Isla Bennett
The small, white, half-moon shapes found at the base of your fingernails are called lunulae, which is Latin for 'little moon'. Healthy lunulae are usually whitish or a paler tone than the rest of your nails, and they are typically most visible on your thumb. They are usually barely visible on your pinky finger, but what does it mean if you can see them?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | White or pale |
| Location | Base of the nail |
| Size | Small |
| Appearance | More visible on the thumb, less visible on the pinky finger |
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What You'll Learn
- The lunula is the Latin word for 'little moon' and is the rounded shadow at the base of your nails
- The lunula is usually most visible on the thumb and gets smaller on the pointer finger, until it's barely visible on the pinky
- Lunulae are usually white, but can sometimes turn blue, brown or red
- The appearance of the lunula can be a sign of an underlying condition, such as Wilson disease or a rare inherited disorder
- Not being able to see your fingernail moons doesn't always mean that something is wrong with your health
The lunula is the Latin word for 'little moon' and is the rounded shadow at the base of your nails
The lunula is the place where each nail begins to grow and is part of the matrix, where new cells are made that will make up the nail. Not being able to see your fingernail moons doesn't always mean that something is wrong with your health. Sometimes, the lunula is simply hidden under your skin. However, sometimes the appearance of your lunula or overall nail can be a sign of an underlying condition. For example, Wilson's disease is a rare inherited disorder that occurs when too much copper accumulates in your organs and is known to cause blue lunulae.
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The lunula is usually most visible on the thumb and gets smaller on the pointer finger, until it's barely visible on the pinky
The lunula is the small, white, half-moon shape found at the base of your fingernail. It is also known as the fingernail moon. The lunula is usually most visible on the thumb, where it takes up a small portion of the bottom of the nail. The lunula then gets smaller on the index and middle fingers, until it is barely visible on the pinky. This is because the lunula is part of the matrix, which is the place where each nail begins to grow. The new cells that make up the nail are made in the matrix, and sometimes the lunula is hidden under the skin.
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Lunulae are usually white, but can sometimes turn blue, brown or red
The half-moon shapes at the base of your fingernails are called lunulae. They are usually white, but can sometimes turn blue, brown or red.
Healthy lunulae are usually whitish or a paler tone than the rest of your nails. They take up a small portion of the bottom of your nail and are usually most visible on your thumb. They appear smaller on your pointer finger, gradually shrinking in size until you reach your pinkie, where they may be barely visible.
Lunulae can sometimes be a different colour, which can be a sign of an underlying condition. For example, Wilson's disease, a rare inherited disorder that occurs when too much copper accumulates in your organs, is known to cause blue lunulae. The portion of your nail containing the lunula may turn white, sometimes creating a nail that's half-brown and half-white.
In older adults, a pink or red band of separation near the arc of the nails is usually a natural sign of ageing.
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The appearance of the lunula can be a sign of an underlying condition, such as Wilson disease or a rare inherited disorder
The appearance of the lunula can be a sign of an underlying condition. A healthy lunula is usually whitish or a paler tone than the rest of the nail. It is typically easier to spot on the thumb and appears smaller on the index and middle fingers. On the pinky finger, the lunula may be barely visible. However, if the lunula is not visible at all, it could be hidden under the skin.
Sometimes, the appearance of the lunula can be a sign of an underlying condition. For example, Wilson's disease is a rare inherited disorder that occurs when too much copper accumulates in the organs. It is known to cause blue lunulae, and the portion of the nail containing the lunula may turn white, sometimes creating a nail that is half-brown and half-white.
In older adults, a pink or red band of separation near the arc of the nails can be a natural sign of ageing. This condition usually affects all fingers, although it can happen on one finger only.
Abnormal lunulae can also be caused by tetracycline medications, which are antibiotics used to treat acne and skin infections.
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Not being able to see your fingernail moons doesn't always mean that something is wrong with your health
Healthy lunulae (or fingernail moons) are usually whitish or a paler tone than the rest of your nails. They are typically most visible on your thumb, and you may notice that they appear smaller on your pointer finger, gradually shrinking in size until you reach your pinky finger, where they may be barely visible. Not being able to see your fingernail moons doesn't always mean that something is wrong with your health. Sometimes, you may only be able to see lunulae on your thumbs, or not on any fingers at all. In these cases, the lunula is most likely hidden under your skin.
The appearance of your lunula or overall nail can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition. For example, Wilson's disease is a rare inherited disorder that occurs when too much copper accumulates in your organs and is known to cause blue lunulae. Tetracycline medications are antibiotics that are usually used to treat acne and skin infections and can also cause abnormal lunulae.
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Frequently asked questions
The white half-moons on your nails are called lunulae, which is Latin for 'little moon'.
The lunula is usually smaller on the index and middle finger and can be barely visible on the pinky finger. In some cases, the lunula may be hidden under your skin.
Sometimes, the appearance of your lunula or overall nail can be a sign of an underlying condition. For example, Wilson's disease can cause the lunula to turn white, creating a nail that's half-brown and half-white.
