Noah Sinclair
Healthy fingernails and toenails should be pink, with the nail plate being pink and the nail white as it grows off the nail bed. However, if the nails are partly or entirely white with a pink band at the top of the nail bed, this could be a sign of a serious health issue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Healthy nail colour | Pink |
| What it suggests | Good blood supply and haemoglobin level |
| What it can indicate | Protein deficiency, chronic kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure or anaemia |
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What You'll Learn
- Terry's nails: a pink band at the top of the nail bed may indicate a serious health anomaly
- Healthy nails: pink nail beds suggest a good blood supply and haemoglobin level
- Zinc or iron deficiency: white spots on nails can indicate a lack of zinc or iron
- Injury to the nail bed: another cause of white spots on nails
- Arthritis: white spots on nails can be a symptom of arthritis
Terry's nails: a pink band at the top of the nail bed may indicate a serious health anomaly
Healthy nails are usually pink, which suggests a good blood supply and haemoglobin level. However, if the nails are partly or entirely white with a pink band at the top of the nail bed, this is known as Terry's nails and may indicate a serious health anomaly. Terry's nails suggest that the veins beneath the nail have changed, and can indicate protein deficiency, chronic kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure or anaemia.
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Healthy nails: pink nail beds suggest a good blood supply and haemoglobin level
Healthy nails are usually pink, with the nail plate being pink and the nail being white as it grows off the nail bed. A pink nail bed suggests a good blood supply and haemoglobin level.
A white half-moon area at the base of the nail is called the lunula. If the nails are partly or entirely white with a pink band at the top of the nail bed, it may be a sign of a serious health anomaly. This is called Terry's nails and can indicate protein deficiency, chronic kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure or anaemia.
Purple-tinted nail beds can be caused by smoking.
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Zinc or iron deficiency: white spots on nails can indicate a lack of zinc or iron
Healthy fingernails and toenails are generally pink, with the nail plate being pink and the nail being white as it grows off the nail bed. This suggests a good blood supply and haemoglobin level.
White spots on the nails can indicate a zinc or iron deficiency. Zinc is a mineral found abundantly in the body, mainly in the muscles and bones, but also in the teeth, hair, skin, nails, liver, prostate, testes, sperm and white blood cells. A lack of zinc can also cause stretch marks, thinning hair, blemishes, slow healing, bowel changes, a poor sense of taste and smell, and loss of appetite.
However, some healthcare providers and medical researchers are unsure whether deficiencies cause white spots to appear on nails. They believe that anxiety or injury to the nail, such as from biting or picking, might be the cause.
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Injury to the nail bed: another cause of white spots on nails
Healthy fingernails and toenails should generally be pink. The healthy nail plate is pink and the nail is white as it grows off the nail bed.
White spots on the nails or nail bed are known as leukonychia and are most often the result of a small injury, such as biting your nails or jamming your fingertips. These injuries can cause air to get trapped within the nail, giving it a white appearance.
Injury to the nail bed can also be caused by manicures, even if there isn't a significant injury. Manicure damage can also make your nails crack, peel, or become brittle. The best way to treat nail damage is to let the nail grow out.
White spots on the nails can also be a sign of a serious illness, such as diabetes, liver disease, or kidney disease. If you have many white spots on your nails, it’s best to see a healthcare provider for an evaluation.
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Arthritis: white spots on nails can be a symptom of arthritis
Healthy fingernails and toenails are generally pink, with the nail plate being pink and the nail white as it grows off the nail bed. This suggests a good blood supply and haemoglobin level.
White spots on the nails or nail bed are known as leukonychia. They are usually harmless but could indicate an underlying health condition, such as liver disease, anemia, zinc or iron deficiency, arthritis, or even blood poisoning. The most common cause of white spots on the nail is injury, which can be prevented with proper nail care. Other possible causes are allergies to nail products, fungal infections, mineral deficiency, or heavy metal poisoning.
If the nails are partly or entirely white with a pink band at the top of the nail bed, it is called Terry's nails, and it may signify a serious health anomaly. In this case, the lunula (the white half-moon area at the base of the nail) cannot be distinguished from the rest of the nail. This suggests that the body's veins have changed beneath the nail. Terry's nails usually indicate protein deficiency, chronic kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure or anemia.
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Frequently asked questions
It means you have a good blood supply and a good level of haemoglobin.
It could be a sign of Terry's nails, which may indicate a serious health anomaly such as protein deficiency, chronic kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure or anaemia.
It could be a sign of smoking.
It could be a sign of bronchitis, which is usually seen in long-term smokers.
It could be a sign of dehydration or shock.
