What does the white half moon on fingernails mean?

What does the white half moon on fingernails mean?

lunula
The half-moon shape at the base of your fingernail is known as a lunula. Lunulae are part of your nail matrix. The matrix refers to the tissue just beneath your nail. It contains nerves, lymph, and blood vessels. It also produces the cells that become the hardened nail plate, which is what you see.

What does the lunula say about your health?

White lunulae are healthy and natural. The moons should be several shades lighter than the skin. Purple lunulae are a sign of poor blood circulation and a lack of oxygen in the organs and tissues. Pink (red) lunulae may indicate low physical activity and lung problems.

Why is the lunula of a nail white in color?

The crescent moon shape, or lunula, is the part of the matrix that pokes out from under the flesh of your finger. The lunula looks white because the epidermis is thicker beneath the matrix and it blocks the pink colour from the blood vessels below.

Why are my nails half white and half pink?

They are sometimes referred to as “half-and-half” nails because they appear white at the base and brownish red near the tip. While it’s unclear exactly what causes Lindsay’s nails, it’s believed that chronic anemia due to kidney failure may cause the nail bed to appear pale.

Why is it sometimes difficult to see a lunula?

Why is it sometimes difficult to see lunula? Specialized ligaments attach the nail bed to the underlying bone and are located at the base of the matrix and around the edges of the nail bed. The nail bed contains many nerves, and is attached to the nail plate by a thin layer of tissue.

What does purple half moons on fingernails mean?

Purple: This could mean poor blood circulation to that area or the rest of your body. It could also be accompanied by dizziness and/or difficulty breathing. Black: This is a serious sign of either heavy metal poisoning or heart disease.

What does Half moon signify?

A: The so called Luna, half moon, or sickle of the moon, also waning and waxing moon, is a sign of fertility, related to life and death, and thus a popular symbol in many religions. It pinpoints changing seasons, ebb and tide (and related inundations as harbingers of fertility), and the feminine menstrual cycle.

Can half and half nails be normal?

The manifestation of half and half nails syndrome in healthy patients raises the possibility of a genetic susceptibility to the disease. Half and half nails is a condition commonly found in patients with chronic kidney disease, but it can also be found in the context of other diseases as well as in healthy individuals.

What do half moons on fingernails mean?

Moons, light half moon shaped, are situated at the base of the fingernails. Small or no moons are thought to indicate low blood pressure or underactive thyroid gland. Scientists have found that lack of moons on fingernail may suggest deficiency of vitamin B12 or iodine which normally feeds the thyroid gland.

Why do fingernails have half moons?

When the nails are healthy, they have a pink color and the moons near the nail base are light pink to white color. According to Dr. L Reed , ND, the half moons at the base of your fingernail is an indicator of good thyroid health. Each nail that is missing a half moon indicates a weaker thyroid.

What does Half Moon on your fingernails mean?

The technical term for the half-moon is lunula, which literally means “little moon” in Latin. Its purpose is to help define the shape of your fingernail. It’s a very delicate part of the nail, and damage to it can leave the nail permanently deformed.

What causes white moons on fingernails?

The white half moon at the beginning of the nail is an indicator of good thyroid health. Each nail that is missing a half moon shows a weaker thyroid. Weak thyroid health can lead to depression, mood swings, and thinning hair, according to Dr. Reed.