You can tell a lot about your health by looking at your hands.
Your fingernails can indicate all manner of things about you – from allergies to vitamin deficiencies.
So which signs should you look out for?
It’s common for people to have white marks on their nails, as well as ridges and curves.
These aren’t always cause for concern, but they could indicate that you should visit your GP for advice.
Here, health experts speak about everyday nail concerns that affect the British public.
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White marks on your fingernails
The technical term for these white speckles is leukonychia.
And according to Healthline, there are several reasons why you could be experiencing them.
An allergic reaction can cause the markings to appear, like when your body reacts badly to nail polish, gloss, hardener or varnish remover.
If you believe this to be the case, stop using these products for a while to see if the spots disappear.
Leukonychia could also indicate you are battling a fungal infection.
Other indicators of this problem include brittle nails or mineral deficiencies.
Ridged fingernails
Bumps in your nails could suggest that your diet is lacking in nutrients.
It could also point to skin disorders and other illnesses.
Dr Samantha Eisman, a Consultant Dermatologist at Sinclair Dermatology, and beauty professional Tracey Winder of Mavala recently spoke about the problem.
The health experts told Daily Mail: “Ridges often indicate a lack of the mineral sulphur in your diet.
“The mineral sulphur is readily available in protein-rich foods such as meat, poultry, eggs and milk."
In these instances, ridges are often nothing to worry about.
Incorporating more minerals into your diet could help to make the bumps disappear.
Finger nails that curve inwards
Dr Samantha Eisman, Consultant Dermatologist at Sinclair Dermatology, recently spoke about the nail problem.
While its perfectly normal for kids to have concave fingernails, it may be more worrying if adults experience them.
The expert told Whimn: “These changes may represent underlying medical disorders specifically iron deficient anaemia and need prompt investigating.”
“Spoon shaped nails” could also point to other problems, such as hemochromatosis.
This liver condition occurs when the body absorbs an excess of iron from your diet and has been linked with heart disease in the past.
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If you are concerned about your nails, visit your GP for advice.
You can also get plenty of handy information on the NHS website.
The health service explains abnormalities in greater detail, as well as providing information about when to seek medical attention.
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