What is koilonychia disease?
Spoon nails are thin and soft and shaped like a little spoon that is often capable of holding a drop of water. There are many causes, but the most frequent one is iron deficiency anemia. The medical name for spoon nails is koilonychia, from the Greek words for hollow (koilos) and nail (onikh).
What deficiency causes koilonychia?
Iron deficiency is the most frequent cause of koilonychia. Iron deficiency anemia is the world’s most common nutritional deficiency disease. It most commonly affects children and women of childbearing age.
Why koilonychia is referred to as spoon nail?
Koilonychia, also known as spoon nails, is a nail disease that can be a sign of hypochromic anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia. It refers to abnormally thin nails (usually of the hand) which have lost their convexity, becoming flat or even concave in shape.
What causes koilonychia in iron deficiency anemia?
Koilonychia occurs in 5.4% of the patients with iron deficiency. It is thought to occur due to the upward deformation of lateral and distal portions of pliable iron deficient nail plates under mechanical pressure. Nail matrix changes due to blood flow abnormalities was also proposed as a pathomechanism.
What does vertical ridges in my nails mean?
Ridges in the fingernails are often normal signs of aging. Slight vertical ridges commonly develop in older adults. In some cases, they may be a sign of health problems like vitamin deficiencies or diabetes. Deep horizontal ridges, called Beau’s lines, may indicate a serious condition.
Does iron deficiency cause nail problems?
Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia or a liver condition known as hemochromatosis, in which your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat. Spoon nails can also be associated with heart disease and hypothyroidism.
What are the symptoms of koilonychia or spoon nails?
There is discoloration seen under the nail due to secondary infection. Signs of malnourishment can be seen in the person affected with Koilonychia or Spoon Nails. The nails have embossed edges. Koilonychia or Spoon Nails can also indicate iron deficiency anemia. Koilonychia or Spoon Nails can also be seen with Plummer-Vinson syndrome.
What causes your fingernails to look like spoons?
The nail looks like spoons if the nail plate curves inward the nail bed and resembles the shape of spoons. It’s the concavity of the fingernails which occurs due to iron deficiency, anemia, hemochromatosis etc. The Causes of Koilonychia. Spoon-shaped nails are associated with mainly anemia and iron deficiency.
How does koilonychia affect the density of nails?
Even the condition of koilonychia will affect the density of nails making it thinner. The nails become concave in shape (assuming the shape of spoon), nail plates become thin and the nails completely come out of the nail bed easily. There can be pain if the nail gets fully detached from the nail-bed.
What is the medical term for spoon nails?
Spoon nails are attributed to a medical condition known as Koilonychia. Terms such as concave nails, scoop nails, and spooning nails are also used to describe this nail disease.
Is there cure for concave fingernails?
If concave fingernails are caused by iron deficiency, as is often the case, addressing the cause of the iron deficiency will cure the nail condition.
What causes large moons on fingernails?
Pyramidal lunula occurs when the moons of your fingernail form in a triangle shape. Most often, this is caused by an improper manicure or another kind of trauma to the fingernail. The moons may stay this way until the nail grows out and the tissue fully heals.
What is the Half Moon on fingernails?
The half-moon shape at the base of your fingernail is known as a lunula. Lunulae cover the bottom of your nail, just above your cuticle.
Do curved fingernails indicate serious health problems?
This condition is also known as nail clubbing. Curved fingernails are associated with heart problems, lung disease, and other underlying health problems. However, it can also be caused without any health problem.