How to Tell If Your Fingernails Are Healthy

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow They Look & FeelUnhealthy NailsNail Change CausesImproving QualityTreatments

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How They Look & Feel

Unhealthy Nails

Nail Change Causes

Improving Quality

Treatments

Fingernail health can be reflective of a person’s overall health. Nails should be hard, uniform in color, and without any chips or breaks. Fingernail changes may be from a vitamin deficiency, injury, or an infection.

How Healthy Fingernails Look and Feel

Healthy fingernails are shiny, smooth, and consistent in color. The nail should not be broken or cracked. The color underneath the nail (nail bed) should be pink, and a lighter-colored half-moon near the cuticle is possible.

The nails should feel firm throughout. The cuticles should be intact and free from irritation and redness.

When Nails Are Not as Healthy

Fingernail appearance can change when someone is experiencing illness or has an injury. The changes may happen slowly over time or can occur abruptly.

Signs and symptoms of poor nail health include:

Changes to the skin surrounding the nail can also indicate changes in nail health. The skin may appear red and swollen.

Nail Biting and Nail HealthNail bitingis a common habit that can be hard to break. It may seem harmless, but nail biting can lead to several issues. Nail biting can lead to:Colds and other illnesses from putting your hands to your mouthDamage to the surrounding skinDental problems like chipped teethFungal infections in the nail

Nail Biting and Nail Health

Nail bitingis a common habit that can be hard to break. It may seem harmless, but nail biting can lead to several issues. Nail biting can lead to:Colds and other illnesses from putting your hands to your mouthDamage to the surrounding skinDental problems like chipped teethFungal infections in the nail

Nail bitingis a common habit that can be hard to break. It may seem harmless, but nail biting can lead to several issues. Nail biting can lead to:

Causes of Nail Changes

Onychomycosis

Onychomycosisis the most common type of nail condition. It typically affects toenails but can be seen in fingernails. It is afungal infectionin the nail bed from a group of fungi called dermatophytes. It causes the nail to become thick, yellowed, and the nail can separate from the nail bed.

Brittle Nails

Brittle nails are a problem often seen in people as they age and due to certain medications. Retinoids or exposure tonail polish removercan cause nails to dry and become brittle. Brittle nails are likely to split and break.

Paronychia

Paronychia is an infection of the nail fold skin. This is the skin on the side of the nails, where the nail meets the skin. The area can become reddened, swollen, and painful. It is more common in people whosuck or bite their fingers, but it can happen to anyone who has a small cut in the area.

Green Nail Syndrome

Onycholysis

Nail Health and Vitamin DeficienciesPoor nail health can be linked to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. While deficiencies can happen in anyone, it is more common to see nail changes in people who are experiencing vitamin deficiency due to malnutrition. Vitamin deficiencies that can affect nail health include:BiotinCalciumIronVitamin AVitamin BVitamin CVitamin DZinc

Nail Health and Vitamin Deficiencies

Poor nail health can be linked to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. While deficiencies can happen in anyone, it is more common to see nail changes in people who are experiencing vitamin deficiency due to malnutrition. Vitamin deficiencies that can affect nail health include:BiotinCalciumIronVitamin AVitamin BVitamin CVitamin DZinc

Poor nail health can be linked to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. While deficiencies can happen in anyone, it is more common to see nail changes in people who are experiencing vitamin deficiency due to malnutrition. Vitamin deficiencies that can affect nail health include:

How to Improve Nail Care and Quality

Proper nail care is important to improve the nail quality. Healthy nail care includes:

Treatments for Nail Conditions

Nail treatment will vary based on the condition. Below are the treatments recommended for the nail conditions discussed above:

Summary

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Reinecke JK, Hinshaw MA.Nail health in women.International Journal of Women’s Dermatology. 2020;6(2):73-79. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.01.006American Academy of Dermatology Association.12 nail changes a dermatologist should examine.UCLA Health.How biting your nails is affecting your health.Merck Manual.Onychomycosis.Merck Manuals.Overview of nail disorders.De D, Seshadri D.Nails in nutritional deficiencies.Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2012;78(3):237. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.95437

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Reinecke JK, Hinshaw MA.Nail health in women.International Journal of Women’s Dermatology. 2020;6(2):73-79. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.01.006American Academy of Dermatology Association.12 nail changes a dermatologist should examine.UCLA Health.How biting your nails is affecting your health.Merck Manual.Onychomycosis.Merck Manuals.Overview of nail disorders.De D, Seshadri D.Nails in nutritional deficiencies.Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2012;78(3):237. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.95437

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Reinecke JK, Hinshaw MA.Nail health in women.International Journal of Women’s Dermatology. 2020;6(2):73-79. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.01.006American Academy of Dermatology Association.12 nail changes a dermatologist should examine.UCLA Health.How biting your nails is affecting your health.Merck Manual.Onychomycosis.Merck Manuals.Overview of nail disorders.De D, Seshadri D.Nails in nutritional deficiencies.Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2012;78(3):237. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.95437

Reinecke JK, Hinshaw MA.Nail health in women.International Journal of Women’s Dermatology. 2020;6(2):73-79. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.01.006

American Academy of Dermatology Association.12 nail changes a dermatologist should examine.

UCLA Health.How biting your nails is affecting your health.

Merck Manual.Onychomycosis.

Merck Manuals.Overview of nail disorders.

De D, Seshadri D.Nails in nutritional deficiencies.Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2012;78(3):237. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.95437

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