Certain changes to your nails could indicate a health issue (Image: Getty)
Health experts have urged people to keep a close eye on their fingernails for any unusual alterations that could signal potentially serious problems. Medical specialists warn that if your nails adopt a specific hue, you might be at risk of various life-threatening conditions.
Whilst certain cases may be harmless, particular colours could necessitate medical consultation.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) has outlined on its website concerning symptoms that may appear in the nails.
The organisation noted: “Have you noticed a change to any of your nails lately? A change in colour, texture, or shape can be harmless, but it can also be a sign of disease.
“If you notice any of the following changes to a fingernail or toenail, it’s time to see a board-certified dermatologist.”
If you experience these changes and are concerned, you should speak to a doctor (Image: Getty)
Given this advice, AAD experts have urged people to look out for these nail colours:
- White
- Half pink, half white
- Yellow
- Dusky red half-moons
- A dark streak
They clarified: “A disease inside your body can cause your nails to change colour. Certain colour changes can be a warning sign of a specific disease.”
White
The AAD observes that white nails might suggest liver disease or diabetes. Concerning liver disease, this becomes more likely if you’re experiencing cirrhosis, the condition’s most severe phase.
However, white nails can also emerge naturally with age, although it’s still wise to have them checked.
Half pink, half white
Nails showing a half-pink, half-white appearance may suggest kidney disease. The AAD characterises this specific symptom as: “A white colour on the upper part of one or more nails and a normal to reddish brown colour below.”
Yellow
Yellow-coloured nails could signal lung disease. This colour change is thought to be linked to issues with your circulatory or lymphatic systems.
Read more: ‘I’m a doctor – you may regain weight after coming off GLP-1 inhabitors’
Read more: NHS exercises as study says just five minutes a day will extend your life
“When these systems don’t work as they should, it can cause fluid to collect in the soft tissues under your skin. In turn, this may turn your nails yellow,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, yellowing nails may also stem from a fungal infection or cigarette smoking.
Dusky red half-moons
The AAD also highlights that dusky red half-moons appearing on nails might indicate several conditions, including lupus, heart disease, alopecia areata, arthritis, and dermatomyositis. If you observe any of these colour changes on your nails, it’s recommended to consult your doctor.
Dark streak
On top of this, the AAD explained that a new or changing dark streak under a nail could be cancer. It said: “That dark streak could be melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.”
The NHS echoes this warning. It said you should see a GP if “you have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury.”
Other nail colours that may signal health concerns, according to the AAD, include:
- Blue nails – insufficient oxygen in your bloodstream
- Pale nails – anaemia
- Blue half-moons – could indicate poisoning
