If you\u2019re always fighting hangnails, cracked cuticles, or other nail-related problems, chances are there’s an underlying health issue at hand (pardon the pun).<\/p>\n
We’re highlighting five common nail problems below and the health issues they may indicate.<\/p>\n
Dry, cracking cuticles<\/strong> Spoon-like nails<\/strong> Brittle nails<\/strong> Nail pitting<\/strong> Dark stripe(s)<\/strong> If you have any questions about your nail health, be sure to visit your doctor.<\/p>\n xx, The FabFitFun Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":"If you\u2019re always fighting hangnails, cracked cuticles, or other nail-related problems, chances are there's an ...","author":252621,"featured_media":116278,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,5],"tags":[],"thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/17154134\/nails.jpg","thumbnail_url_middle_card":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/17154134\/nails-386x200.jpg","formated_date":"January 17, 2018","category_name":"Wellness","category_icon":"https:\/\/d3vodd1ws13xud.cloudfront.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/10113835\/health-2.svg","author_name":"","trending":false,"sponsored":false,"random_color":"#f79280","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116267"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/252621"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116267\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nCuticles are the protective frames to your nails. If your cuticles are cracking and dry, there could be a few health factors at hand. The first is anxiety; you might bite and gnaw at your cuticles without even intentionally doing it. Each time you find yourself doing so, try to take a few deep, anxiety-relieving breaths instead. To combat dryness, moisturize your cuticles regularly.<\/p>\n
\nIf your nails are curved inwards, chances are you could have a condition that plagues many women: anemia or low iron levels. If you don\u2019t have enough iron in your blood, your nails can pay the price because they don\u2019t get enough oxygen. You can try increasing your iron levels by eating iron-fortified foods like cereals, red meat, or leafy, green vegetables.<\/p>\n
\nBrittle, cracking nails can be a sign you\u2019re taking your nail polish off too frequently. If that\u2019s not a likely explanation, it\u2019s also possible that your thyroid could be working a lot slower than expected — a condition known as hypothyroidism. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include being very sensitive to the cold, dry skin, weight gain, thinning hair, and constant, unexplained fatigue.<\/p>\n
\nWhile nails normally have small ridges, if you notice small pits or dents in your nails, this could be a sign of an underlying skin condition known as psoriasis. Nail psoriasis can cause thickened nails that may feel tender to the touch. To prevent this, keep your nails short and moisturized. You can also consult a doctor and get prescripted treatments if the pitting persists.<\/p>\n
\nHere\u2019s a nail problem you should never ignore. If you have a black stripe or any other discoloration on your nails, this could indicate melanoma, a form of skin cancer. Another sign could be if you have a painful growth or spot under the nails. If this is the case, call your doctor immediately to have the area evaluated.<\/p>\n