Among nail plate colour changes in elderly people, the most commonly observed alteration is a yellow to gray discoloration with dull, pale, or opaque appearance.
Older age and nails
As our body ages, the growth rate of our fingernails and toenails tends to slow. The change of protein in the nail plate makes nails brittle and prone to splitting. Discolouration and thickening are also common.
The nails change with aging, growing more slowly, and becoming dull and brittle. The color may change from translucent to yellowed and opaque. Nails, especially toenails, may become hard and thick and ingrown toenails may be more common.
In some cases, fingernails turn blue or purplish because of cyanosis, which can also affect the lips and skin. Cyanosis can occur if the blood is not carrying enough oxygen to the fingertips or the person has poor circulation.
Pale nails can mean anemia or congestive heart failure. It is also common among those suffering from malnutrition.
White Nails
If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, this can indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis. In this image, you can see the fingers are also jaundiced, another sign of liver trouble.
Changes in Nail Shape
Ripples on nails or pitted nails may be caused by a skin disorder, psoriasis, eczema, or arthritis. Nail clubbing is when a nail curves under at the tip of the finger. It could indicate heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lung disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, or HIV/AIDS.
Terry's nails is a type of nail discoloration. The nailbeds look “washed out,” except for a thin reddish-brown strip near the tip. Often, Terry's nails is a symptom of a chronic condition, such as liver failure or diabetes.
Koilonychia is an abnormal shape of the fingernail. The nail has raised ridges and is thin and curved inward. This disorder is associated with iron deficiency anemia.
Healthy nails should look pink on the nail bed and white when grown off the nail bed. Any other color could be a sign of a deficiency or disease. For instance, clear, pale nails can be a sign of anemia or poor nutrition. White nails, also known as Terry's nails, are a sign of kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes.
Yellow nail syndrome is often a sign of respiratory disease, such as chronic bronchitis. Yellow nail syndrome can also be related to swelling of the hands (lymphedema).
Several nail changes can indicate the presence of acute or chronic kidney disease, Dr. Poblete-Lopez says: Beau's lines: These side-to-side lines can be a symptom of acute kidney disease. Ridged nails: Also called koilonychia, rough nails with ridges can exist in the presence of kidney disease.
You Should Visit a Doctor when:
you notice unexplained changes in the color of your nail; your nails appear to be abnormally thick; you have a nail that appears to have separated from the nail bed; you can't link your nail discoloration to nail polish, smoking; or.
One surprising indicator of potential cognitive decline is the condition of our fingernails. Recent studies have shown a link between certain nail abnormalities and the onset of dementia.
Over time, nails may turn yellow or become discolored, turning slightly gray, generally pale, or opaque. Fungal infections can also cause discoloration. One type of color change involves dark stripes or ridges along the length of the nail. The medical term for this is longitudinal melanonychia.
Nail changes.
People who have advanced kidney disease can develop: A white color on the upper part of one or more nails and a normal to reddish brown color below, as shown here (half-and-half nails) Pale nails. White bands running across one or more nails (Muehrcke's nails)
Signs and symptoms of acute liver failure may include: Yellowing of your skin and eyeballs (jaundice) Pain in your upper right abdomen. A swollen belly (ascites)
If signs and symptoms of liver disease do occur, they may include: Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice) Abdominal pain and swelling. Swelling in the legs and ankles.
In some people with diabetes, the nails take on a yellowish hue and become brittle. This is often associated with the breakdown of sugar and its effect on the collagen in nails. In certain cases, this yellowing of nails can be a sign of a nail infection.
For example, certain changes in your nails could be a sign of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), an autoimmune condition that affects different joints in your body. In fact, up to 80% of people with psoriatic arthritis notice nail changes like discoloration, dents, and nail thickening.
Which vitamin can causes darkening of nails? According to the National Health Service, vitamin D, B12 and iron deficiency is the most common causes of darkening of the nails. Vitamin D is important for a healthy bone structure.
The skin and nails of patients with diabetes tend to take on a yellow hue, probably due to metabolism of glucose which has become linked to protein. This hue is most evident in the nails, especially distally, but occasionally evident in the skin.
Various nail changes have been described in patients of liver cirrhosis including Terry's nails, leukonychia, dystrophic nails, onychorrhexis, as well as onycholysis and clubbing.