How to Spot Fingernail Health Problems - Fingernail Problems

Your fingernails can actually reveal a lot about you. Fingernail abnormalities can detect many different hidden health problems, so learning how to spot those differences and what they mean is not only a great thing to know, but also important to the health of your friends and family.

Step 1
Look for spots or color changes in your nail or nail beds. A white nail with dark spots on the tips can mean kidney disease, while dark spots on nails may be a sign of melanoma, which is a kind of skin cancer; green nails can indicate a fungal infection; blue nail beds can be a sign of asthma or emphysema; pale or bluish can mean anemia; yellow nails can be an indication of liver, respiratory or lymphatic system disorders and diabetes; white nails can mean anything from kidney and liver disorders to anemia or cirrhosis of the liver.

Step 2
Feel the surface of your fingernail because bumps on fingernails can mean that you have rheumatoid arthritis, and if they curve down it may mean that you have heart, liver or lung problems, or even arsenic poisoning. A flat nail could mean that you have Raynaud's disease, and one that has pits in it can indicate psoriasis.

Step 3
Examine your nails to see if they are brittle, since having brittle nails can be an indication of thyroid problems, or kidney and circulation problems. The shape of your fingernails can also show potential health problems. For instance, if your nails are unusually wide or square-shaped, it can be an indication of hormonal disorders, and if your nails are spoon-shaped, it can either be hereditary or an indication that you are anemic.