Your fingernails are handy tools that can be useful for scratching an itch or picking up food.
But they can also be important indicators of our health.
There are plenty of ways to tell if something strange is happening withyour healthjust by looking at your nails.
When fingernails are healthy, they look smooth and evenly colored.
They don’t have pitting, grooves, or spots.
Caring for your fingernails can prevent many nail conditions from forming.
By keeping them clean and moisturized, you’ve got the option to prevent bacterial growth and splitting.
Biting or picking at nails or cuticles can cause injuries where infections can form.
Watch out for these symptoms
Melanoma is the most serious punch in of skin cancer.
Usually, these cells replicate normally.
Melanoma that forms under the fingernails is called subungual melanoma.
Bleeding nails or nails that crack or separate from the finger could also be signs of melanoma.
Dark streaks from subungual melanoma most typically occur in the thumbnail or big toenail.
Catching melanoma early can give patients the best chance at a long and healthy life.
