Spoon-shaped nails

Spoon-shaped nails or koilonychia,as It's caned in medical terms, may represent anaemia or iron deficiency, or even hemochromatosis that is iron accumulation in the body, it could also be the early signs of a disease where the immune system attacks the cells and organs. The nails may gradually turn brittle.

Longitudinal striations

Longitudinal striations or accentuated ridges on the nails is not a big reason to worry about as it's just Part of the normal variations in cell formation. However, if the ridges deepen and harden and take a deformed shape. it could be an early sign for rheumatoid arthritis, severe protein deficiency or even Lichen planus - a chronic itchy rash that affects the skin under the nail.

Half & half/Terry nails

It's characterised by a white ground-glass appesance of the proximal end of the nails. Its's a common symptom in people suffering from kidney or renal diseases. The link is not fully understood, but one theory explains that kidney failure causes a buildup of nitrogen waste in the body, which leads to changes in finger and toenails. Up to 40% of people with kidney failure have half-and-half fingernails.
 Half and half or Lindsay's nails [Figure 1] are a form of apparent leukonychia with a normal proximal half and a distinctly abnormal brownish distal portion. [16] The distal portion begins proximally where the normal or whitish nail ends and terminates distally where the free end of the nail loses its attachment to the hyponychium. They have been detected in the uremic chronic renal failure patients.

Brittle nails

Brittle nails are common in people with kidney disease, and also iron deficiency called anemia. An underlying thyroid disease could also he a cause of brittle and dry fingernails that chip, crack and split easily. Prolonged fungal infection can also make nails brittle.

Brittle fingernails are a common condition, occurring in about 20 % of people; more women than men develop brittle nails. 1 Brittle nails usually break or peel off in horizontal layers, starting at the nail's free end.

The term brittle nails can also refer to a condition in which lengthwise splits appear in the nail.

Brittleness in the nail may be caused by trauma, such as repeated wetting and drying, repeated exposure to detergents and water, and excessive exposure to harsh solvents, such as those found in nail polish remover. 2,3 If your nails are regularly exposed to such stresses, it may be worth trying protective gloves when washing dishes and doing other chores.

Nail brittleness may also be caused by an underlying medical condition, such as Raynaud's disease , low thyroid function , or lung conditions. 4,5 Other possible causes include skin diseases as well as endocrine disorders, tuberculosis, Sjogren's syndrome , and malnutrition. 6 Selenium poisoning can also cause brittle nails. 7

Because of all these possibilities, it is important to rule out a serious underlying problem before trying nutritional or herbal treatments for brittle nails.

Principal Proposed Natural Treatments Although no herb or supplement has been proven effective for brittle nails, there is some evidence that the B vitamin biotin might help.

The herb horsetail , naturally high in silicon, is also sometimes mentioned as a treatment for brittle nails A number of other nutritional therapies have been tried as well, including calcium , cysteine, gelatin-containing preparations, iron , vitamin A , and zinc . However, as of yet, there is no real evidence that any of these treatments are effective. 16 * Gawkrodger DJ.

Brittle nails: response to daily biotin supplementation.

Scanning electron microscope observations of hoof horn from horses with brittle feet.

Treatment of brittle fingernails and onychoschizia with biotin: scanning electron microscopy.

Treatment of brittle finger nails with biotin [in German; English abstract].

Brittle nails: response to daily biotin supplementation.

Treatment of brittle fingernails and onychoschizia with biotin: scanning electron microscopy.

Blue nails

It could be a sign of a liver disorder called Wilson's disease that Prevents the body from getting rid of extra copper. Nails also turn blue due to extreme cold weather, poor blood circulation or respiratory diseases. Basically, when the body Is deprived of adequate oxygen due to SOTTle kind of blockage, it can turn your nails blue.

Blue fingernails is a medical condition which requires proper diagnosis and treatment for complete cure.

As the title suggests, it is a condition wherein the fingernails turn blue in color.

The most common cause behind blue fingernails is cyanosis. Apart from cyanosis, it can also result from side effects of certain drugs and deficiency of hemoglobin in the body.

Blue fingernails is represented primarily by a type of cyanosis.

Raynaud's phenomenon is a medical terminology for localized cyanosis, resulting in blue colored fingernails. Apart from low oxygen density and hemoglobin problems, other reasons behind occurrence of blue fingernails are: Argyria

Stress and excessive intake of medicines during pregnancy can lower absorption of oxygen in the blood. This decreases the concentration of methylcobalamin, which further gives rise to blue colored fingernails.

Blue fingernails in babies could possibly be a birth defect, known as Patent Ductus Arteriosus .

The symptoms of PDA are blue fingernails, blue lips, and shortness of breath while eating, crying, and performing any other physical activity.

Whenever you doubt that the tinge of your fingernails or the underlying skin is gradually turning blue, never hesitate to visit a doctor.

Blue fingernails is definitely a cause of concern.

Hyper pigmentation

Greenish-black nails can be caused by overgrowth of a certain type of bacteria called pseudomonas. Hyper pigmented black band or stripes on the nails should also be checked for a kind of skin cancer called melanoma. The black stripes or pigmentation may become darker overtime, and it could start in one nail and then gradually affect the others.

if our skin becomes damaged, some people may have hyperpigmentation as the result of the injury.

The main cause of hyperpigmentation is the sun and this is another good reason the use of sunscreen should be part of your beauty regimen every day..

There are other causes that may factor in some individuals that have hyperpigmentation.

Most diseases that are associated with an individuals endocrine system is usually a culprit. Also, some hormonal changes can cause hyperpigmentation.

Pregnancy can bring about hormonal changes and some women may develop hyperpigmentation during the nine months.

There are some ways to make the hyperpigmentation to be less noticeable.

Skin bleaching is one way in which to treat hyperpigmentation.

Most other methods, especially if your hyperpigmentation is severe will need to be performed by a dermatologist.

Laser therapy is one method to treat hyperpigmentation but several sessions will be needed.

 cryotherapy can also be used to treat hyperpigmentation.

If you really want to take action and treat your hyperpigmentation you really should seek the advice from a dermatologist before treating yourself at home.

Detached nails

Separation of the nail plate from the nail bed is due to warts, fungal Infections, psoriasis or hyperthyrodism. It's a disease in it self, called Onycholysis. The nail thickens and gradually starts to appear whitish Of cloudy yellow. Nail plates may start getting detached to the extend that it falls off the nail bed.

What causes a detached nail?

It can be very painful to tear or rip your nail from the nail bed. A nail may separate from the nail bed (detach) for many reasons, including:

• Injuries.
• Fungal nail infection
• skin cindition
• chemicals
• medicines
• severe illnesses

To prevent infection:

Soak your foot or hand in a solution of 1 tsp (5 g) of salt dissolved in 4 cups (1 L) warm water for 20 minutes, 2 or 3 times each day, for the next 3 days. Reapply an antibiotic ointment, and cover with a fresh adhesive bandage.
Keep the nail bed dry, clean, and covered with antibiotic ointment and an adhesive bandage until the nail bed is firm or the nail has grown back. Apply a new adhesive bandage whenever the bandage gets wet.
Watch for signs of infection such as increasing heat, redness, pain, tenderness, swelling, or pus.
Remove an artificial nail if it separates from the nail bed. If you leave it on, the long, artificial nail can tear the nail bed.

Pitted nails

Pitting in the nails are small pinpoint depressions in the nail plate commonly seen in people suffering from psoriasis. Survey shows that to 50% people suffering from psoriasis have pitted nails. Pritted nails Could also be a sign of vitamin B deficiency and chronic malnutrition.

Nail pits are small, round depressions on the surface of the nail plate. They are usually due to disease in the proximal matrix, or sometimes, the proximal nail fold. And the arrangement of the depressions in the surface of the nail is presumably due to the extent and location of the disease in the nail matrix.

Random pits in the nail can be seen as an idiopatic finding. When the pitting is uniformly distributed, giving the entire nail plate a roughned appearance, it is called trachyonychia.

Treatment of nail pits should be directed to the matrix of the nail.

Clubbing of nails

This happens due to thickening of the tissue under the nail, causing thickening of that part of the finger. It could be a signal chronic lung conditions. Inflammation of the bowel disease (IBD) or certain congenital heart diseases. The nail tends o be bulbous, detached from the nail bed, curving downward and taking the shape of an inverted spoon.

 Clubbing occurs in 5 steps
1. Fluctuation/softening of the nail bed
2. Loss of the angle between nail bed and nail fold
3. Increased convexity of the nail fold
4. Thickening of the distal finger
5. Shiny aspect/striation of the skin and nail

Transverse lines

One often finds horizontal transverse lines appearing on the nails. Also termed as Beau's lines, this could happen due to improper nail growth as a result of any serious disease such as Raynauds disease that's disrupting the nail growth. Raynauds disease happens when the tiny arteries serving the toes, fingers, ears, or nose go into spasm.

Can you tell me why my fingernails have developed horizontal ridges that are smooth but deep?

It feels as though it is under the nail and doesn't go down as low as the moon.

Pale nails, for example, may be a sign of anaemia , whereas blue nails could reflect heart or lung trouble, toxic chemical action on blood cells or congenital heart disease in infants.

Distorted nails which have a thickened yellowish tinge may suggest a fungus infection , psoriasis , vitamin deficiency or hardening of the arteries.

If the fingernails have clubbed, in other words very concave when you look at them from the side, this could suggest an abscess, chronic infection, cancer of the lung or chronic heart disease.

The nails grow from the nail bed and in most people the growth across the nail bed is a little up and down, which results in a corrugated appearance.