As a medical student, nails were one part of my anatomy course that I really struggled with. I found it difficult, at first, to stomach the sight of painful nail injuries . My squeamishness may have stemmed from witnessing someone sharply removing a plaster from their stubbed big toe – only to take the whole toenail away with it.
Ouch. I’ve recovered now, which is lucky since nails can tell doctors a lot about the health of a patient. Toe and fingernails are an extension of your skin, like hair.
They are formed of keratin, a tough material that grows in the direction of your fingertip into a hard plate . The cuticle (the strip of skin covering the junction between skin and nail) offers extra protection against injury and infection. Keep an eye on any changes in the appearance and texture of your nails – they can give important clues about your health.
Here are some key things to look out for. Spoon-shaped nails Your toe and fingernails should have a slight convex curve without any dips or depressions in them. In contrast, koilonychia is a condition where the nail is concave – in some cases, forming a central depression deep enough to hold a drop of fluid, like medicine in a spoon (hence the common name of “spoon nails”).
Typically, nails affected in this way also look thinner and can become more brittle. Koilonychia can indicate anaemia, meaning there are not enough red blood cells in a person’s circulation to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. This is associ.