08 Dec, 2015
Author/blogger Reggie Simpson

Take a look at your toenails. What do you see? You may not have realised, but the way your toenails look and feel can say an awful lot about your overall health.

You should not only take care of your toenails, but also pay attention to their overall condition and question any changes.

It’s important to make yourself aware of the issues that may be indicated by your nails, so here are several conditions that may show through their condition:

Stress

You may have heard of hair falling out after a bout of severe stress, and as the nails are closely linked to hair, it should come as no surprise that they can begin to show symptoms too.

Throughout very stressful periods, you may begin to show horizontal white or discoloured lines on the nails. Rest assured, though, these are not permanent and will start to fade as the situation resolves.

Melanoma

Sometimes, discoloured lines running vertically from tip to cuticle can be a sign of cancerous melanomas or benign moles. These changes in nail pigmentation are often related to ethnicity and are usually more likely to present themselves in people of Asian or African descent.

Arthritis

People suffering from arthritis may notice small cysts that begin to grow on or around the cuticles. These are benign and will present no harm; however, it is important to get them seen to by a professional who will know the safest, most effective way to remove them.

Psoriasis

When you think of psoriasis, you may think of red patches on the skin. However, the nails can also be affected – usually in the form of a yellow or red patch of discolouration. Other visible signs may include indentations, white spots or black lines.

Kidney Disease

Acute or chronic disease of the kidney could be indicated through the nails. Symptoms include Beau’s Lines (horizontal stripes across the nail), ridged, rough nails that are often concave in shape and can often be a sign of anaemia, or white streaks or spots on the nail.

Darier Disease

The genetically transmitted Darier Disease usually occurs in adolescence. As it develops, those afflicted will notice wide stripes of red or while running from the cuticle to tip of their finger and toenails. It can also cause a V-shaped groove close to the fingertip.

If you think your nails could be indicative of something more serious, or if they simply need a little care and attention, Betafeet Podiatry offers nail care and nail surgery to ensure your health and comfort.