Nailed It
Did you know your nails can reveal clues about your overall health? Here are 6 secrets your nails might be telling you.
Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness and nutrition courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+.

Before you cover your claws in polish, inspect them for these signs of poor health:
Yellow nails: Discoloration is often a sign of respiratory disease such as chronic bronchitis.
Beau’s lines: An indentation that runs across the nails can be a sign of diabetes or zinc deficiency.
Terry’s nails: When the nail appears white except for a pink tip near the end, it could be a sign of liver disease, diabetes, heart failure or just plain aging.
Koilonychia: Soft nails that look “scooped out” can be a sign of anemia, heart disease or hypothyroidism.
Nail clubbing: When the tips of the fingers enlarge and the nails curve around the fingertips, it could be a sign of low oxygen in the blood, irritable bowel syndrome or even AIDS.
Pitting: Small indentations in your nails could be a sign of connective tissue disorders or alopecia.