NAILS

Color change in the nails.
True, those white marks everyone claims are from vitamin deficiencies are harmless, but when it’s an actual color change, that’s not exactly the case. “Yellow nail syndrome, an inherited condition that results in slow-growing, discolored nails, is associated with lymphedema [swelling of tissues due to the accumulation of fluid] and lung diseases, and should be brought to your doctor’s attention immediately,” says Dr. D’Anne Kleinsmith, Dermatologist and member of the American Academy of Dermatology. Other nail color changes can come from diabetes, kidney, heart and lung problems, so insist on your doctor’s full attention A.S.A.P.

Painful, spotted nails.
Fungal infections are the most common type of nail condition out there. One form is called White Spot nail disease. “In this case, there are superficial, rather scaly white spots on the surface of the nail,” Kleinsmith says. Nail infections like this can not only be painful, but they can even lead to permanent damage without quick and effective treatment—meaning you could end up with recurring infections and a lot of pain. And keep an eye on your toes—a fungal infection down there is even more likely thanks to all the time they spend in warm, moist environments (ew, we know).