I used to pride myself on having long, beautiful nails. Over the years, I'd painted, decorated and shaped them according to the latest fad. It was wonderful until the day I jammed my right thumb into a car door.
Of course, my thumb hurt like the dickens. Afterwards, I noticed something funny. It was a little discolored and lifted up from the nail bed. It was weird, but I didn't think much about it and kept on with my beauty regimen. I figured that my nail would be back to normal in a couple of weeks. However, I was wrong.
After another two weeks, my right thumb nail lifted more and began to change colors. It was a yellowy-milky color. I realized then that I needed medical help. My nail wasn't going to change back to itself without first a proper diagnosis. I found out I had a condition called onycholysis. Onycholysis is a condition in which the fingernail or toenail separates itself from the nail bed. It can occur due to trauma (my case) or other conditions like eczema, psoriasis and lichen planus.
Thankfully, after I found out that I had onycholysis, I was able to heal my thumb nail. It is now back to normal. However, the experience taught me a lesson. It let me see that any lifting, extreme pain or discoloration on a nail bed is a sign of a larger problem.
Although the reason I got onycholysis was not due to a disease, many times a change in one's nail bed color is. As a result, it's important to understand what the colors mean, so you know what is really plaguing you. It'll get you closer to the solution that will heal your body.
Below are a few clues found
White nail beds are a sign of liver disease.
Pink and white nail beds are a sign of kidney disease.
Red nail beds are a sign of heart conditions.
Yellow, thickened nail beds that are slow to grow are a sign of lung disease.
Pale nail beds are a sign of anemia.
Yellow nail beds with a slight blush are a sign of Diabetes.
If your nail beds fit any of the prior descriptions, you need to see your doctor right away.
Be ready to explain the whens and whys of the change in your nail bed color. It will help your doctor find the most specific diagnosis along with a remedy.
In conclusion, if you hurt your nails, don't be like me. See a doctor right away. Any discoloration or lifting is a sign that you need medical assistance. The problem is bigger than you and you need help. Plus, if you enjoy flaunting pretty nails, the sooner you get a cure, the sooner you can return to your normal lifestyle.
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