How to check nail health

In fact, ordinary people don’t need to scare themselves with the mixed “nail health comparison charts” on the Internet. They can complete a basic screening at home in 30 seconds. If there are any suspicious abnormalities, it is enough to go to the hospital to see a specialist for judgment.

My distant cousin just made a joke last week. She saw a short video saying that white spots on her fingernails were caused by worms in her stomach and a lack of calcium and trace elements. She looked at her thumb for half a night and took her mother to the pediatrician early the next morning. Doctor Guo laughed after asking a few questions - she had been chewing her nails for the past two weeks and accidentally hit the nail matrix. This small white spot is the mark left by a slight trauma. It will disappear when the nails are cut out. It cost 25 yuan for the registration fee.

If you want to check yourself, just stand by the window in the morning after washing and before doing your manicure and look at it under natural light. The warm yellow lamp in the bathroom or the night light on the bedside has a big color difference and it is difficult to see accurately. Normal and healthy nails are light pink and translucent, with a natural luster on the surface. If the entire nail suddenly turns pale, and you feel dizzy or unsteady after squatting for a long time, it is most likely an anemia-related problem. You can take a blood test to check it. Like; if your nails are gray, yellow, thick, and peel off when you pick them, don't just buy antifungal ointments and apply them on yourself. Go to the dermatology department for a fungal microscopy first. The results will be available in 10 minutes. If it is confirmed to be onychomycosis, then use the medicine according to the course of treatment to avoid wasting time.

Speaking of this, I have to mention the crescent moon issue that everyone is most concerned about. Many people say that more crescent moons are healthier, and fewer crescent moons mean kidney deficiency. There is really no need to believe it - there is currently no unified conclusion in the academic community that the number of crescent moons is related to health. When I was volunteering in a dermatology clinic, I saw programmers who stayed up late every day. All ten nails have full crescents, and I have also seen fitness coaches who run marathons all year round. The natural nail matrix is located far back, and only a little of the crescent can be seen on the two thumbs. As long as your own crescents do not suddenly become more, less, or blurry within a month or two, there is no need to take it seriously at all, and there is no need to buy health care supplements blindly.

After looking at the appearance, you can touch it. Normal nails are smooth and tough. If there are dense pits, like thimbles you played with when you were a child, along with joint pain and red scaly spots on your body, it is best to have them removed. When checking the nail damage caused by psoriasis, I met an aunt in her forties before. She thought that the pitted nails were caused by frequent manicure injuries. It took almost a year before she came to see a doctor. She already had symptoms of joint pain. Early intervention would have resulted in a much better recovery.

There is also a very simple test. Use your fingertips to gently press the tip of your nail. After you release it, the area that was originally pressed white will immediately turn back to light pink. If the color return takes more than two seconds, it is mostly due to poor peripheral circulation. For example, people who always have cold hands and feet in winter have this problem. As long as they rub their hands more and move their wrists more, it is not a big problem.

By the way, there is a misunderstanding that has been circulating for a long time. It is said that vertical lines on the nails mean that the liver and kidneys are not good. It is pure nonsense. If you look closely, everyone’s nails have subtle vertical lines, just like the natural texture of the skin. They will become more and more obvious with age. It is the same as wrinkles. It has nothing to do with the function of the liver and kidneys. Don’t buy liver-protecting tablets randomly.

If you really find that your nails are suddenly deformed, the color becomes strange, or the periungual area is always red, swollen, painful, and flakes, don’t check the search engine by yourself. Call a dermatologist. Common problems can be solved for more than ten yuan, which is much better than worrying at home.