What is the white part at the end of your nail?

The lunula is the white crescent-shaped area at the base of a nail. The lunula, or lunulae (pl.) (from Latin ‘little moon’), is the crescent-shaped whitish area of the bed of a fingernail or toenail.

Why are nails white at the bottom?

The lunula looks white because the epidermis is thicker beneath the matrix and it blocks the pink colour from the blood vessels below.

Are white nail tips healthy?

Healthy fingernails and toenails should generally be a pink color – with the healthy nail plate being pink, and the nail being white in color as it grows off the nail bed. Fingernail color and condition changes are rarely the first clue of serious illness.

Is lunula good or bad?

Sometimes, you may only be able to see lunula on your thumbs, or possibly not on any fingers at all. In these cases, the lunula is most likely hidden under your skin. Though the connection is not completely understood, an absent lunula can indicate anemia, malnutrition, and depression.

What does a healthy nail look like?

Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves. They’re uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration. Sometimes fingernails develop harmless vertical ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Vertical ridges tend to become more prominent with age.

What causes the fingernail to turn white?

Your nails might appear white in areas if you have been exposed to certain drugs or chemicals. Chemotherapy drugs used to fight cancer can cause you to develop white bands on your nails. Arsenic poisoning is another chemically induced reason for a white discoloration of the nails.

What causes fingernails to split down the middle?

A split nail is usually caused by physical stress, nutrient deficiency, or wear and tear. Split nails can be a problem, especially if you work with your hands. Although split nails are completely normal and sometimes unavoidable, there are ways you can prevent split nails in the future.

Why are my fingernails turning white?

Why are my fingernails turning white? The most common cause of white marks on fingernails is trauma, usually from biting or chewing the nails or the skin around them. Over-zealous manicures can also be to blame, so be gentle, and avoid metal instruments – use wooden or plastic tipped ones instead.

What does it mean if your nails are white?

Total leukonychia refers to a condition where the whole nail plate is totally white in color. White spots on the nail is known as punctate leukonychia, which is a type of partial leukonychia. Another type is partial leukonychia. There are three main types of partial leukonychia: Punctate leukonychia, which presents as small white spots.