Moon nails, or lunulae, look like small, whitish, crescent-shaped areas at the base of your fingernails, just above the cuticle, most prominent on the thumbs and gradually smaller or invisible on other fingers, indicating healthy nail matrix function and new cell growth. A healthy lunula is typically pale, uniform in color, and blends smoothly with the nail bed, though size and visibility can vary.
The crescents are called moons or lunulas (little moons). Their purpose is to make the cells that harden your nail. They are part of your nail bed matrix and if you have them, it is an indicator that you are healthy. Unless…they are too large, whi...
Yellow or green patches could be a nail fungal infection. A brown or black line could be melanoma (so it should be checked out right away). A red lunula (the half-moon shape at the nail base that's normally white) could mean lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Everyone has lunulae, but they may not always be visible. If you don't see them, there's usually no cause for concern, especially if you're not experiencing any other symptoms. It may just be hidden underneath your cuticle or it may have decreased in size as you got older.
The absence or reduction of the visible white half-moon shape (lunula) at the base of the nails can indicate low thyroid function or B12 deficiency. Possible Causes: Thyroid disorders, B12 deficiency, circulatory issues.
Nail changes in vitamin B12 deficiency present as hyperpigmentation of nails like bluish discoloration of nails, blue-black pigmentation with dark longitudinal streaks, and longitudinal and reticulate darkened streaks.
The lunular size decreased with age and this has been previously noted as an ageing-related nail change in elderly persons. [4] In our study, we found that the lunula was not visible in 69 cases and the visibility of the lunula decreased consistently with ageing.
Heart failure nails often show nail clubbing, where fingertips enlarge and nails curve downward like an upside-down spoon due to poor oxygen flow, feeling soft and warm, but can also present as blueish tints (cyanosis) or splinter hemorrhages (tiny red lines under nails) from heart infections (endocarditis). Other signs can include Terry's nails (mostly white with a pink tip) or Mees lines (horizontal white bands). These changes signal serious underlying issues, requiring prompt medical evaluation.
Not being able to see a half-moon, or lunula, on the nails may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency, vitiligo, kidney failure, or another health condition. However, sometimes the lunulae are simply not visible.
Liver failure nails often appear as Terry's Nails, characterized by an opaque white or "ground glass" look across most of the nail, with only a thin, brownish or pinkish band at the very tip and the half-moon (lunula) often disappearing, though other changes like ridges or yellowness (jaundice) can also occur, indicating systemic issues.
Persistent brittle, thickened, pitted, or discolored nails may signal infection, psoriasis, or other disease; see a dermatologist for diagnosis. Dark nail streaks or unusual color changes can be serious, including melanoma; get prompt evaluation.
A discolored shade of yellow or brown, changes in shape, texture, and thickness of the fingernails indicate a fungus infection.
Macrolunula is the term for an enlarged white lunula, it can also be seen as a marker of thyroid problems. Two particular variants of macrolunula are Lindsay's Half and Half nails from kidney dysfunction and Terry's Nails which can be a sign of liver disease, congestive heart failure, and diabetes just to name a few.
Bluish Nails
Nails with a bluish tint can mean the body isn't getting enough oxygen. This could indicate a lung problem, such as emphysema. Some heart problems can be associated with bluish nails.
Most nails have a white half-moon shape at the base, just above the cuticle, called a lunula. A change in color or size of the lunula may indicate an underlying disease such as chronic renal failure or congestive heart failure.
Three early warning signs of heart failure include persistent fatigue/weakness, shortness of breath (especially with activity or lying down), and swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles, and feet, often accompanied by rapid weight gain from fluid buildup, all signaling your heart isn't pumping efficiently enough. Other key indicators are a chronic cough (sometimes with pink mucus) and heart palpitations.
Cardiologists look at nail signs during a full physical exam to find heart issues. Signs like nail clubbing, splinter hemorrhages, and cyanotic nail beds might mean heart disease. For example, nail clubbing is linked to heart defects and other chronic heart issues.
Yellow or opaque coloring. Brittle nails. Pitted nails (can easily break off or fall off) Linear depressions across the fingernail (called Beau's lines)
Let it sit overnight, then rinse away in the morning for a noticeable difference. 2) Brittle fingernails. Since our nails are made of the same enamel as teeth, toothpaste can do a lot to help them. Simply give your nails a good scrub with some toothpaste for cleaner, shinier, stronger nails.
Both shorter nails overall and the 'party fingers' style of manicure have become symbols of lesbian pride or a form of mutual identification between queer women in public.
The most common cause of thickened toenails is aging. Toenails thicken with age because the growth rate of the nail plate slows. Other reasons toenails may thicken include: A common skin condition called psoriasis.