{"id":1449,"date":"2026-08-09T10:14:05","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T10:14:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/bbc-sciencefocus\/?p=1449"},"modified":"2026-08-09T10:14:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T10:14:06","slug":"what-your-nails-are-trying-to-tell-you-about-your-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flatplanplus.io\/bbc-sciencefocus\/2026\/08\/09\/what-your-nails-are-trying-to-tell-you-about-your-health\/","title":{"rendered":"What your nails are trying to tell you about your health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Health<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What your nails are trying to tell you about your health<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

A leading dermatologist explains what’s normal \u2013 and what isn’t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By Abbi Henderson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

–<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why do humans have nails? The answer, according to the world\u2019s foremost experts on the topic: um, sorry, we don\u2019t really know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see, while there are plenty of theories \u2013 from helping us grip things to protecting our fingertips \u2013 nails don\u2019t tend to survive as fossils, making their evolutionary story surprisingly difficult to unravel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever their original purpose, though, your nails can prove surprisingly useful today. Well, if you know what to look for, that is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pay attention to changes in their colour, shape, texture and growth, and your nails can reveal surprising clues about your wider health. In some cases, signs of nutritional deficiencies, infections and even serious conditions can be spotted simply by looking down at your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nail-biting has a scientific name \u2013 onychophagia \u2013 and studies suggest up to 30 per cent of people do it, often as a way to cope with stress or boredom. Photo credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re wondering, healthy nails are typically smooth and slightly supple \u2013 they can withstand a little flex without breaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re usually translucent enough for the pink nail bed to be visible underneath with intact cuticles,\u201d says Dr Athina Fonia<\/a>, a dermatologist and member of the British Association of Dermatologists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost people can also see a small white half-moon called the lunula at the base of their thumbnails \u2013 it is often less visible in other nails.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what about spots, streaks, ridges or changes in colour? When are they perfectly normal \u2013 and when should you speak to your doctor?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, Fonia unpacks the surprising ways your nails can reflect what\u2019s happening elsewhere in your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What your nails can reveal about your health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Weak or brittle nails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brittle nails \u2013 those that split, break or crumble easily \u2013 become more common as we get older. That\u2019s partly because nails naturally lose some of their elasticity with age, with brittleness particularly common in women over 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But age often isn\u2019t the main culprit. \u201cBrittle nails are typically caused by loss of hydration to the nail, use of chemicals, and mechanical trauma in jobs such as hairdressers, house cleaners, carpenters,\u201d says Fonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less commonly, brittle nails can be linked to dermatological conditions, fungal infections, endocrine disorders, nutritional deficiencies or certain medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, what can you do about them? \u201cTreatment depends on the cause, but it is advised to avoid exposure to water, chemicals and injury, keeping the nails well moisturised with emollients,\u201d says Fonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your nails remain brittle despite your best efforts to protect and moisturise them, it\u2019s worth seeing your GP or a dermatologist to investigate why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSupplements such as biotin, zinc or iron may help if a deficiency is identified,\u201d says Fonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White spots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite what you may have heard, those little white spots that sometimes appear on your nails usually aren\u2019t a sign that you need more calcium. Most are simply the result of minor damage to the nail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe medical term is punctate leukonychia, and it\u2019s often triggered by nail-biting, artificial nails or nail gel removal,\u201d says Fonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While white dots are typically nothing to worry about (though you might want to nix nail-biting to prevent tooth damage and the transfer of noxious germs), there are instances where white markings on the nails may be a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the white areas appear as horizontal lines, or if the nails look half white and half dark in colour, or only an outer strip of darkening of the nail, then these observations could indicate an underlying health condition and medical advice should be sought,\u201d Fonia advises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If minor damage is behind your white spots, there\u2019s usually a simple solution: stop whatever is causing it and give your nails time to recover. \u201cTreatment in the case of these changes is avoidance of the culprit,\u201d says Fonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horizontal or vertical ridges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vertical ridges \u2013 lines running from the base to the tip of the nail \u2013 are usually a normal part of ageing, a little like wrinkles on the skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less commonly, they can be linked to skin conditions such as lichen planus or Darier disease, or nutritional problems such as iron deficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the ridging looks uniform on all nails then it is most probably due to dryness of the nails or ageing, and therefore hydration may help,\u201d says Fonia. \u201cOtherwise, medical input is advised in order to recognise the cause and address it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vertical<\/em> nail ridges are so common with age that dermatologists compare them to wrinkles \u2013 nearly everyone gets them eventually. Photo credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Horizontal ridges, however, are more likely to warrant attention. These lines run across the nail and can appear with inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. They can also develop when an illness temporarily slows or stops the nail from growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice horizontal ridges appearing on your nails, Fonia advises speaking to your doctor to investigate what might be causing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yellow nails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

More often than not, yellow nails are caused by external factors, such as nail polish, nail polish remover or tobacco use. But if the yellowing comes with other changes, it may be worth paying closer attention.
\u201cIf the nails are also thickened and\/or detached from the nail bed this may indicate fungal nail infection,\u201d says Fonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In rare cases, yellow nails can be a sign of something more serious. \u201cIf the nail yellowing is also accompanied by swelling of the legs and respiratory problems, then you may have yellow nail syndrome,\u201d says Fonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there\u2019s no obvious reason why your nails have turned yellow \u2013 or the discolouration persists \u2013 Fonia recommends speaking to your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spoon, or ‘concave’, nails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Photo credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Spoon nails are pretty much what they sound like: nails that dip inwards at the centre, creating a shallow, spoon-like shape. The medical term is koilonychia, and affected nails can also become thin, flimsy and prone to breaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In babies and toddlers, spoon nails are relatively common and usually correct themselves as the child gets older. In adults, however, they can be more significant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt may indicate repeated trauma or an underlying condition such as iron deficiency, anaemia or thyroid problems,\u201d cautions Fonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your nails start to develop this distinctive shape, it\u2019s worth speaking to your GP to rule out a nutritional deficiency or another underlying condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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