Are Your Toenails Telling You Something?

Your toenails are not great at keeping secrets, especially if the secret is your body is lacking nutrients.

Life gets very hectic, but it is important to listen to your body and take note of any physical changes that may be occurring. Your toenails may be the first physical sign and indication of an illness or underlying condition.

Recognising these changes in your skin or nails can be an important tool for diagnosing any underlying nutritional deficiencies.

Nutritional deficiencies can be a result from macronutrient and micronutrient inadequacy. Macronutrients are your carbohydrates, fats and protein whereas micronutrients include vitamins and minerals.

A Lack Of Body Nutrients Can Result From The Following:

• Poverty.
• Restrictive diets.
• Medication.
• Alcoholism.
• Inadequate dietary intake in the ill and elderly.
• Illness.

Physical Changes To Look For:

• Brittle, flakey and or chalky nails.
• Discolouration in all nails.
• White lines in nails without trauma.
• Generalised thickening of all the nails.
• Pitting (little punched out holes in the nails).
• Changes in the shape and surface of nail plates.
• Cessation of nail growth.

Today’s blog will highlight some of the nutrient deficiencies that can cause physical changes to your toenails. Other factors, such as skin disorders, poor circulation and lung complications may also affect the toenails.

Deficiencies may vary with how quickly they affect the nails. For example water-soluble vitamins, such as most B and C vitamins, develop after weeks or months of under-nutrition.

Deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, K and B12, can take up to a year to develop because the body stores them in relatively large amounts.

Biotin

Biotin deficiency is extremely rare as a low daily biotin intake is requirement, and is readily available foods.

Causes:

• Protein deficiency.
• Prolonged anticonvulsant therapy.
• Severe malnutrition.
• Prolonged oral antibiotic therapy.
• Consumption of raw egg whites.
• Alcohol abuse.
• Excessive antidiuretic medication use.

Dermatologic Signs:

•  Fungal skin and nail infections.
• Secondary discolouration.

Vit B12

Causes:

• Conditions that thin the stomach lining or affect the small intestines (Crohn’s disease, Celiac, parasite, bacterial growth).
• Pernicious anemia.
• Surgery that removed part of your stomach or small intestine, including weight loss surgery.
• Heavy drinking.
• Immune system disorders, such as Graves’ disease or lupus.
• Long-term use of acid-reducing drugs.
• Vegan diet.

Dermatological Signs:

• Pale colour toes.
• Brown-grey  toenail discolouration.
• Beads that appear to drip down the nail like wax.

Iron

Causes:

• Lack of iron source in diet (vegetarian).
• Pregnancy.
• Blood loss or frequent blood donation.
• Heavy menstrual cycles.
• Some medications to treat ulcers and reflux.

Dermatological Changes:

• Pale coloured toes.
• Brittle nails.
• Nails with a central ridge/groove.
• Koilonychia (spoon shaped nails).
• White nails.

Zinc

Causes:

• Malnutrition or diet consuming of high processed foods.
• Chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease and other illness.
• Excessive exercise.
• High alcohol intake.
• Gastrointestinal complications and diarrhea.

Dermatological Signs:

• White spots on nails, transverse white lines/ depressions (Beau’s Lines) and poor nail growth.
• Inflammation of nail cuticles.

If you are concerned with physical changes to your toenails or skin, it is best to seek a professional opinion from your treating GP or podiatrist.

At Proactive Podiatry we are experienced in recognising these changes in your skin or nails, and any underlying conditions that may need to be further investigated.

For the full article on tooth whitening frankston and how nutrition deficiencies can effect you skin and nails click on the link below.

FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE

Or if you are wanting to find out more about vitamin deficiencies and great read on calcium deficiency click here, also find out more about the best pre natal vitamins to take, which are very important.