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What Your Nails Might Be Trying to Tell You

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WHAT YOUR NAILS MIGHT BE TRYING TO TELL YOU

Our body has many different ways of communicating with us. And our nails are no exception. In fact, this is why the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine includes looking at nail health. Our nails can be a window into what might be going on inside us.

Before we dive in, here is what healthy nails should look like:

∿Shape relatively normal

∿Color is light pink

∿Lunula is showing

∿Nails are smooth and strong

Now, let’s talk about common nail signs + what they might mean:

〜Thin, brittle: malnutrition, poor digestion, suboptimal thyroid function, food allergy

〜Soft, weak: excess water or chemical exposure, B vitamin, calcium, iron, or fatty acid deficiency

〜White spots (leukonychia): zinc deficiency, poor digestion, nail biting/trauma

〜Missing half-moons (lunula): malnutrition, anemia

〜Vertical ridges: aging, magnesium deficiency, poor digestion

Other signs include the below, but these are potentially signs of more significant issues and should be seen by a trusted medical professional:

–Yellow, blue, green, red color/streaks

–Very pale

–Horizontal white or colored lines/bands/ridges

–Half & half nails

–Spooning

–Clubbing

–Ultra-thick nails

TOP TIPS FOR SUPPORTING NAIL HEALTH:

▵Consume a vitamin and mineral-rich diet, including proteins like gelatin, vitamin A, B vitamins, biotin, zinc, copper, magnesium, silicon

▵Be aware of the products your hands and nails are exposed to, like soaps, lotions, cleaning products, nail polishes, etc.

▵Clean daily with a natural bristle brush and cuticle oil

▵Moisturize the hands as needed

▵Do not bite or pull at cuticles

How do you keep your nails healthy? Comment below.

___

Not medical advice. 

Artemis, N. (2018). Renegade Beauty. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.

 

Blake, K. Alban, J. NAIL HEALTH IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM). Retrieved from: https://www.learnskin.com/articles/traditional-chinese-medicine-approach-to-nail-health.

 

D’Souza, P. Khanna, U. Dhali, K. Chowdhry, S. (2015). Idiopathic acquired leukonychia totalis of the fingernails in a child treated successfully with zinc and amino acid supplementation. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25733323/.

 

Gaby, A. (2011). Nutritional Medicine. Vancouver, BC: Fritz Perlberg Publishing.

 

Organic Olivia. (2016). 6 Signs Your Fingernails Are Trying To Tell You Something. Retrieved from: https://blog.organicolivia.com/what-your-fingernails-are-trying-to-tell-you-about-your-health/.

 

Raminsky, A. Cobb, C. (2021). From Ridges to Peeling: What These 8 Fingernail Signs Say About Your Health. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/healthy-nails.

 

Walker, H.K. Hall, W.D. Hurst, J.W. (1990). Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK211/.

 

Williams, M.E. (2015). Examining the Fingernails. Retrieved from: https://med.virginia.edu/dom/wp-content/uploads/sites/210/2015/11/NailExamination.pdf.

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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. While the owner of this website tries to keep the information up to date, there may be things that are out-of-date and out of their control.