It can also be a sign of infection near the nail fold.

Cracked and split nails are symptoms of various issues, including a lack of protein or simply the result of living in a dry climate. If they can't be fixed with over-the-counter, beauty store products — oils, lotions, polish, a multivitamin — consider asking your doctor or a dermatologist. It's probably nothing. But our nails can tell us so much more.