Isla Bennett
There are many reasons why your fingernail tips might be fading or discoloured. White nails, or leukonychia, can be caused by trauma, anemia, dietary deficiencies, heart or kidney disease, or even poisoning. If you have noticed your nails turning white, it could be that they are drying out. This can be caused by using acetone to remove nail polish, which can evaporate extremely fast, taking your nail's moisture with it. If your nails are mostly white with darker rims, this could be a sign of liver problems. Nails with a bluish tint can indicate that the body isn't getting enough oxygen, which could be a sign of a lung problem. Yellow nails can be caused by fungal infections, lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, or psoriasis. Orange nails could be the result of excessive carrot consumption, or a lack of vitamin D, B12, zinc, or iron. If you are concerned about the appearance of your nails, it is recommended that you see a doctor or dermatologist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| White nail tips | Dehydration, dietary deficiencies, trauma, anemia, heart or kidney disease, poisoning, hepatitis |
| Yellow nail tips | Fungal infection, lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, psoriasis, thyroid disease, smoking, nail polish without a base coat |
| Spoon-shaped nails | Iron deficiency |
| Nail lifting | Injury from cleaning under nails with a sharp object, infection |
| Nail biting | Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder |
| Bluish nail tint | Lack of oxygen, lung problems |
| Orange/brown nail tips | Excessive carrot consumption, lack of vitamin D, B12, zinc and iron |
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What You'll Learn
Nail biting
There are many reasons why your fingernail tips might be fading. One possible explanation is onychomycosis, a fungal infection that may lead to discolouration and nail bed destruction. Another cause could be nail psoriasis, which can present as pitting, nail bed separation, discolouration, and splinter haemorrhages. In some cases, the fading nail tips may be due to something more serious, such as lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, or psoriasis. It is also possible that you have an iron deficiency, which can cause nails to become thin and spoon-shaped.
If you are a nail-biter, this could be a contributing factor to the fading of your nail tips. Nail biting, or onychophagy, is a common habit that often begins in childhood. While it may seem harmless, nail biting can have negative consequences for your health and the appearance of your nails.
Firstly, nail biting can cause bacteria to build up around the nails and cuticles, leading to infections. This can result in redness, irritation, and swelling of the skin surrounding the nails. Nail biters are also more prone to developing colds and flu as the bacteria on their hands are transferred to their mouths.
Additionally, nail biting can cause physical damage to the nails themselves. This can include pitting, discolouration, and abnormal growth. In some cases, nail biting may be a sign of underlying anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
If you wish to stop biting your nails, it is important to recognise that changing any habit can be challenging and takes time. However, with persistence and the right plan, it is possible to kick the habit for good. Here are some strategies that may help:
- Identify triggers: Pay attention to the times you are most likely to bite your nails and try to avoid or manage these triggers.
- Reduce hangnails: Keep your nails trimmed to minimise hangnails and ragged edges that may tempt you to bite.
- Stimulus control: This involves removing environmental triggers, increasing the difficulty of biting nails (e.g., bandaging fingers), and removing positive reinforcements.
- Behavioural therapy: Aversive therapy can be used to make nail biting less appealing. For example, applying a bitter-tasting substance to your nails.
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Vitamin deficiencies
Vitamin C deficiency can also affect nail health. It plays a crucial role in keeping nails strong and can lead to weak, brittle nails prone to splitting. Additionally, vitamin D receptors are present in the cells of the nails, and a deficiency in this vitamin has been linked to slow nail growth and brittle nails. Vitamin E, known for its moisturising and antioxidant properties, helps protect the cells in the nails and can be used as a treatment to strengthen nails.
Iron deficiency is another common cause of nail issues, specifically leading to a condition called koilonychias or 'spoon-shaped' nails, where the nails turn concave. This can be determined through a simple blood test and treated with supplements. Anemia, another condition associated with iron deficiency, can also cause 'spoon nails', which can affect both the fingernails and toenails.
Zinc deficiency can also cause nail problems, presenting as depressions across the fingernails. Ensuring adequate intake of vitamins and minerals through a healthy diet and proper supplementation can help address nutritional deficiencies and improve nail health.
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Underlying health conditions
Fingernail abnormalities can indicate underlying health conditions that require medical attention. While many nail abnormalities are harmless, it is important to be aware of potential causes and seek medical advice if you are concerned about the appearance of your nails.
White nails, or leukonychia, can be caused by several factors, including trauma, anemia, dietary deficiencies, heart or kidney disease, or even poisoning. If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, it may indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis. However, it is important to note that not everyone with white nails has hepatitis, and other factors such as genetics and natural nail thickness can influence nail color.
Yellow nails are commonly caused by a fungal infection. As the infection worsens, the nail bed may retract, and nails may thicken and crumble. In rare cases, yellow nails can be a sign of more severe conditions such as thyroid disease, lung disease, diabetes, or psoriasis. Additionally, pitted nails, also known as nail pitting, can indicate an underlying disease that affects the entire body, such as alopecia areata.
Nails with a bluish tint can suggest a lack of oxygen in the body, indicating a lung problem such as emphyema. Spoon-shaped nails, or koilonychia, can be a sign of iron deficiency, which can be caused by various factors, including high altitude.
In some cases, nail abnormalities may be related to psychological factors. For example, nail-biting or picking can be a sign of persistent anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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Using acetone to remove nail polish
There are many reasons why your fingernail tips are fading. For example, if your nails are white with darker rims, it could indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis. If your nails are yellow, it could be a fungal infection, or, in rare cases, severe thyroid disease, lung disease, diabetes, or psoriasis. Spoon-shaped nails that dip down in the middle could be a sign of iron deficiency. Pitted nails could be a sign of alopecia areata or another disease that affects your entire body.
If you are experiencing nail polish buildup, you can use acetone to remove it. Acetone is a powerful solvent that removes nail polish quickly and easily. It is important to note that acetone can be drying to the cuticles. To use acetone safely on natural nails, use a cotton swab and avoid the cuticles. You can also coat your cuticles with a cheap oil before using acetone to prevent them from drying out. After using acetone, wash your hands with mild soap and water, and apply lotion to your hands to avoid dryness. It is recommended to use acetone in a well-ventilated area, as the fumes can be strong.
There are also non-acetone nail polish removers available, which are gentler on the skin. These removers contain ethyl acetate or methyl ethyl ketone as their active ingredients. Non-acetone removers are less effective at removing nail polish and are not suitable for removing oils or preparing the nails for polish.
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to remove nail polish, acetone is a great option. However, if you have sensitive skin or are looking for a more gentle option, a non-acetone remover may be a better choice.
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Infection
Fingernail infections are typically called paronychia. It is an infection of the skin around a fingernail or toenail, and the infected area can become swollen, red, and painful, and a pus-filled blister (abscess) may form. Paronychia can be acute or chronic. Acute paronychia appears as a sudden, very painful area of swelling, warmth, and redness around a fingernail or toenail, usually after an injury to the area. Chronic paronychia is more commonly caused by irritation from occupational or environmental exposures. Less often, it may be caused by a chronic bacterial or fungal infection.
Acute paronychia is usually caused by an infection with bacteria that invade the skin where it was injured. The injury can be caused by over-aggressive manicuring, especially cutting or tearing the cuticle, biting the edges of the nails or the skin around the nails, picking at the skin near the nails, or sucking on the fingers. Symptoms of acute paronychia appear over hours or a few days. The infection is only in the nail fold and doesn’t extend deeper inside the finger or toe. Symptoms go away with treatment and last less than six weeks.
Chronic paronychia is caused by inflammation that usually develops slowly, causing gradual swelling, tenderness, and redness of the skin around the nails. It often affects several fingers on the same hand. People who are more likely to get this condition include those with diabetes, or workers whose jobs constantly expose their hands to water, chemicals, or substances. Chronic paronychia may require several weeks of antifungal medication. Even after proper medical therapy, a paronychia may return if you injure the skin again or forget to keep the nail area dry.
Another type of nail infection is a mycotic nail, which is a fungal infection that affects your toenails or fingernails. It separates your nail from your nail bed, making it thick and fragile. It may change colors. Mycotic nails are also known as onychomycosis. Edonyx onychomycosis is where the interior of the nail plate is infected, but not the nail bed. Totally dystrophic onychomycosis is the end stage of the distal or proximal types. At this phase, your nail is extra thick and taller because of extra keratin. Yeast onychomycosis, often caused by Candida, is more likely to affect your fingernails than your toenails. It may be a sign that your immune system isn't working at its best.
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Frequently asked questions
White nails, also known as leukonychia, can be caused by several factors such as trauma, anemia, dietary deficiencies, heart or kidney disease, or even poisoning. It could also be a result of an injury, causing the nail to lift up and no longer be completely attached.
Yellow nails can be caused by a fungal infection, lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or simply by wearing red nail polish without a base coat or from smoking.
The nail plate is made of translucent keratin protein, which is supposed to be semi-transparent. The pink area seen on the nails is the nail bed, which provides moisture and oil to the nail plate.
Nails with a bluish tint can indicate that the body isn't getting enough oxygen, which could be a sign of a lung problem such as emphysema.
Deep horizontal lines, known as Beau's lines, can be a symptom of serious conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, cancer treatment, or exposure to cold temperatures in people with Raynaud's disease.
