Nails are more than just a canvas for colorful polish; they are windows into your body’s overall health. Often overlooked, the appearance, texture, and color of your nails can reveal underlying medical conditions. Paying attention to subtle changes can provide critical insights into nutritional deficiencies, systemic diseases, and even early signs of severe illnesses.

Below, we explore what your nails might be trying to communicate about your well-being.

The Anatomy of a Nail

To better understand the signs your nails may exhibit, it helps to know their structure. A nail consists of several parts:

• Nail plate: The hard, visible part.
• Lunula: The crescent-shaped white area at the nail base.
• Cuticle: The thin layer of skin sealing the base of the nail plate.
• Matrix: The tissue under the nail where new cells are formed.

Each of these components can exhibit clues about your internal health.

Signs