Noticing uneven toenails – lumpy or wavy, many of you will turn to the pedicure master, considering that this is a purely visual defect. This is partly true, but also this problem can be a symptom of diseases of internal organs.
Of course, only by the appearance of the toenails it is impossible to make a diagnosis, but you can suspect some health problems that require a more thorough examination.
The presence of bumps and horizontal stripes on the toenails may indicate metabolic disorders, poor diet, gastrointestinal diseases, and vitamin deficiency. Another reason why the nail can become uneven is a serious trauma affecting the tissues of the nail plate. In this case, there is a risk that the deformation will remain forever.
If the toenail is bent downward, most often the problem is due to mechanical impact on the plate (tight shoes). Less often it is due to heredity, but I advise you to pay attention to whether your relatives have the same defect. Bending down the free edge of the nail can also occur due to hormonal disorders in the body and due to vitamin deficiencies. In the latter case, the nail plate not only curls down, but also becomes brittle or stratified.
Dark or black streaks on the nails are called melanonychia. They are very common due to various causes: it can be a fungus, an injury or a variant of the norm in dark-skinned people. The most severe diagnosis is rarely a sub-nail melanoma. It can be indicated by signs such as:
- the stripe has changed in appearance – for example, some area has darkened, the border has become blurred;
- the lesion is only on one nail;
- pigmentation has spread to the skin around the nail;
- the width of the band is more than 3 mm;
- there has been a family history of melanoma or dysplastic nevi;
- the nail plate is odd-looking or destroyed.
Deep transversal streaks, also known asBeau's lines, occur when something has stunted the growth of your nails. It can be caused by:
- severe illnesses with high fever;
- uncontrolled diabetes and other diseases that damage blood vessels;
- trauma;
- chemotherapy;
- severe stress;
- zinc deficiency.
Small pits on the surface of the nails are characteristic of psoriasis. They can also be caused by autoimmune connective tissue diseases such as Reiter's syndrome (inflammation of the joints, genitourinary system, and conjunctiva of the eyes), focal alopecia, and other conditions.
A spoon-shaped nail is called coilonychia. It most commonly occurs with:
- iron deficiency;
- stomach or intestinal problems;
- gluten sensitivity;
- prolonged exposure to high altitudes.
Some people may have nails that look round and slightly curved at the base from birth. But sometimes these changes occur throughout life. Along with the rounding of the nails, the tips of the toes and fingers become swollen. This is a more serious sign that can indicate severe chronic diseases of the lungs, heart, liver, stomach or intestines.
Nail thickening (full or partial) is a defect that can be both hereditary and acquired. Among the acquired causes, why the nail has become thicker, the leading cause is fungus. Fungal infection settles on the skin folds. The presence of hangnails, wounds contributes to contamination and creates a favorable environment for infection. In this case, you may first notice that the nail has become thicker, then the fungus will lead to discoloration, the nail plate will become brittle, begin to break/crumble, there will be unpleasant itching, and the surrounding tissues may become inflamed.
It is very important to find the cause of a health problem in order to treat it. Nails are just one of the external changes, they are probably not the most dangerous, while other symptoms can make life more difficult.
By paying close attention to the appearance of your nails, you will be able to keep them looking healthy and learn about problems in your body in time.