What Causes Fingernail Discoloration?

Fingernail discoloration simply means the change in normal nail color due to any reason. The nail is pink unless it is attached to the skin and when it grows out of the finger frame, it is white with no dirt inside. Fingernail discoloration is change in the color of nail from pink to white, purple, yellow, green or dark red. It can result from different conditions, infection and injury, being two major responsible factors.

There are many types of microorganisms and any of them can attack the nails and make them discolored. Many species of fungi can affect nails and such fungus has tendency to affect the skin particularly the nails. Pseudomonas is another type of bacteria that can infect the nail-bed and can result in turning the normal looking nail into greenish color. Pure white colored or pale colored nail may indicate anemia.

Fingernail discoloration carries much importance in medical field. Local examination of the nails cannot be skipped by any doctor or healthcare provider. Dark red, purple or black colored nail may indicate hematoma (a collection of the occult blood under the nails) due to injury. The injury could be due to cut, wound or simply the fingernail being pinched between two doors. Many times, fingernails of the foot may get damaged due to apathy of the person walking fast and hitting with lets of table, wooden chair or even coat.

Specific color changes in the nail may be suggestive of diabetes or of liver, kidney, heart or lung conditions. Because of this reason, doctors always pay special attention to nails during a routine physical (local) examination. Nails are first looked with suspicious eye if a doctor guesses some condition like anemia and/or jaundice. The colors of the nails drastically change from pink to white/pale and yellow respectively. Many times, fingernails are pinched gently by doctor to see how much time the pinkness takes to get back into the nail-bed that has gone when the fingernail was pinched and released.

Some of the experts suggest that fingernail color may alter due to hypo/hyperthyroidism. Other rare condition may include ‘yellow nail syndrome’ that is generally associated with lymphedema, which is a swelling of tissues due to the accumulation of fluid. Some of the fungal infection is also one of the major causative factors for fingernail discoloration. Black fungus infection may turn the nail black and when fungal infection has crossed certain limits, it may produce pus that can turn the pink nail yellow oozing pus from some corner.

There are many other diseases that can result into discoloration of the nails. Such conditions include atopic dermatitis, diabetes, icterus, lichen planus, psoriasis and it could be due to any skin diseases that affect the nails. Sometimes, certain drugs like tetracycline can also cause nail discoloration. Malnutrition, candidiasis, use of tobacco, ingrown fingernails, kidney/heart/liver diseases are also some of the ‘non-ignorable’ factors that can cause discoloration of the nails.

Whatever the cause nail discoloration has, it is to be treated as early as possible to avoid hazardous complications in future.

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