Here’s what you need to know about achieving and maintaining healthy nails.

It can be fun to decorate your natural nails with seasonal polishes, playful designs, and artificial nails. Not to mention that a regular manicure can be a luxurious way to unwind and practice self-care. But you may be surprised to learn that your nails actually play an essential part in your overall health. That’s why it’s important to know how to take care of them — and when something may be off.

Certain changes in nails are perfectly normal. For instance, subtle white lines running from the top to the bottom of the nail can be a sign of aging. Then there are more dramatic changes in the nails’ texture, color, or shape, which could point to skin flare-ups, infection, or vitamin deficiencies. So how can you tell the difference?

Why It’s Important to Care for Your Nails

Healthy nails are not only aesthetically pleasing, they are also able to function a lot better than unhealthy nails.

The nail is composed of skin cells called skin appendages, according to the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. The hard part, your fingernail itself, is technically called the nail plate, which is about 0.5 millimeters (mm) of somewhat curved keratin that attaches to the nail bed underneath it. Around the outside of the nail are the folds, which is where a thin layer of skin called the cuticle grows. On the left and right side of the nail plates are the lateral nail folds and on the lower end is the proximal nail fold.

Underneath the skin is the matrix. The matrix is what produces new keratin to push the nail plate upward and forward, which is how fingernails grow. Then there’s lunula, which is the little half-moon shape at the bottom of the plate that you may be able to see through the nail plate; it’s considered part of the matrix.

All these structural elements work together to create strong fingernails that can serve their purpose. “Fingernails protect the soft part of the fingers, give fingers more strength, and sharpen fine motor skills by helping you pick up things, hold on to things tighter, and scratch,” Dr. Colombo explains.

Apart from their basic functions, if nails appear and feel unhealthy, it could be a sign of another condition. An estimated half of disorders can be attributed to infection, while 15 percent are due to inflammatory or metabolic illness, and 5 percent are from malignancies and pigment disturbances, research suggests.

What Do Healthy Nails Look Like?

As important as it is to spot the signs of unhealthy nails, it’s also always helpful to understand what qualifies as healthy nails.

They Have a Pinkish Hue

Coloring is one of the keys to understanding the health of the nail. So what is the healthiest color a nail could be? “Pinkish underneath and white at the ends,” Colombo says.

They Have a Smooth Surface 

Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, says a smooth nail, without any horizontal ridges or pits, is a nail that’s in good condition. Nail ridges are a series of white lines across the nail, while nail pits are tiny dents.

“Nail ridges can be a sign of vitamin deficiencies or diabetes,” Dr. Jaliman explains. This refers to horizontal ridges that go from left to right, as Mayo Clinic points out. Meanwhile, psoriasis and eczema can cause nail pitting.

If you have vertical ridges that run from cuticle to tip, research suggests they’re harmless. They’re a normal sign of aging, says Colombo.

The Nail Plate Is About .5 Millimeters Thick

Previous research suggests the mean nail thickness of healthy nails is between 0.481 and 0.397 millimeters (mm). Colombo notes that if this thickness changes in one direction or the other, thinner and more breakable or thicker, the nails are not healthy.

Signs Your Nails Are Unhealthy

Generally speaking, if the color or texture of the nail changes, it’s a sign of unhealthy nails. But these characteristics may alter for various reasons.

Discoloration

“Unhealthy nails have unusual colors,” says Colombo, explaining that a yellowish, bluish, or greenish hue is out of character for nails. Essentially, anything besides the pinkish base is a sign that something’s not right.

Jaliman notes that sometimes a white or yellow chalky material might sit underneath the nail plate, which is the sign of a fungal infection, also known as onychomycosis. Jaliman explains that this debris materializes when fungus breaks down the keratin in the nail. The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that onychomycosis happens in about 10 percent of people but may be more common in older adults.

Discoloration may also be a sign of melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a brown or black band around the nail or even a darker hue around the outside of the nail could be a sign of melanoma. This dark streak might be accompanied by a bump underneath the nail.

Brittleness

Onychoschizia, more commonly known as nail splitting, refers to soft, brittle, thin nails, per the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD). “A brittle nail feels rough, breaks easily, and is not smooth at the distal ends,” Colombo explains.

Colombo says brittle nails can be attributed to many things, including fungal or bacterial infections, inflammatory conditions such as lichen planus or psoriasis, nutritional or vitamin deficiencies, hypothyroidism, or simply aging. But per the AOCD, onychoschizia is typically due to fingernails being too wet too often (cleaning or working with water all day) or overly dry.

Splitting down the center of the nail plate could also be a sign of melanoma or another concerning growth, as outlined by the AAD.

Softness

A nail that is too hard may suggest previous nail trauma, psoriasis, or a fungal infection, says Colombo; a nail that’s too soft can’t function efficiently either. Nails are often softened by chemicals that are common in household products such as cleaning supplies, laundry detergents, and even nail polish remover, per the AOCD.

Peeling

If your nails do become soft, you may notice them start to peel layer by layer. This once again is likely due to external traumas such as harsh chemicals, exposure to too little or too much moisture (excessive hand-washing or wet hand activities), overbuffing the nails, too many gel or acrylic manicures, or picking off nail polish with fingernails instead of polish remover, Colombo says.

Separation From the Nail Bed

Onycholysis is a condition where the nail plate separates from the nail bed. According to the Mayo Clinic, common potential causes may include infection, injury, negative side effects from drugs or personal-care products, or even symptoms of conditions like psoriasis or thyroid disease.

The AAD also notes that a nail separating from the nail bed could also be a sign of melanoma or other concerning growth.

Ridges

A healthy nail has a smooth surface. When it starts to develop rough ridges, that’s when you know something’s up, Jaliman says. If the ridges run from the top of the nail plate to the bottom, it’s likely a natural sign of aging, Colombo points out. But if they run from side to side, something else might be at play.

“Nail ridges can be a sign of vitamin deficiencies or diabetes,” Jaliman says. “For example, iron deficiency anemia can cause nail ridges.” If one of these underlying concerns is the issue, once you treat it, the nails will return to their healthy, smooth, shiny state.

Pits

These can look like little pinpricks in the surface of the nail.

Supplements for Healthy Nails: Do They Work?

Supplements have played a key role when it comes to the marketing surrounding healthy nails, whether they’re claiming to benefit nail growth and strength or overall well-being. Vitamins & supplements linked to nail health include collagen, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, iron, and copper. But the most popular of them all is biotin.

Source: Healthy Nails: Signs to Look For, Dos and Don’ts, More (everydayhealth.com)

If you want to keep your nails healthy and happy, follow these tips.

1. Do: Keep Your Nails Clean, Trimmed, and Dry

To ensure proper nail hygiene, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends regularly cleaning and clipping fingernails to prevent dirt and germ buildup that can lead to infections. Keep them dry, too: Exposing your nails to long periods in the water can increase the risk of onychoschizia. If you have a job that requires your hands to be wet often, consider wearing gloves to protect them.

2. Don’t: Bite Your Nails

Not only is it unhygienic to put your fingers in your mouth, but when you bite your nails, you’re harming the cuticles and skin around the nails. This can lead to an infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. If biting your nails has become an involuntary habit, you may want to look into alleviating some stressors. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, stress and anxiety are possible triggers for nail-biting.

That goes for hangnails, too. These can be a nuisance, but to avoid bleeding or the possibility of infection do not bite or tear at the hangnail. Instead, the Cleveland Clinic recommends clipping the little bit of skin with a clean nail clipper or small scissor.

3. Do: Eat a Nutritious, Balanced Diet

When it comes to maintaining healthy nails, a good place to start is with a balanced diet. A diet that’s lacking in calcium, B-complex vitamins, omega-3, folic acid, and vitamin C can lead to cracking, dry, brittle nails.

4. Don’t: Overdo It on Manicures

“If you get your nails done frequently, don’t always use gel or powder, which can damage nails,” Colombo says. “Give your nails a break from those.” Too many gel or acrylic manis could lead to peeling, as Colombo points out.

5. Do: Keep Nails Moisturized

Because the fingernails are the largest skin appendage, it makes sense you’d want to moisturize them the same way you do your legs, arms, and face. According to an article published in March 2020 in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, keeping the nails moisturized can help prevent and treat brittleness.

6. Don’t: Subject Your Nails to Trauma

Colombo explains that there are all kinds of external traumas that can harm nails, from opening cans with only the fingernails to using cleaning supplies formulated with harsh chemicals. These traumas should be avoided at all costs. One way you can do this is by wearing gloves while cleaning with chemically formulated products.

7. Do: Look for Troubling Signs of Poor Nail Health

Because poor nail health can be a sign of infection, a skin-care condition, or health concerns such as vitamin deficiencies or diabetes, Jaliman says it’s important to keep a close eye on any changes. There’s no need to panic, but awareness is always key when it comes to maintaining your health.

Source: Healthy Nails: Signs to Look For, Dos and Don’ts, More (everydayhealth.com)