Noah Sinclair
Toenail colour can be a window to your overall health. A healthy toenail is generally a shade of pale pink, but deviations from this could indicate anything from a minor bruise to a more serious health condition. For example, yellowing could be a fungal infection, a side effect of smoking or diabetes, or a symptom of liver disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Green nails may also indicate an infection, while red streaks could be a splinter haemorrhage caused by trauma to the toe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Healthy toenail colour | Pale pink |
| Unhealthy toenail colour | Yellow, black, green, white spots, red streaks |
| Yellow toenail causes | Fungal infection, smoking, diabetes, liver condition, sinusitis, thyroid problems, lymph accumulation, rheumatoid arthritis, lung disease, psoriasis, lymphedema |
| Green toenail causes | Infection |
| White spots on toenails | Fungal infection |
| Red streaks | Splinter haemorrhage |
| Small pits or grooves on toenails | Psoriasis, respiratory illness, malnutrition, alopecia |
| Spoon-shaped toenail | Iron deficiency, lupus, Raynaud's disease |
| Toenail curling downwards | Serious illness, such as lung cancer, heart ailment, inflammatory bowel syndrome |
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What You'll Learn
Toenail colour and health
The colour of your toenails can be a window to your overall health. A healthy toenail is generally a shade of pale pink, much like your fingernail. It should be smooth, consistent in colour, and even-toned. Any deviations from this could indicate something as minor as a bruise or reveal a more serious health condition. For example, if your toenails become yellow, you probably have a fungal infection. Yellowing can also be the result of smoking or a side effect of diabetes or a liver condition. Scattered white spots on your toenails may indicate the beginning of a fungal infection. Over time, that toenail, and perhaps other adjacent nails if the condition spreads, will thicken and become a cloudy yellow-brown colour. Aside from the white flecks, you may also note some green and black spots. Green on your nails may also mean you have an infection. If you notice small pits or grooves on your toenails, you may have psoriasis. This condition is not the same as having skin psoriasis. Respiratory illness, malnutrition, or alopecia can also be indicated with pitting. A definite indentation in your toenail is called a spoon-shaped toenail, also known as Koilonychia. Spoon-shaped indents can indicate an iron deficiency, lupus, or Raynaud’s disease. Sometimes a toenail can curl downwards, covering the top of the toes, especially if the tips of your toes have become enlarged. This may be signalling a serious illness, such as lung cancer, a heart ailment, or inflammatory bowel syndrome. Red streaks may indicate a splinter haemorrhage, which is a bit of bleeding under the nail. This is usually from sudden traumas like stubbing your toe or dropping something on it. If you have additional symptoms and believe an irregular toenail colour may be a sign of an underlying health issue, consult your primary care doctor immediately.
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Yellow toenails
Toenails are usually a shade of pale pink. Any yellowing could indicate a fungal infection, which can cause nails to grow brittle and crack over time. Yellowing can also be the result of smoking, or a side effect of diabetes or a liver condition. In more serious cases, yellow toenails may indicate sinusitis, thyroid problems, lymph accumulation, or rheumatoid arthritis. If you have yellow toenails, you should consult your doctor.
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Green toenails
A healthy toenail is a shade of pale pink, much like a fingernail. Any other colour could indicate health issues. For example, if your toenails are yellow, you may have a fungal infection, or it could be a result of smoking, or a side effect of diabetes or a liver condition.
If you have additional symptoms and believe an irregular toenail colour may be a sign of an underlying health issue, consult your primary care doctor immediately.
If you’ve ruled out major health concerns with your primary care physician and your toenail discolouration is a fungal infection, you may benefit from YAG laser treatment.
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White spots on toenails
Toenails are usually a shade of pale pink. Any other colour could indicate a health issue. For example, yellowing could be a sign of a fungal infection, diabetes or a liver condition.
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Black toenails
Toenails are typically a shade of pale pink. Any deviation from this colour could indicate a health issue. For example, yellowing could be a sign of a fungal infection, diabetes or a liver condition.
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Frequently asked questions
It means they're healthy! A healthy toenail is a shade of pale pink, much like your fingernails.
It could mean you have a fungal infection, or it could be a sign of smoking, diabetes or a liver condition.
It could mean you have an infection.
It means something is not right. It could be a sign of a serious health condition.
