What Your Nails Reveal About Your Health As You Age

What Your Nails Say About Your Health as You Age

Our nails can be a window into our overall health. As we age, changes in our nail appearance, texture, and growth patterns can signal underlying health conditions. Keeping an eye on your nails is an easy way to monitor your health over time.

In this article, we'll go over some of the most common nail changes associated with aging and what they might mean for your health.

Yellow Nails

One of the most common age-related nail changes is a yellowish discoloration. There are a few potential causes for yellow nails:

• Thickening nail bed - As we get older, the nail beds under our nails can thicken. This reduces the transparency of the nails, making them appear more yellow.
• Fungal infection - Nail fungus is more common as we age. The fungus can get under the nail and cause a yellowish or brownish discoloration.
• Respiratory conditions - Certain lung diseases like chronic bronchitis can cause a limited oxygen supply in the blood, resulting in yellowish nails.
• Diabetes - Patients with uncontrolled diabetes may develop yellow nails.
• Thyroid disorders - Both low and high thyroid hormone levels can be associated with yellowish nails.
• Smoking - Long term smoking can stain nails yellow.

If you notice your nails turning yellow, it's a good idea to see your doctor to determine the underlying cause. Proper treatment of the condition can help restore your nails to a healthier appearance.

Brittle, Dry Nails

Brittle, dry nails that crack and split easily are another common aging change. As we get older, our nails tend to become drier and lose moisture. This causes them to become fragile and soft.

Some reasons nails may become brittle with age include:

• Genetics - Some people are just prone to dry, brittle nails.
• Lack of moisture - Environmental conditions, excessive hand washing, and use of harsh soaps can dry out nails.
• Nutrient deficiencies - Being deficient in nutrients like iron, zinc, biotin, or essential fatty acids can negatively affect nail health.
• Dehydration - Not drinking enough water can lead to dry, brittle nails.
• Overexposure to water - Spending a lot of time with your hands in water can also dry out nails.
• Harsh nail products - Using too many nail polish removers, treatments, and tools can damage and dry nails over time.
• Certain diseases - Hypothyroidism, anemia, and skin conditions like eczema are linked to brittle nails.
• Medications - Some prescription drugs list brittle nails as a potential side effect.

Using moisturizing nail creams and oils can help add moisture back to dry, brittle nails. Biotin supplements may also help strengthen weak nails. If lifestyle measures don't help, talk to your doctor to see if an underlying health issue needs to be addressed.

Spoon-Shaped Nails

Spoon-shaped nails curve inward toward the base, giving the tip of the nail a scooped out appearance. While some people naturally have slightly curved nail beds, dramatic spoon-shaped deformities can be a sign of the following:

• Iron-deficiency anemia - This can sometimes cause koilonychia, the medical name for severely spoon-shaped nails. Anemia leads to low oxygen transport in the blood, impacting nail growth.
• Hypothyroidism - Low thyroid hormone levels are another potential cause of spoon nails.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency - A lack of B12, often seen in pernicious anemia, can contribute to koilonychia.
• Chemotherapy - Some chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer may produce spoon nails as a side effect.

If you suddenly develop this nail change along with symptoms like unusual tiredness or weight gain, see your doctor. Blood work can determine if there is an underlying nutritional deficiency or health condition.

Thick or Overgrown Nails

As we age, our rate of nail growth often slows down. The nails become thicker and can appear overgrown.

A few causes of thick nails in older adults include:

• Poor circulation - Reduced blood flow impacts nail growth and can lead to bulkier nails.
• Fungal infection - Nail fungus causes nails to thicken as debris piles up under and around the nail.
• Diabetes - High blood sugar in uncontrolled diabetes has an effect on nails, making them grow slower and thicker.
• Medications - Drugs like steroids, lithium, and cyclosporine are associated with a thickening of the nails.
• Psoriasis - This skin condition can also affect the nails, leading to abnormal nail plate growth.
• Trauma - Injury to a nail that causes bleeding under the nail can later lead to a thickened appearance when the blood clot resolves.

Proper management of any underlying medical conditions can help improve nail growth. Regular nail trimming and care can also keep thick nails from becoming too unruly. See a dermatologist if nails become extremely overgrown or painful.

Bluish Nails

A bluish tint to the nails and nail beds can be normal as we age. However, very blue or greyish nails can indicate that the body isn't getting enough oxygen. Potential causes include:

• Respiratory disease - COPD, pneumonia, and other lung problems reduce oxygen in the blood. Blue nails can be one result.
• Heart problems - Heart failure or pulmonary hypertension limits the heart's ability to oxygenate blood and circulate it properly.
• Medications - Certain medications like anti-malarials and the anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil can cause bluish nails as a side effect.
• Cold temperature exposure - Raynaud's phenomenon causes fingers and toes to become very cold in chilly weather. This temporarily turns nail beds blue.

Talk to your doctor if you notice your nail beds looking quite blue, especially if you have shortness of breath or risk factors for heart disease. Proper diagnosis can reveal if any serious health conditions are responsible.

Ridges in Nails

With age, our nails often develop vertical ridges running from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Ridges become more common as we get older due to:

• Nail damage - Years of minor trauma cause tiny layer separations in the nail that appear as ridges on the surface.
• Aging skin - Our skin loses collagen as it ages. This causes the nail beds underneath to flatten out, producing superficial ridges on the nails.
• Poor circulation - Reduced blood flow to the hands contributes to more pronounced nail ridges.
• Nutrient deficiencies - Being low in vitamins and minerals negatively impacts nail growth.
• Arthritis - Joint inflammation in the fingers causes damage to nail root cells. This disrupts nail formation and leads to ridges.

While not usually a major health concern, very deep or discolored nail ridges can potentially indicate psoriasis, a fungal nail infection, or nutritional deficiency. See your doctor if your ridges seem abnormally severe or get worse rather quickly.

White Spots on Nails

White spots appearing on the nails are also common with aging. These small flecks or lines are called leukonychia. Common causes include:

• Trauma - Bumping or injuring the nail can disrupt the nail matrix, resulting in white spots when the nail grows out.
• Protein deficiency - Being low in key proteins can interfere with normal nail keratin formation, leading to white markings.
• Zinc deficiency - Low zinc levels are linked to leukonychia since zinc is important for nail health.
• Chemical exposure - Contact with strong solvents and other chemicals can cause white spots on nails.

While usually harmless, multiple white spots or bands on nails can potentially indicate an underlying health condition. See your doctor if you notice any changes in the appearance of white markings on nails. Treating any nutrient deficiencies may help improve nail discoloration.

Dark Discoloration Under Nails

Dark discoloration visible through the nail plate under the tips of nails can be concerning but is fairly common. Known as subungual melanonychia, it is often caused by:

• Bleeding - Collection of blood under the nail from injury causes black-red discoloration that grows out with the nail.
• Fungal infection - Nail fungus leads to debris buildup under the nail, appearing as dark streaks.
• Melanoma - In rare cases, dark bands under the nail may be an early sign of skin cancer developing in the surrounding nail matrix cells.
• Medications - Some medications like antimalarials and chemotherapy drugs can cause nail discoloration.
• Aging - Accumulation of melanocytes, cells that produce pigment, leads to harmless age-related dark streaks under nails.

Dark nails related to bleeding, infection, or medication often resolve on their own as the discolored section of nail grows out. Persistent bands of discoloration or dark streaks spreading from the cuticle outward over time warrant medical evaluation to rule out a rare nail matrix melanoma.

When to See Your Doctor

While many nail changes are a normal part of aging, certain symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor to determine if an underlying medical condition needs treatment. See your physician if you notice:

• Very yellow, grey, or brown nails that don't improve with trimming and nail care.
• New spoon-shaped nail deformities appearing suddenly.
• Blue or purple-hued nail beds, especially with shortness of breath or chest pain.
• Unusually thick, fast growing nails.
• Sudden onset of multiple white spots or bands on nails.
• Dark streaks originating at the base of the nail and spreading to the tip.
• Red streaks or pus-filled areas suggesting a nail infection.
• Nail separation from the nail bed.
• Grooves or pits in nails getting rapidly worse.
• Bleeding around or under nails not caused by trauma.

While our nails do show normal wear and tear as we age, any symptoms causing distress or interfering with daily activities deserve a proper diagnosis. Early evaluation and treatment of underlying medical conditions can prevent further nail damage and deformity down the line.

Tips for Healthy Aging Nails

To keep your nails looking their best as you get older:

• Moisturize nails daily with lotion or coconut oil to prevent brittleness.
• Avoid excessive exposure to water and cleansing agents which can dry out nails.
• Wear gloves during household cleaning and gardening to limit chemical exposure.
• Trim nails regularly to prevent thickening and overgrowth.
• File nails gently in one direction rather than back and forth to avoid tearing.
• Avoid picking at nails or aggressively pushing back cuticles which can damage nails.
• Keep nails trimmed short if they often catch on fabrics and tear.
• Limit yourself to 1-2 manicures per month since acetone nail polish remover dries out nails.
• Apply a clear strengthening polish regularly to protect against splitting.
• Eat a balanced diet high in vitamins, minerals, and protein for optimal nail health.
• Discuss biotin supplements with your doctor if weak, brittle nails persist despite lifestyle measures.
• See your doctor promptly with any concerns about changes in nail appearance or texture.

Our nail appearance often shifts gradually over the years, but keeping nails well-groomed and hydrated can prevent or minimize more distressing age-related changes. Speak with your doctor if you notice any unusual nail changes that don't resolve on their own within several weeks.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.