The bizarre white lines on the man’s fingernails were a sign that he was taking cancer medication – as doctors say, fingernails can be a window into your health.
Recently, quite by accident, a man discovered an unexpected connection between cancer treatment and his nails. At the age of 30, he noticed unusual white lines on his nails. Coincidentally, they appeared when he was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. The six lines on his nails corresponded to six chemotherapy sessions.
This condition, known as transverse leukonychia or Mies’ lines, has proven to be a benign side effect of treatment, but this case is a reminder that our nails can be an open window, that gives us a glimpse into the health of our body, writes Daily Mail.
Composed primarily of the strong protein keratin, which is also found in hair and skin, nails can often tell us more about our health than we think. Changes in nails are not uncommon during chemotherapy, affecting approximately 40% of patients. These changes, sometimes called “chemo-nails,” occur because some drugs disrupt the functioning of the cells that produce nails.
Just as chemotherapy affects hair, causing it to fall out due to the effect on cells that grow rapidly, it can also affect nails. The good news is that these changes are usually temporary, as evidenced by a man whose nails returned to normal within a year.
But nails can be not only an indicator of side effects. According to Dr. Shari Lipner, a dermatologist at Cornell University, they can be a “canary in the coal mine” of serious health problems. For example, heart problems, arthritis, or circulatory problems can affect the condition of our nails.
Interestingly, nails can also reflect our daily habits. For example, vertical lines on the nails, which are a natural sign of aging, can also be the result of excessive hand washing or the use of hand sanitizers. This habit has become widespread during the Covid-19 pandemic, but it can strip the skin of protective oils and bacteria, making it more susceptible to infections.
In rare cases, nails can even indicate cancer. A persistent dark spot under the nail, unlike an ordinary bruise that disappears, can be a sign of skin cancer, in particular, subungual melanoma. Although it is a rare disease, it is treatable if detected at an early stage.
Other warning signs include red streaks, which can indicate a severe heart infection, or “clubfoot” nails, which can indicate heart and lung problems.
Finally, diet plays an important role in nail health. Brittle and brittle nails may indicate iron deficiency caused by a poor diet. A balanced diet is a key factor in maintaining healthy nails.
For the prevention of nail health, it is recommended to conduct regular self-examination and visit a dermatologist annually without nail polish. This the case emphasizes the importance of paying attention to nails not only from a cosmetic point of view, but also as a window to our overall health.
