What to look out for:

2. Nail Structure Changes

• Brittle, Concave Nails

  Spoon nails that are concave in appearance signify anemia (iron deficiency). Nails that chip, peel, crack, or break easily show general nutritional deficiency such as deficiency in iron, calcium, zinc, protein, or vitamins A, B and C and minerals.
  
  

• Nail clubbing

  Clubbing is the thickening and enlargement of the fingertips with rounded, downward-curled nail tips. Clubbed nails signify decreased blood oxygen in your blood and coud be a sign of chronic lung disease. Clubbing is also linked to liver disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
  
  

• Vertical Nail Ridges

  Nail ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail are fairly common, and are likely to be hereditary. Though not a cause for concern, they often become more numerous as you age.
  
  

• Horizontal Nail Ridges

  Horizontal nail ridgings and white lines are usually caused by mild injuries or overzealous manicuring, though in very rare cases these may indicate arsenic poisoning or an acute illness.
  
  

• Nail Pitting

  The presence of small depressions on the nail surface are common in people with psoriasis, a skin condition that produces scaly patches. They may also result from nail injury.
  
  

Are the nail changes any cause for worry?

Common causes of nail problems include infection, trauma and various skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. If you are generally in good health and present no other tell-tale symptoms, the nail conditions are probably nothing to worry about. If you are concerned, however, make an appointment with your doctor to get it checked out.