Before starting this article, it is important for you to know that nails are a very important part of our body, as our nails can reveal symptoms of many diseases, including cancer.
Have you noticed a whitish crescent-shaped area at the nail bed? It is not just an area of pigment change under the nails; in fact, it is a very sensitive area and you have to make sure it is not damaged. In addition, this part of the nail, due to its color, size and changes that it presents can reveal many hidden diseases and symptoms.
First you should know that the whitish crescent-shaped area of the nail, which the eye perceives as a white crescent, is a very sensitive and extremely important part of the nail structure. As we said, you must be very careful and this part must not be damaged.
This area is known as “lúnula” (small moon in Latin) and is a very sensitive part of the nail. It looks white, because it is the fifth basal layer of the epidermis and actually “hides” the blood vessels that are underneath, it tends to have more sensitivity in the thumb, however, not all people can see them clearly. In some cases, the eponychium, the thickened layer of skin that surrounds the fingernails and toenails, can partially or completely cover the lunula.
What can the crescent of the nails reveal about our health?
The lunula is actually the visible part of the nail root and should not be damaged in any way because if you damage it, your entire nail will be permanently deformed.
Many experts around the world believe that the lunula can reveal very important information about our overall health.
For example, traditional Chinese medicine believes that a lack of a lunula indicates anemia and malnutrition , while a pale or bluish lunula indicates possible diabetes . If a person’s lunula has reddish spots, he or she may be suffering from cardiovascular disease .
A lack of a lunula or a really small crescent shape usually indicates indigestion that can occur due to slow metabolism and toxin overload in the body.
In general, the lunula takes an area of about one-fifth of the nail and has a clear edge. The lunula can usually predict illnesses of a person in the form of the color change or disappearance of the crescent. After the person regains health, the little moon will gradually appear again. The less lunula a person has, the less energy and the less health and immunity they have, making them more likely to feel tired. If the lunula only appears on the thumbs, it indicates that physical energy is insufficient and that the disease is to come.
How to detect diseases and conditions through the nails?
1. Observe the size
The size of the lunula is very important for our health, a healthy person has the lunula approximately 1/5 of the size of the nail surface, when it is smaller, it can probably indicate that there is some nutritional deficiency or has a slow metabolism, commonly anemia. The absence of lunules may be indicating iron and vitamin b12 deficiencies, even thyroid problems.
2. The color of the crescent
You should evaluate the color of the crescent on a frequent basis, this can reveal many health problems. It should always have a white color, this shows us that we are healthy and without any health problem.
- Gray color : It can reveal probable problems with digestion, revealing that the body does not absorb the necessary nutrients for the organism and that is why you feel great fatigue.
- Violet color : It can reveal problems of poor blood circulation and lack of oxygen in the organs and tissues, causing frequent dizziness or headaches.
- Black or dark brown color : Heavy metal poisoning can be the main cause of this color in nail lunules.
- Pink color : They indicate little physical activity and problems with the lungs.
3. The changes of the lunules.
In general, the size of the lunula in the fingers is different, in the little finger it must be very small, almost invisible, and it is related to the functioning of the small intestine, the kidneys and the heart. If the lunula is large, the blood pressure may be high.
The size of the lunula on the ring finger is related to the reproductive and lymphatic system, when it is very small it can mean problems with metabolism.
The size of the lunula in the middle finger is linked to the functioning of the brain and the cardiovascular system. When it is very small or invisible it can mean blood vessel problems and high blood pressure.
If it is almost invisible on the index finger, it can mean a malfunction of the intestine, chronic diseases of the respiratory tract or pancreas.
The size of the thumb on the thumb is related to the function of the lungs and spleen. The size of this should be greater than the previous ones, no more than 25% along the nail, the size increases if you suffer from high blood pressure or decreases if you are an active smoker.