Q: I am a 70-year-old female and have recently noticed numerous white spots and horizontal lines on my fingernails and thumbnails. I have heard that this occurs as the result of some type of deficiency or disease. What does it actually mean?
A: Interestingly enough, physicians have found that fingernails can tell a great deal about a person’s health. Nails are composed of layers of a protein known as keratin. They grow outward from the cuticle and as new cells grow, older ones become hard and are pushed out toward the finger tips. Healthy nails should be smooth and evenly colored. And, if an abnormality such as white lines or pitting occurs, it is most commonly the result of trauma to the nail from hitting it against a blunt surface. Not so common is iron deficiency anemia, low albumen levels and even psoriasis if pitting is present.
Brittle nails are generally a normal result of the aging process or because of specific diseases and conditions. Beau’s lines refers to depressions of the nail that can occur following illness, nail injury, or may be an indication the individual is malnourished. Nails with raised ridges that curve inward is known as koilonychia, associated with iron deficiency anemia. Arsenic poisoning may cause horizontal ridges and white lines. Double white lines that run horizontally across nails are known as Muehrck’s lines. The lines are generally observed on the three middle digits (not the thumb nail), they don’t move as the nail grows, the nail bed appears healthy between the lines. Their presence may be the result of low levels of albumen, a protein made in the liver and found in the blood. While low albumen levels are often linked with liver disease, other possibilities include malnutrition, kidney or liver disease, and in some cancer patients following treatment with chemotherapy. I must rule out this disorder because you indicate you have lines on your thumb nails which is not suggestive of Muehrck’s.
However, let’s consider iron deficiency and hypothyroidism as two possibilities. Iron is a part of all cells; it carries oxygen from the lungs throughout the body, helps the digestive process, and also helps our muscles store and use oxygen. If a person suffers from iron deficiency anemia for such reasons as heavy menstrual bleeding, hemorrhoids, an ulcer, or regular aspirin use, he or she may be fatigued and weak, have a pale complexion, suffer from headaches, and more. Diagnosis is made through a simple process of having lab testing. Treatment is through iron supplements.
Hypothyroidism implies that the thyroid isn’t producing a sufficient amount of thyroid hormone. This is a condition that can affect the entire body – and your fingernails. Anyone of any age can be hypothyroid but it is most common in older adults, with women aged 60 or more being more prone than men. In our country, the most common cause of hypothyroidism is known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis that causes the body’s immune to attack thyroid tissue. Symptoms of hypothyroidism may include fatigue, weakness, heavy menstrual cycles, as well as depression, constipation, an inability to withstand cold temperatures, and fingernail abnormalities. Treatment is through a thyroid supplement.
If you are concerned enough to write for answers, you care about the presentation you provide to everyone you come in contact with. Therefore, I recommend you visit your primary care physician and have some basic lab work done that can rule out the conditions mentioned herein. Often symptoms take a while to become apparent and you have the opportunity to nip things in the bud as it were and determine if you have a disorder that may likely be remedied with supplements.
