What The Half-Moons Underneath Your Fingernails Can Inform You About Your Well being

When your lunula is bigger than regular — about 50% of the nail — it could possibly be a symptom of an endocrine dysfunction, infectious illness, cardiac situation, or congenital dysfunction (by way of ePainAssist). 

Per a case examine revealed in Cureus, enlarged lunulae could be related to hyperthyroidism, leprosy, and scleroderma. Hyperthyroidism is a situation the place the thyroid overproduces hormones, whereas scleroderma is an unusual pores and skin illness that results in tightness and hardening of the pores and skin, particularly the arms, ft, and face (by way of the Mayo Clinic). However, leprosy is a bacterial an infection that causes discolored patches of pores and skin and muscle weak point, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. 

Moreover, the Cureus examine notes that it could possibly be trauma to the nail inflicting the deformity. Topical software of the steroid medication hydrocortisone may additionally trigger the half-moon in your nail to extend in dimension.