Nails can sometimes give hints about the health of a person. Changes in the color, form, or texture of the finger or toenail can be a symptom of an underlying health condition. Whereas, spoon nails affect the shape of the nails. The nails tend to curl like a spoon. Possible reasons include nutritional disorders and autoimmune diseases. In certain cases, the problems’ solution means that the nails will usually start to grow again.
Find out all about what causes the nails to spoon and what to do about it.
What are spoon nails?
Spoon nails are thin and fragile, shaped like a little spoon that can always hold a drop of water. There are multiple causes, but the most common is iron-deficiency anemia.
The spoon nails’ medicinal name is Koilonychia, the Greek word for the hollow (koilos) and the nail (onikh).
How can you identify spoon nails?
Spoon nails look like the nail’s middle is scooped out. The nail is getting thin, and the outside edges are turning up. Also, your nail can break, and the outer portion may come out of your nail bed.
Some babies are born with a spoon of nails, but they gradually grow out of it. Spoon nails usually grow on your fingernails, but they can also appear in your toenails.
Iron deficiency or anemia is the most frequent cause of spoon nails. This makes your number of red blood cells lower than average. If anemia causes these, you may also experience:
- Fatigue
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
Spoon nails can only impact one of the nails, a few or all of them.
Risk factors
People at higher risk for it include:
- Older people
- People with low blood flow to their fingertips and toes;
- Women during menstruation;
- Anyone who has a higher risk of iron deficiency
- People with lupus
- People with eating disorders or malnutrition
- Certain people who follow vegetarian or vegan diets
- Those working for petroleum-based solvents
Symptoms
The nails take the form of a spoon that appears to project from the edges outwards and to become thinner in the center.
The color and shape of the nails are changing with this disorder. The nails become concave, and the nail plates become thin. The outer part of the nails may also be detached.
- In case of trauma to the nail, pain and swelling can occur, and the nail can also come out of the nail bed.
- The color of the bottom surface of the nail can change due to secondary infections.
- If the disease’s cause is iron deficiency, the person may look exhausted and show signs of anemia.
- The surface of the nail plates tends to be very dry. This can easily give rise to the extraction of the nail.
Cause
Spoon nails are often a sign of various diseases. Several different factors can cause it, but sometimes there is no clear cause.
Here are some of the possible causes
1. Nutrition deficiency
The most frequent cause of spoon nails is iron deficiency. Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent nutritional disease in the world. Also, it more commonly impacts children and women of childbearing age.
These health conditions may cause an iron deficiency:
- Too little iron in your diet
- Inability to consume enough iron from food
- Malnutrition
- Bleeding in the intestinal tract
- Cancer
- Celiac disease
People who do not consume enough folate, protein, and vitamin C can also develop iron deficiencies.
2. Autoimmune conditions
Spoon nails can occur with the following:
- The systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or lupus
- Some inflammatory skin disorders, such as psoriasis and lichen planus;
- In psoriasis, problems with the immune system can lead to changes in the nails and skin.
3. Environmental exposure
Scientists claim that there might be links between spoon nails and petroleum products.
Some individuals, such as hairstylists, frequently work with petroleum-containing products. This could raise the risk of spoon nails.
People living at high elevations may also be at greater risk of developing spoon nails.
4. Genetics Factors
Spoon nails can occur as a result of certain genetic conditions.
This includes the following:
- Hemochromatosis: The person consumes too much iron from the diet.
- Nail-patella syndrome: A person can have difficulties with their nails, kneecaps, hip bones, etc., and elbows.
Other conditions
Spoon nails are linked to the following conditions:
- Insufficient blood flow to the extremities, such as Raynaud’s disease
- Cardiovascular problems
- Hypothyroidism
- Nail trauma
- Vitamin B deficiency
- Celiac disease
How are spoon nails diagnosed?
You may be able to recognize spoon nails because of their appearance, so you should see the doctor for cause and proper treatment.
Your doctor will physically examine you, inquire about your medical condition, and perform blood tests if you suspect iron deficiency or too much iron.
If there are no systemic diseases involved, the spoon nails can damage nails from heredity or environmental factors. Spoon nails with no underlying systemic condition would not affect your health.
How are spoon nails treated?
If a specific disorder causes your spoon nails, your doctor will prescribe a treatment plan for that condition.
For anemia, the most common cause of spoon nails, the doctor will recommend iron supplements and nutritional changes to help you get more iron from food. Make sure to follow the instructions for iron supplementation so that your body consumes the right amount.
If your body does not absorb vitamin B-12 from food, your doctor can prescribe periodic injections of vitamin B-12.
Eat a diet high in iron to avoid anemia. This includes:
- Red meat
- Pork
- Poultry
- Seafood
- Beans
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Peas
- Dried fruit, such as raisins and apricots
Your body can consume more iron from meat than it does from other sources. If you chose not to eat meat, you would have eaten more vegetables and fruit iron. Consuming more vitamin C foods can help the body absorb iron from food.
There are a few simple things you can do to help with the condition of your spoon nails:
- Keep the nails clean and short.
- Use a skin softener or oil to keep the nails well lubricated.
- Don’t bite your nails.
Tips
Spoon nails are just one kind of nail problem.
Other types include fungal infections, psoriasis of the nails, and wrinkled nails. These may all be signs of a different disorder or problem.
Tips for taking care of nails when problems happen include:
- Wearing rubber gloves before washing or using cleaning materials
- Use a soft nail brush to keep the nails clean.
- Apply hand cream to the nails to moisturize them;
- Trim the nails after a bath or a shower when they are soft;
- Keep the nails short and trimming the toenails straight across the top.
- To minimize the chance of further separation, the clipping back of damaged nails to where they join the skin
- Choosing shoes that do not stick to the toes and nails
- If redness, inflammation, or other changes arise under the nails, people should visit a doctor.
The Bottom Line
Spoon nails are often caused by iron deficiency in the diet and may respond to dietary changes. If the underlying reason is not a nutritional one, the doctor may recommend medical treatment based on the cause of the disease. Some factors interact with the amount of iron and oxygen in the red blood cells hold.
Before using supplements, people should always talk to a doctor, as certain supplements may have adverse effects on a person. A doctor may also advise the client on how much to take.
