Alexa Lardieri US Health Deputy Editor Dailymail.Com
Updated December 18, 2023 17:26, December 18, 2023 18:49
- Nails can reveal a variety of important health information
- White lines or blue spots can indicate serious health problems
- Read more: Cardi B’s long nails could harbor bacteria and fungi
A cancer patient became concerned when unexplained white lines started appearing on her nails.
A 30-year-old man said that horizontal lines appeared on his nail beds around the same time he was diagnosed with lymphoma, and that they appeared about halfway through this chemotherapy protocol.
After performing a physical exam, the doctors determined six lines on each nail that corresponded to each of the patient’s six chemotherapy treatments.
The man was diagnosed with transverse albinism, also known as Mies lines, a benign disease that causes lines on the nails and side effects of some chemotherapy drugs.
Although the changes in the patient’s nails turned out to be harmless, nail marks, bruises, and lines could actually be signs of the cancer itself.
Nails are mostly made up of a hardened protein called keratin, the same protein found in animal nails and horns. Keratin is also found in human hair and skin.
Nail changes are a common side effect of chemotherapy and are called “chemoneils.” This is because some drugs interfere with the proper functioning of the cell groups responsible for forming new nails.
These changes occur in approximately 40% of patients.
This is similar to the effect chemotherapy has on hair, as some drugs inhibit rapidly growing cells, damaging hair follicles and leading to hair loss, which can cause chemotherapy patients to go bald. .
The patient’s nails returned to normal in less than a year. case It is detailed in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Whether it’s a sign of heart problems, arthritis, or circulation issues, your nails can reveal a variety of important health information.
Dr. Shari Lipner, a dermatologist at Cornell University in New York City, previously told DailyMail.com that nails can be the “canary in the coal mine” for serious problems in the body.
She said, “In addition to relying on your dermatologist, it’s essential to examine your nails yourself about once a month.”
In addition to horizontal lines, vertical lines, known as subungual melanoma, can also appear on the nails. These lines are benign and are a natural sign of aging.
However, it could also be a sign that you’re washing your hands too much or using too much hand sanitizer.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become accustomed to excessive hand-washing and using disinfectant multiple times a day, but overdoing it can cause excessive skin dryness and prevent healthy oils from spreading to prevent infection. and bacteria, which can make your hands more susceptible to infections.
In rare cases, nails can also indicate cancer. A seemingly harmless blue or purple spot under your nail may not be a serious bruise.
Skin cancer forms under the nails and can cause black or dark-colored spots that don’t go away.
Bruises from getting your finger stuck in a door jam will disappear as your nail grows, but skin cancer spots will persist and your normal-looking nail color will eventually become less noticeable.
Skin cancer under the nails, called subungual melanoma, is extremely rare and highly treatable if caught early.
If red streaks appear on your nails, you need to carefully observe them. These discolorations can be caused by bruises or nail trauma, but they may also be an early warning sign of a life-threatening heart infection called bacterial endocarditis, where microorganisms infect the heart valves. There is also.
This occurs when bacteria and other germs enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart.
Dr Lipner told DailyMail.com that if the condition is not treated, “nails are not uncommon to be the first clue”.
Also a warning sign of possible heart problems – clubbed nails.
Doctors warn that clubbed nails can be caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood or circulation problems. Both of these can be warning signs that your heart and lungs aren’t working properly.
This can cause blood to pool at the tips of the limbs and cause the nails to curve on the sides of the fingers, giving them a club-like appearance.
Are you worried about your nails becoming brittle or breaking? It might be a good idea to reconsider what you’re eating. Improper diet can lead to a lack of iron in the body, resulting in nails that become raised and brittle, making them more likely to split, peel, or chip.
To avoid this, doctors recommend a balanced diet rich in nutritious foods.
To proactively monitor the health of your nails, removing nail polish from your nails when you get your doctor-recommended annual skin exam can help your dermatologist examine them for warning signs. Masu.
Doctors also recommend that you perform regular nail self-exams.