Caleb Foster
Healthy nails are made of the protein keratin and flattened cells, and are usually transparent. However, they can become thinner and more brittle, or change to a paler or whiter colour for a variety of reasons. Changes to your nails can be caused by environmental factors, injuries or medical conditions, but this isn't always the case. If you notice any changes, it's important to see a board-certified dermatologist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | White, pink, clear |
| Texture | Brittle |
| Thickness | Thinner |
| Cause | Environmental factors, injuries, medical conditions |
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What You'll Learn
- Healthy nails are transparent, but they may become thinner and more brittle, or change to a paler or whiter colour
- Fingernails can look white at the base, pink on the majority of the nail, and white or clear at the tip
- Discolouration or changes to the texture of your nail may be signs of certain environmental factors, injuries, or medical conditions
- Fingernails are made of the protein keratin and flattened cells
- The nail plate, or the top part of the nail, is transparent, or clear, because the flattened cells don't have nuclei
Healthy nails are transparent, but they may become thinner and more brittle, or change to a paler or whiter colour
Changes to your nails don't always mean that you have a disease, but it's important to see a board-certified dermatologist if you notice any changes. They can tell you whether the change is harmless or requires medical testing.
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Fingernails can look white at the base, pink on the majority of the nail, and white or clear at the tip
Healthy fingernails are smooth and appear in different colours as they grow out. They are actually transparent, and can look white at the base, pink on the majority of the nail, and white or clear at the tip. The half-moon white shape at the bottom of the nail is called the lunula, and it appears white because the skin is thicker at the bottom of the nail. The pink nail bed is underneath the nail plate, and is pink because the skin is thinner and there is a lot of vascular activity underneath it. The distal edge, or free edge, is the part of the nail plate that is no longer on top of the skin, and these edges can be white or clear.
Nails may become thinner and more brittle, or change to a paler or whiter colour for a variety of reasons. Changes to all of your fingernails or to your fingernails and toenails may indicate an underlying medical condition. However, not all changes to fingernails are a medical concern, and changes to just your fingernails and not your toenails may be caused by external factors.
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Discolouration or changes to the texture of your nail may be signs of certain environmental factors, injuries, or medical conditions
Healthy nails are transparent, but they may become thinner and more brittle, or change to a paler or whiter colour for a variety of reasons. Discolouration or changes to the texture of your nail may be signs of certain environmental factors, injuries, or medical conditions.
The nail plate, or the top part of the nail, is transparent, or clear, because the flattened cells don't have nuclei. Healthy fingernails are smooth and appear in different colours as they grow out. They can look white at the base, pink on the majority of the nail, and white or clear at the tip.
The half-moon white shape at the bottom of your nail is called the lunula. One reason it appears white is because your skin is thicker at the bottom of the nail. The nail bed is under your nail plate and is pink in colour. This is because the skin is thinner and there's a lot of vascular activity underneath it. The distal edge, or free edge, is the part of your nail plate that's no longer on top of your skin. These edges can be white or clear.
Seeing a change to your nails or the half-moons doesn't always mean that you have a disease. Still, it's important to see a board-certified dermatologist if you notice any changes. Board-certified dermatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating the skin, hair, and nails. They have the expertise to tell you whether the change is harmless or requires medical testing.
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Fingernails are made of the protein keratin and flattened cells
Healthy nails are transparent, but they may become thinner and more brittle, or change to a paler or whiter colour for a variety of reasons. Fingernails are made of the protein keratin and flattened cells. The nail plate, or the top part of the nail, is transparent, or clear, because the flattened cells don't have nuclei. The nail bed, which is under the nail plate, is pink because the skin is thinner and there is a lot of vascular activity underneath it. The distal edge, or free edge, is the part of the nail plate that is no longer on top of the skin. These edges can be white or clear.
Changes to your nails do not always mean that you have a disease, but it is important to see a board-certified dermatologist if you notice any changes. They can tell you whether the change is harmless or requires medical testing. Discolouration or changes to the texture of your nail may be signs of certain environmental factors, injuries, or medical conditions.
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The nail plate, or the top part of the nail, is transparent, or clear, because the flattened cells don't have nuclei
Healthy nails are transparent, but they can become thinner and more brittle, or change to a paler or whiter colour for a variety of reasons. Fingernails are made of the protein keratin and flattened cells. The nail plate, or the top part of the nail, is transparent, or clear, because the flattened cells don't have nuclei.
The nail plate is the part of the nail that is no longer on top of your skin. These edges can be white or clear. The nail bed is under the nail plate and is pink in colour. This is because the skin is thinner and there is a lot of vascular activity underneath it. The lunula is the half-moon white shape at the bottom of your nail. One reason it appears white is because your skin is thicker at the bottom of the nail.
Healthy fingernails are smooth and appear in different colours as they grow out. They can look white at the base, pink on the majority of the nail, and white or clear at the tip. Discolouration or changes to the texture of your nail may be signs of certain environmental factors, injuries, or medical conditions. However, not all changes to fingernails are a medical concern.
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Frequently asked questions
Healthy nails are actually transparent, but they can become thinner and more brittle, or change to a paler or whiter colour for a variety of reasons.
Nails can become see-through due to external causes, such as environmental factors, injuries, or medical conditions.
Not all changes to fingernails are a medical concern, but it's important to see a board-certified dermatologist if you notice any changes to your nails.
