If your fingernails change to any of these colours you should seek medical help.
People have been urged to look out for any unusual changes on their fingernails that could signal some potentially dangerous health conditions. According to experts, if your nails turn a certain colour you could be at risk of a number of deadly diseases.
In some instances this could be harmless but there are some specific colours that could prompt you to seek medical help. On its website the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), revealed some concerning symptoms that will appear in the nails.
It said: “Have you noticed a change to any of your nails lately? A change in colour, texture, or shape can be harmless, but it can also be a sign of disease. If you notice any of the following changes to a fingernail or toenail, it’s time to see a board-certified dermatologist.”
With this in mind, experts at the AAD urged people to look out for these colours on your nails:
- White
- Half pink, half white
- Yellow
- Dusky red half-moons
They said: “A disease inside your body can cause your nails to change colour. Certain colour changes can be a warning sign of a specific disease.”
According to the AAD, white nails can signal liver disease or diabetes. With liver disease this is more likely to happen if you have cirrhosis, the most severe stage of the disease. However, white nails can also occur naturally with ageing but it’s still best to get it checked out.
Half pink, half white nails are one sign of kidney disease. AAD further described this symptom as: “A white colour on the upper part of one or more nails and a normal to reddish brown colour below.”
In the case of yellow nails, these can be caused by lung disease. It is thought the colour change is linked to your circulatory or lymphatic system.
“When these systems don’t work as they should, it can cause fluid to collect in the soft tissues under your skin. In turn, this may turn your nails yellow,” the Cleveland Clinic says. However, yellow nails can also be caused by a nail infection or by smoking cigarettes.
Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Mirror
Finally, the AAD said that dusky red half-moons on your nails could signal a range of conditions including lupus, heart disease, alopecia areata, arthritis, and dermatomyositis. Therefore, if you spot any of these colours on your nails you should speak to your doctor.
Other colours on the nails indicating a problem:
- Blue nails – not enough oxygen in your bloodstream
- Pale nails – anaemia
- Blue half-moons – could a be sign of poisoning
