What Causes Fingernail Problems

You may have wondered what causes fingernail problems if you've ever had to deal with any yourself. From white marks to ridges, there are a number of issues that are typically the result of an underlying medical cause.

Nail conditions can occur with basic finger injuries.

What Healthy Nails Indicate

Fingernail conditions of all sorts are not uncommon. Despite this, some problems are more noteworthy than others. This is because problems with the fingernails can be indicative of problems going on elsewhere in the body. Even if no other symptoms exist, a change in the appearance of the fingernails can be a symptom in itself. This is why it's so important to understand the various conditions and what causes them.

What Causes Fingernail Problems

Many types of fingernail problems exist, ranging from minor and easily treatable to serious and more difficult to determine the underlying causes. If any changes or abnormalities are noted on the fingernails, it's important to get checked out by a doctor to rule out any serious conditions.

Types of Fingernail Conditions

While there are a great many conditions that can affect the fingernails, these are but a few of the more common maladies. For information on other conditions, visit the American Academy of Dermatology.

• Ridges: While vertical ridges are usually harmless and attributed to the natural aging process, horizontal ridges may be cause for concern. They are often associated with a host of serious conditions, including anemia, malnutrition, respiratory disease, renal failure and kidney problems.
• Leuconychia: More commonly known as white spots, they are usually harmless, but may be attributed to serious conditions like sickle cell anemia and Hodgkin's disease. However, they may be caused by air bubbles trapped beneath the nail plate layer or by iron deficiency. They may also be hereditary and will typically disappear as the nail grows.
• Brittle Nails: Characterized by splitting or peeling of the nails, this is usually associated with the natural aging process. However, it may also indicate overexposure to chemical solvents and water, which leads to a loss of moisture. Treating the nail plate with nail or cuticle oil will help.
• Crumbling Nails: Nails that are dry, pitted or crumbly may be suffering from psoriasis. The condition can cause the nail plate to separate from the nail bed and may also appear discolored.
• Pterygium Inversum Ungius: This condition causes the hyponychium (the soft skin that lies directly under the free edge of the nail) to grow forward with the fingernail. It can be systemic or hereditary, or it could stem from an allergic reaction to acrylics or chemicals.
• Pterygium: Pterygium occurs when the skin behind the cuticle begins to advance over the nail plate. This is usually the result of trauma due to surgery or cuts to the nail plate.
• Beau's Lines: Dark, horizontal depressions on the nail may be caused by anything from trauma or illness to malnutrition or chemotherapy. Metabolic conditions may also be to blame.

Defining Trauma and Infection

When attempting to determine what causes fingernail problems, man conditions are diagnosed with the vague "trauma" explanation. Trauma can be caused by a number of situations, ranging from:

• Biting the nails
• Rubbing or removing the skin the vicinity of the nail
• Overexposure to any chemical substance, including nail polish

Meanwhile, other conditions may be associated with infections. Infections are easily defined as invasion by fungi or bacteria, but can lead to a host of symptoms, including:

• Changes in nail color, shape or texture
• Nail plate loss
• Pain

Final Tips

Clearly, what is going on with your fingernails at any given time can sometimes be indicative of problems occurring elsewhere in the body. Concerns about the kidneys, heart, liver and skin may all be raised as a result of fingernail problems. Other maladies to watch out for include vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, malnutrition and, in some cases, silver or arsenic poisoning.

While little can be done in terms of nail care to prevent problems occurring elsewhere in the body, it is always helpful to adopt a healthy regimen that will benefit your nails and your overall health:

• Take a daily multivitamin
• Add a B-complex supplement to your regimen (many nail problems are related to vitamin B deficiencies)
• Up your protein intake (both nails and hair are made of protein)
• Indulge in fatty acids (good sources include nuts, vegetables, eggs, whole milk and flaxseed oil supplements)

Finally, if your nails are in poor condition but aren't related to any greater health problem, adopt a regimen that treats your nails well:

• Keep fingernails short to avoid unnecessary breakage and tears
• Apply vitamin E oil to the nail plate regularly to encourage moisture
• Wash hands with a moisturizing, antibacterial soap regularly
• Use a fragrance-free hand cream to eliminate the potential of allergic reactions

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