Have you ever noticed your parents or grandparents aging? Not just in the greying of their hair or blurriness of their eyes, their old age reflects on their bodies too. Looking closely, you’ll see how their skin has become weak and wrinkled. At times, there are significant changes in their nails too. Sit beside them and try to notice how aging plays its wonders on the human body.
As we get older, we start paying less attention to our bodies and beautifying them. Our grandparents avoid getting regular haircuts and skip shaving their arms. They even develop facial hair and forget to cut and clean their nails. But this ignorance often leads to developing some infections or even diseases. Not cutting and cleaning your nails regularly may lead to problems that are more dangerous than you think.
If you develop fungal buildups or bacterial infections, they become obvious from appearance and you can treat them immediately. But there are certain issues that do not look as problematic from the outer appearance but aren’t any less critical. One such issue is that of clubbed nails. Now, have you ever heard of nail clubbing? What is it and how do we identify and get rid of it? Let’s get into the details.
What is Nail Clubbing? The Causes, Care, and Treatment of Clubbed Nails
Have you ever noticed strangely shaped nails on your or someone else’s fingers? Have you seen how sometimes your nails used to be earlier but have changed in terms of structure and growth? Well, these changes can sometimes be harmless but sometimes get more problematic than usual. Such problems involve a change in their appearance due to some underlying diseases and it is called ‘nail clubbing’.
Here’s all that you need to know about clubbed nails and how you can treat and prevent them.
What is Nail Clubbing?
Nail clubbing is the name for a condition in which the shape, size, and appearance of the nails and the surrounding skin change due to some underlying disease. It results in your nails appearing wider, swollen, and spongy resembling an upside-down spoon. The change in the nail appearance and structure can happen in either your fingernails or toenails or both resulting in bulky-looking fingertips.
Clubbed nails, more often than not, are a sign of some serious health condition that requires treatment. This can even include cancer in some extreme cases. Depending on the extremeness of your disease, your clubbed nails may have slight or sharp changes in their appearance. In some cases, it may not be as obvious to understand even when you look at them.
If you happen to see or feel any changes in your nails, check for the following signs to know the problem. While oftentimes it may be fungal or bacterial buildup leading to nail fungus, it is important to keep checking on your fingernails and toenails to identify any changes in appearance other than the color.
Early Signs
Some people naturally have slightly curved fingernails and even toenails. But if you’re not one of them and suddenly see them forming a bulge or curve, look for these signs to identify if you have clubbed nails:
- A rounded and bulging shape resembling an upside-down spoon.
- Redness
- Warm and soft nail beds
- Widened nails wrapping the sides of the fingertips
- Increased roundness
- Downward curving of the nails
- Spring-like or floating nail with a sponge-like feel
These signs may sound odd but this is exactly how patients describe this condition. Nail clubbing occurs gradually and developing these ‘early’ signs may take weeks, months, or even years depending on the seriousness of the underlying cause. If you are experiencing most or even some of these, it’s time you consider these as early symptoms and get yourself diagnosed for real.
Possible Causes
Nail clubbing is a condition and not a disease in itself. Hence, clubbed nails are usually harmless and even painless. But it is the underlying cause that’s problematic and can be more serious than you’d think. Despite the fact that nail clubbing can even happen in a perfectly healthy person without any underlying issue, more often there is a serious cause that requires treatment.
Following are some of the most common causes of clubbed nails which may be possible in your case too:
- Digestive conditions: If you’re suffering from an inflammation in your digestive system or diseases like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, etc., it may lead to clubbed nails.
- Thyroid conditions: Some people with Hyperthyroidism or other thyroid conditions like Grave’s disease may experience nail clubbing.
- Liver diseases: If you are suffering from Cirrhosis of the liver, one of the symptoms can be clubbed nails.
- Cancers: One of the most common and dangerous causes of nail clubbing are different types of cancers. Lung cancer and esophageal cancer are the common causes but many other types may also result in clubbed fingers.
- Generic Inheritance: If your genes have a family history of nail clubbing, higher are the chances that you’ll develop them too. Check whether your biological parents or grandparents had them if you feel you’ve inherited them.
- Other diseases and irregularities that might show nail clubbing as a sign include cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary fibrosis, asbestosis, interstitial lung diseases, and heart irregularities such as tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).
Now that you know the causes, you can understand the seriousness of the issue. God forbid, if you’re suffering from any one of the above and nail clubbing is one of the first few symptoms, you may be saved early on if you don’t ignore it and get it treated timely.
Remember, clubbing doesn’t happen only in fingernails. Not all the time are your toenail infections painful. You might have heard of black toenails but that isn’t the only problem that occurs in your feet. Toenail clubbing might not show color changes or feel painful, but if you notice changes in the appearance of toenail shapes, it might be a result of clubbing.
When to See a Healthcare Provider?
Though nail clubbing is harmless in itself, we already know that there are some serious underlying causes. Since these conditions need immediate medical treatment, your clubbed nails may be a sign to do just that.
So, if you see any changes in the appearance of your nails or notice any of the above-mentioned signs, it’s time to see a healthcare provider immediately. If your nails are growing at an upward angle or you have depressed nail beds, it is time to consult a doctor to get the underlying causes treated on time.
How to Treat Clubbed Nails?
When you consult a healthcare provider for your nail clubbing problem to understand the cause, the doctor will carry on with a proper diagnosis of your symptoms. He will then go ahead to find out the underlying cause and recommend a treatment plan depending on his diagnosis.
The medical professional may prescribe any of the following:
- If it is cancer, a combination of drugs, chemotherapy, and surgery may be recommended.
- In the case of pulmonary fibrosis, asbestosis, cystic fibrosis, or bronchiectasis, a combination of medicines, lifestyle changes, pulmonary rehabilitation, and oxygen therapy may be prescribed.
- A gluten-free diet in the case of celiac disease or other digestive conditions.
- Heart surgery to correct TOF in the case of congenital heart conditions.
We are not saying that nail clubbing is the only sign of these underlying conditions but it is something that shouldn’t ideally be ignored.
How to Prevent Nail Clubbing?
You cannot entirely prevent nail clubbing per se; you need to work on preventing the underlying cause. You may adapt some of the following ways to prevent some of the previously mentioned conditions:
- Get your routine physical examinations done regularly and if you notice any changes or problems, see a healthcare provider and talk about your symptoms.
- Make some healthy lifestyle changes. Reduce alcohol consumption to moderate and avoid smoking. This will help eliminate the chances of cancer, lung infections, heart diseases, liver problems, and the like.
- Limit exposure to asbestos and other toxins if your work involves it. Ensure the usage of protective equipment to maintain safety.
If, by any chance, you’ve been diagnosed with any of the conditions, follow the prescribed treatment and health plan to prevent nail clubbing and other symptoms.
The Final Word
Understanding nail clubbing and its causes and treatment can significantly improve your nail health and overall well-being. It is essential to recognize that while nail clubbing may indicate underlying health conditions, it also serves as a reminder to pay closer attention to our bodies. Regular check-ups, proper nail care routines, and a healthy lifestyle can go a long way in preventing and managing this condition. By staying informed and proactive, you can ensure that your nails remain a window to your overall health. Remember, your nails are not just a beauty statement—they are a reflection of your inner health. Take care of them, and they’ll take care of you.
