Nail Health: What Your Nails Might Be Trying to Tell You

Your nails are more than just a canvas for color—they can be subtle messengers from your body. From pitted surfaces to unexpected discoloration, changes in your nails may point to underlying health signals. In this post, we’ll explore the characteristics of a healthy nail, what causes nails to split, what causes nail discoloration, and nail signs of vitamin deficiency.

Whether you’re a tech or a client, understanding these signs helps you know when to treat nails gently—and when to prompt a health check.

What are the characteristics of a normal healthy nail?

Before diving into concerns, it’s important to know the baseline. What should healthy nails look like?

• Smooth surface, free of pits, grooves or deep ridges

• Uniform, slightly translucent pinkish color (reflecting the nail bed)

• Firm but flexible (not brittle or overly soft)

• A clean, consistent free edge (no splitting)

• Unbroken cuticle, well attached to the nail plate

While healthy nails shouldn’t feel rough or have excessive ridges, minor vertical ridges can appear with age and are typically harmless.

Pitted nails, splitting, and ridges: what do they mean?

Nail pitting due to psoriasis, image source: dermnetnz.org

When you see tiny pinprick dents in the nail surface, that’s known as pitted nails. These aren’t just cosmetic; they often indicate internal or dermatological conditions.

Common cause: psoriasis, which can affect the nail matrix and create those little indentations.

Other causes: eczema, alopecia areata, or other autoimmune conditions affecting skin or nail tissue.

Note: Sometimes minimal pitting is normal and doesn’t signal disease—especially if only a couple nails are affected.

What causes nails to split?

Splitting, flaking, or layers peeling away are common complaints. This condition, called onychoschizia, is the answer.

Frequent exposure to water, harsh chemicals, and mechanical stress are common culprits in causing nails to split. Aging and repeated manicure trauma also contribute.

To help prevent nails from splitting:

• Limit prolonged water exposure

• Keep nails hydrated with cuticle oil and moisturizer

• Use gentle filing motions and fine grit files on natural nails

• See a nail tech with proper training who practices safe manicure techniques

What do ridges in nails mean?

Ridges (especially vertical ones) are usually harmless and part of normal aging.

However, more pronounced ridges or horizontal ridges—also called Beau’s lines—can indicate past systemic stress, illness, or nutritional disruption.

Beau's Lines; image source: dermnetnz.org

Can nails show signs of vitamin deficiency?

Yes—though nail clues are just hints, not diagnoses. When you see consistent abnormalities across multiple nails, it’s worth considering deeper nutritional evaluation.

• White lines/spots (leukonychia): Most often caused by minor injury, irritation, or illness/medications. Certain patterns can reflect systemic issues (for example hypoalbuminemia or toxin exposure), so persistent or widespread changes merit evaluation.
• Beau’s lines (horizontal grooves): Signal that nail growth was interrupted—possibly by stress, illness, or deficiency.
• Spoon nails (koilonychia): Concave nails often linked to iron deficiency anemia.

Spoon nails, or koilonchia, image source: dermnetnz.org

• Brittle or splitting nails: Can be associated with iron deficiency and other nutritional issues. Biotin deficiency is uncommon; supplementation may help some people but should be discussed with a clinician.

While nails can reflect nutritional gaps, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Always pair observations with medical testing if concerns persist.

What does it mean if your nails are yellow?

What does it mean if your nails are yellow? Yellow nails are one of the most common forms of nail discoloration, and understanding what causes nail discoloration can help determine whether it’s cosmetic or medical.

Common causes of nail discoloration include:

• Fungal infections: Overgrowth of yeast or fungi can discolor nails.
  
  Nail yellowing, or onycholysis, due to fungal infection; image source: dermnetnz.org
• Smoking, chronic regular nail polish use, or topical stains: These often cause yellowing without deeper health issues.
  
  Harmless nail yellowing due to smoking or staining from polish
• Systemic conditions: In more serious cases, yellow nails may indicate respiratory issues, diabetes, or liver disease.

Use a protective base coat and monitor nail health on a regular basis. If nails appear damaged, it may be helpful to give nails periodic breaks from polish or enhancements to reduce dehydration and staining (nails themselves don’t “breathe”, but in the case of damage, rest can help restore their strength and appearance).

Do nail changes indicate serious illness?

Sometimes—though in most cases, they are subtle signals, not red alarms.  Here are instances where they could point to something more severe:

• Horizontal grooves or Beau's lines can reflect past illnesses or metabolic stress

• Yellow discoloration paired with thickening or ridging could hint at a systemic disease.

• Clubbing (rounded, bulbous tips) and spooning can correlate with lung disease, cardiovascular concerns, or severe nutritional deficiency.

• Dark brown lines that run the entire length of the nail can indicate melanoma
  
  Nail melanoma; image source: nuhsplus.edu

Fortunately, most of the time nail changes only signal mild deficiencies or past stress. However, if you or a client experience persistent or systemic changes, consider evaluation by a medical professional.

When to seek medical advice & next steps

If you notice changes in multiple nails or sudden, drastic alterations (yellowing, deep grooves, spooning, clubbing, brown streaks), encourage your client to check with their physician. Blood panel tests, nail clippings, or dermatologic exams may uncover underlying causes.

Meanwhile, here are practical steps you can take in the salon:

• Use gentle filing and trimming techniques—avoid aggressive buffing
• Educate your clients on how to properly care for their nails at home, including avoiding over-stressing long nails and keeping their hands and nails hydrated
• Use protective base layers under enhancements
• Make sure you’re properly using professional-grade tools, have training in how to use them safely without causing damage, are disinfecting and/or sterilizing correctly, and are assessing your clients’ nail health regularly
• Point clients to qualified health or medical professionals if you notice changes that could indicate a nutrient deficiency or overall health concern. Nail techs are not doctors and should never give medical advice, but they can play an important role in spotting potential issues & encouraging clients to seek appropriate care.

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