From arthritis to melanoma: 10 signs of serious diseases that can be identified by nails

Our body constantly gives signals about the state of health. If you are attentive to the changes that occur with the body, you can prevent the appearance of serious diseases in time. Nails are one of the main "screens" of our body. Find out how to determine health problems based on the condition of the nail plates from our material.The surface of the nails reflects what is happening inside the body. White dots, yellowness, fragility and other warning signs may indicate not only problems of the nail plate, but also serious diseases. Here are 10 signs of possible diseases that can be read on the nails.

Many people think that white dots on the nails indicate a lack of calcium, but they can also talk about other problems. Dots are formed due to small air bubbles that get stuck between the nail cells. They warn about poor nutrition of nail tissues, poor keratinization and traumatic effect due to frequent manicure.

In the cold season, nails can turn pale or blue if you do not wear gloves. In addition, an unusual color may be a sign of iron deficiency and impaired blood flow. Sometimes this leads to anemia.

Smokers often have yellow nails — cigarettes stain their fingers and nail plates. But the thickening and yellowness of the nails can also indicate arthritis. In addition, the yellow tint of the nail plates indicates problems with the lungs.

If you notice a black spot or a line on the nail, contact your doctor immediately. The dark streak may be melanoma — the most severe type of skin cancer. Not every black spot indicates a disease, but it is necessary to see a dermatologist. The earlier treatment begins, the higher the chances of recovery.

Sometimes burrs cause very painful sensations. As a rule, this indicates insufficient hydration of the skin around the cuticle. To get rid of unpleasant symptoms, you should use cuticle oil containing vitamins E and F daily.

If the nails break easily, peel off and become too soft, this indicates the development of hapalonychia, in which the upper part of the nail plate softens and disappears. To avoid this unpleasant condition, you need to eat more protein foods, vitamins D and A. Eat fish at least three times a week and walk in the sun more, and get vitamin A from greens, oranges and carrots.

The ribbed surface of the nails can indicate many things - from malnutrition to illness. Most often, the nail plate becomes embossed from a lack of sulfur. It can be replenished with the use of milk, nuts and raspberries. In addition, ribbed nails can be the cause of psoriasis or eczema, so you should consult a doctor if the nail plate suddenly stops being smooth.

Every fifth person complains of weak, dry, thin and brittle nails. Usually, insufficient fluid intake leads to this condition. Nails are 18% water, so when the level drops to 16%, they become dry and break easily. To correct the situation, you need to drink at least two liters of water a day. In addition, brittle nails indicate a zinc deficiency, which can be replenished by eating beef, pumpkin seeds and lentils.

If you notice horizontal grooves on the nail plate, it means that the nails have stopped growing for some time. The reasons may be different: high fever, trauma, chemotherapy or stress.

Constant biting of the nails can lead to damage to the nail bed and, as a result, to irreversible shortening of the nails. They may not grow any more. Dirt, bacteria and fungi accumulate under the nails, which can lead to the appearance of herpes. That's why a bad habit is not only unaesthetic, but also dangerous to health!

Gel manicure is now very popular with girls. But few of them think about the harm of the radiation of the lamp that is used during the procedure. A beauty queen from Illinois started a campaign against nail extensions and UV-radiation treatments after she got cancer at the age of 18.