Your nails, hardened layers of keratin proteins, are protective devices for your fingers and toes. For your digits to remain wound- and infection-free, your nails must be strong and healthy. A range of medical conditions, from malnutrition to fungal infections and autoimmune diseases can cause your finger- and toe-nails to deteriorate. The one word that can be used to describe healthy nails is uniformity. Signs of healthy nails are uniformity in color, shape and consistency.
Clear Color
Healthy nails are those that do not show spots of discoloration, and appear clear, except for the top part that extends past your fingertips, which may appear white. Some people may describe their healthy nails as being flesh-colored, because you have blood vessels underneath the nail plate that show through the clear nail. Yellowing of the nails or white or dark spots scattered across the nail plate can indicate that an infection or injury is present, according to the Mayo Clinic. Discoloration of the nails can also occur through heavy use of nail polishes and polish removers.
Smooth Surface
Normal, strong nails tend to have a smooth surface that is consistent from the nail bed at the base of your finger- or toe-nail, to the tip of the nail plate. Abnormalities to the surface of the nail can include pitting--indentations on the nail plate that can be a symptom of psoriasis--and the formation of ridges. Nutritional deficiencies can cause vertical ridges across your nails called Beau's lines. Ridging of the nails can also be a common sign of aging, and does not always mean you have a medical problem.
Uniform Shape
Everyone's nails grow differently and some people's nails are more square-like in shape, and others may have perfectly oval nails even without shaping. People who have healthy nails with notice a uniform shape throughout, in whatever shape their nails grow. Nails that break or crumble easily are more likely to be a symptom of a fungal infection, a nutritional deficiency or other health problem, according to the National Institutes of Health. Healthy nails are strong rather than brittle, grow straight out and have a crescent-shaped section at the case, called the lunula. If your nails curl upward or indent like the bowl of the spoon, consult your doctor, as these are conditions that may require treatment.
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