Can your nails tell if you are anemic?
Spoon nails (koilonychia) are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia or a liver condition known as hemochromatosis, in which your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat.
What does dark nail beds indicate?
If a fingernail or toenail has a new or changing dark streak, it’s time to see a dermatologist for a skin cancer check. That dark streak could be melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Not every dark streak is a melanoma, but it’s always good to have a dermatologist examine one.
Can anemia cause nail discoloration?
Changes in the appearance of our fingernails, nail-breaking or nail separation, discolouration and spots can be symptoms of infections, deficiencies, anaemia, diabetes or heart and lung conditions.
How do I tell if Im anemic?
Symptoms
- Fatigue.
- Weakness.
- Pale or yellowish skin.
- Irregular heartbeats.
- Shortness of breath.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Chest pain.
- Cold hands and feet.
Why do my nail beds look purple?
Blue fingernails are caused by a low level or lack of oxygen circulating in your red blood cells. This condition is known as cyanosis. It occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen in your blood, making the skin or membrane below the skin turn a purplish-blue color.
What causes nails to turn black?
Black Toenail: Common Causes If your toenail turns black, it’s most likely a bruise under the nail, technically called a subungual hematoma. You can get it from stubbing a toe or from footwear that cram your feet into the front of the shoe.
Can anemia make your nails blue?
Overview. Blue fingernails are caused by a low level or lack of oxygen circulating in your red blood cells. This condition is known as cyanosis. It occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen in your blood, making the skin or membrane below the skin turn a purplish-blue color.
Can anemia cause blue fingernails?
Blue fingernails are a symptom of this condition. **My Med Memo – Cyanosis occurs as a result of poor circulation or an inadequate amount of oxygen present in the blood. Medically speaking, blue fingernails are caused by hypoxaemia, an abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood.
Why are my nails dark purple?
This condition is known as cyanosis. It occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen in your blood, making the skin or membrane below the skin turn a purplish-blue color. The skin discoloration could also mean that there’s a high level of an abnormal form of hemoglobin in your blood.
What does fatigue from anemia feel like?
Anemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body’s tissues. Having anemia, also referred to as low hemoglobin, can make you feel tired and weak. There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause.
What are the signs and symptoms of anemia in fingernails?
1 Pale Nails. If your fingernail beds are pale you may have anemia, a blood disorder with low red blood cells. 2 Yellowish Nails. Yellow nails usually occur with serious pulmonary disease and lymphedema, or swelling of the extremities. 3 White Nails. 4 Bluish Nails. 5 Dark Lines Beneath the Nails. 6 White Lines.
What does your nail bed color say about your health?
White lines in or across the nail bed may indicate fever, heart disease, kidney disorder, liver troubles, or lack of iron or zinc. Pale color on the nail bed can indicate anemia, which develops from iron or vitamin B12 deficiency. Greenish hue can indicate an infection. Bluish nail bed can be a sign of lung trouble, such as asthma or emphysema.
Can anemia cause purple nail beds?
When a person is described as being anemic, it implies that their blood has very low amounts of iron. If this is the case, there is a very high probability that such a person will develop purple nail beds within no time.
What does it mean when your nail bed is dark?
The Texture of Healthy Nails. A dark blue line in the nail bed may be a result of skin cancer. Tiny black streaks in the nail bed may indicate heart problems. Reddish-brown spots show a deficiency in folic acid, vitamin C or protein. Yellow nails are indicative of diabetes, liver problems or respiratory trouble.