What Can Your Nails Say About Your Health Physician Dr Kunal Sood Shares 5 Insights

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The shape of the nails gives an important clue. As per Dr Sood, spoon-shaped nails, or koilonychia, are classically associated with long-standing iron deficiency.

“They may occur because iron deficiency affects nail growth and keratin formation, but the appearance alone cannot diagnose low iron. Blood tests such as ferritin and a complete blood count are usually needed,” he stated.

Small white spots on the nails usually result from minor injury to the nail matrix, often from bumping the nail, manicures, or nail biting. They typically grow toward the tip of the nail.

However, if the spots appear without any apparent reason, it may be a sign of calcium or zinc deficiency. Dr Sood did caution that the signs are not reliable and need further medical evaluation.

“A new persistent dark streak on one nail deserves prompt evaluation,” stated Dr Sood. This is because although most such streaks are benign, it can occasionally represent nail melanoma (a type of cancer).

“Widening, irregular colour, pigment reaching the surrounding skin, or nail damage increase concern,” warned the physician.

Thick yellow nails are commonly caused by fungal infection, especially in toenails. However, Dr Sood pointed out that trauma, psoriasis, eczema, and other conditions can look similar, so appearance alone cannot confirm a fungal infection.

Clubbing is the enlargement of the fingertips with increased nail curvature. As per Dr Sood, “New clubbing may be associated with lung disease, certain heart conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, or liver disease, and should be medically evaluated rather than assumed to be normal.”

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

Dr Kunal Sood, MD, is a double board-certified physician in Anesthesiology and Interventional Pain Medicine. He did his residency and fellowship in anesthesiology at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, followed by a one-year fellowship in interventional pain medicine. He later became the Medical Director of the office in Germantown, Maryland.

Debapriya Bhattacharya is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times. He started his career in 2022, working in newsrooms in beats like education, US news, trending stories, and entertainment. In his new role in the lifestyle desk, he seeks to deliver a balanced blend of research-driven reporting and creative storytelling from health and recipes to art and culture. Science, philosophy, food and pop culture are what pump his veins and help bring heart to his stories. Debapriya tries to see out subjects that will allow him and readers to explore new frontiers and improve the quality of life for all. The explorations can be both external and internal, as thoughts seek to be as chaotic as the greater universe. As a citizen of the world, Debapriya has been fascinated by the lives of people across the globe throughout time. His curiosity leads him to explore new linguistic and cultural landscapes to broaden his horizons and deepen his understanding of global narratives. Beyond the newsroom, Debapriya loves to participate in debate and theatre, spaces that he considers to be holy grounds for nuance and self-expression. A graduate from Ashutosh College, University of Calcutta, Debapriya completed his Master's degree from the same university in 2022. An ambiverted bibliophile, he loves his solitude as much as he adores stimulating conversations. And despite his reverence for tech, libraries continue to be his favourite place for research.Read More