Color of Fingernails and Toenails Health Indicator Chart

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2015/10/11 - Updated: 2025/05/01
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Finger - Toenails - Related Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This article provides a comprehensive overview of how the coloration of fingernails and toenails can serve as indicators of various health conditions. It details how healthy nails typically exhibit a pinkish hue, while deviations such as blue, black, white, yellow, or green discolorations may signal underlying issues like respiratory disorders, anemia, fungal infections, or even more severe diseases. By elucidating these correlations, the piece offers valuable insights that can aid individuals, including seniors and those with disabilities, in early detection and prompt consultation with healthcare professionals - Disabled World (DW).

Definition: Nail (Anatomy): In anatomy, a nail is defined as a horn-like envelope covering the tips of the fingers and toes in humans, most non-human primates, and a few other mammals. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protective protein called alpha-keratin, a polymer. Alpha-keratin is found in the hooves, claws, and horns of vertebrates. The nail functions by protecting the digits and contributing to tactile sensation.

Introduction

Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protective protein called keratin. Keratin is one of a family of fibrous structural proteins and is the key structural material making up hair, horns, claws, hooves, and the outer layer of human skin.

Main Content

Health-care and pre-hospital-care providers (EMTs or paramedics) often use the fingernail beds (CRT or blanch test) as a cursory indicator of distal tissue perfusion of individuals who may be dehydrated or in shock.

Healthy fingernails and toenails should generally be pink - with the healthy nail plate being pink and the nail being white as it grows off the nail bed. Fingernail color and condition changes are rarely the first clues of serious illness. In most instances, patients will manifest other signs or symptoms of disease before nail changes become evident.

Nail colors can generally be grouped into black, blue, brown/copper, green, blue-green, grey, yellow, pale, purple or red groups - each color means something different. Remember that your nails may look a particular way for another reason unrelated to your health but could be due to mechanical or environmental influences. Your beauty therapist and manicurist should also be able to guide you in this field.

When healthy fingernails begin to change color or texture, one of the most common underlying causes is nail fungus, which can cause the nails to crack, peel, and change color and texture. Common disorders like thyroid disease can also cause abnormalities in the toenail and fingernail beds, often producing dry brittle nails that crack and split easily.

Nail Color Health Chart
Jump To Nail Color Condition: Blue Black White White Spots White Under Nails Grey/Gray Green Yellow Purple Red Dark on Sides Lines on Nails Brown Spots Under Nails Color Bands Ridges and Pitting
Blue nails	Blue fingernails, also known as azure lunula (medical term - cyanosis), are characterized by a blue discoloration of the lunulae. Blue Fingernails Can be Indicative of: Argyria - A condition caused by exposure to chemical compounds of the element silver. Hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson's disease) Raynaud's disease - The fingers and toes blanch, then turn blue and may become numb or painful on exposure to cold. Septicemia - Also known as bacteremia or blood poisoning. Septicemia occurs when a bacterial infection enters the bloodstream. Lung and breathing problems - Including asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory disorders. Blue fingernails may represent a type of cyanosis caused by a lower level of lack of circulating oxygen in the red blood cells. May also represent a high level of an abnormal form of hemoglobin in the circulation. If normal color returns upon warming and/or massage, the cause is due to the body part not getting enough blood supply due to cold, constriction (of the tissues or the blood vessels that supply the tissues) or some other reason. If the fingernails remain blue, then there may be an underlying disease or structural abnormality interfering with the body's ability to deliver oxygenated red blood cells to the body.
Black Nails	Black fingernails can indicate signs of Anemia B-12 deficiency Bacterial infection Chronic kidney disease Adrenal gland problems Liver disease Cancer or melanomas Silver deposits (heavy metals) Trauma
White/Pale Fingernails	May be indicative of kidney or liver disorders or anemia. White lined bands across the nail beds can signal a protein deficiency. White nails with a rim of darker color at the tip of the nail is called Terry's nail and can be a sign of cirrhosis of the liver
White Spots on Nails	In most cases this is due to a zinc deficiency or injuries to the nail bed. Indicative of certain internal problems such as arthritis, or from poisoning. Iron or zinc deficiency Although it has been noted that white lines can be symptoms of a serious disorder, their presence is more than likely a result of iron or zinc deficiency.
White Areas Under Nails	When there are white areas visible under the nail, normally at the tip of the nail where it joins the nail bed, this normally indicates a fungal infection and must be treated medically. Half white nails, with dark spots, especially on the tip, may be indicative of kidney diseases.
Grey Nails	Arthritis problems Edema Malnutrition Post-operative effects Glaucoma, Lung problems Emphysema Cardio-pulmonary disease
Green Nails	Allergies to cleaning agents Bacterial infection such as Bacillus infection Localized fungal infection Serious emphysema
Yellow Nails	Can be indicative of problems with the lymphatic system Respiratory disorders Diabetes or liver problems Nicotine from cigarette smoking Yellow discoloration in your fingernails can also result from a respiratory condition, such as chronic bronchitis, or from swelling of your hands (lymphedema). In yellow nail syndrome, nails thicken and new growth slows, resulting in discoloration. Nails affected with this condition may lack a cuticle and may detach from the nail bed in places.
Purple Nails	Oxygen deprivation Circulatory problems Congenital problems
Red Fingernails	Possible Brain hemorrhage Heart disease High blood pressure Lung disease Stroke Carbon monoxide poisoning
Darkening of Nails (on sides)	Can be indicative of kidney disease
Lines on Nails (red/brown)	Splinter hemorrhage shows up as red or brown lines along the long axis of the nail and may be caused by endocarditis (an inflammation of the heart membranes) or trichinosis (a parasitic infection from undercooked pork). A simple dark blue line in the fingernail can be a sign of skin cancer. Tiny black streaks can indicate a possible heart problem. Thin black lines on the nail often indicate a heart disease.
Brown Spots Under Nails	Pitted brown spots in fingernails may indicate a skin and joint disorder called psoriasis. Reddish-brown spots can indicate a deficiency of folic acid, protein or vitamin C.
Color Bands	In Caucasian people, color bands under the nail may indicate cancer, while in non-Caucasian people it is usually a normal occurrence.
Fingernail Ridges, Pitting, Shape	For information regarding fingernail shape, pitting, spoon nails, vertical or horizontal fingernail ridges, click here.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Nail color changes are more than cosmetic concerns; they often reflect deeper health issues that warrant attention. For seniors and those managing chronic conditions, understanding these subtle signs could lead to early interventions and improved outcomes. Consulting a healthcare provider when noticing abnormal nail colors should be prioritized to address potential underlying conditions effectively - Disabled World (DW).

Ian C. Langtree Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.