Fingernail or
toenail abnormalities can tell you a lot about your health. They are often a
sign of a fungal nail infection or injury, but can sometimes indicate
a more serious underlying condition. You must see your doctor/ GP if your nails have changed in colour,
texture, shape or thickness and you don't know why (for example, you
haven't injured your nails or been biting them).
Below are the most likely reasons for
the following nail problems:
- brittle or crumbly nails
- discoloured nails
- white nails
- thickened, overgrown nails
- loose nails
- indented spoon-shaped nails
- pitting or dents on the nails
- grooves going across the width of the nails
- unusually curved fingertips and nails
- white lines running across the nails
- dark stripes running down the nail
- red or brown little streaks under the nails
- a destroyed nail
- infected nail fold (painful, red and swollen skin next to the nail).