What causes toenails to spoon?

Spoon nails usually develop on fingernails, but they can also occur in your toenails. The most common cause of spoon nails is iron deficiency, or anemia. This makes your level of red blood cells lower than normal.

What is the treatment for spoon nail?

Healthcare providers treat the underlying cause of koilonychia. If you have an iron deficiency, changing your diet or taking supplements may correct and prevent spoon nails. For example, you may eat more iron-rich foods, such as: Beans and lentils.

How does iron deficiency cause spoon nails?

Koilonychia occurs in 5.4% of the patients with iron deficiency. It is thought to occur due to the upward deformation of lateral and distal portions of pliable iron deficient nail plates under mechanical pressure. Nail matrix changes due to blood flow abnormalities was also proposed as a pathomechanism.

Does nail biting cause spoon nails?

Spoon nails can stem from a number of causes. They can be hereditary, in which case the nail(s) would appear clean and healthy — a normal nail, except for a small deformation in the contour. Picking, biting, and rubbing nails over a long period of time could result in spoon nails.

Why do my fingernails curl down at the tips?

Nails that curve at the tips Doctors believe this results from increased blood flow to the fingertips. It can run in families and may be harmless, but it may be due to a health condition, especially if it occurs later in life.

Is koilonychia reversible?

Treatment / Management Appropriate workup is important not only to exclude an underlying cutaneous or systemic disorder but also to distinguish between the different aetiologies to provide appropriate management of koilonychia. Most of the cases with acquired causes are reversible.

What deficiencies show in nails?

Dry and Brittle Nails. Nails that chip and break easily can be a sign of a nutritional deficiency or anemia. An iron or protein deficiency can result in weak nails, as can a lack of B-complex vitamins such as B12, calcium, biotin, hydrochloric acid or zinc.

Why do my nails curve down when they get long?

Nails that curve far inward at the sides are called ingrown nails. This condition may affect the toenails and be due to wearing shoes that are too tight, particularly in the toe box. Ingrown nails may also result from cutting the nails improperly. In some cases, treatment may involve removing part or all of the nail.

Why are my nail beds getting flat?

Nails may exhibit many different abnormalities. In the condition known as koilonychia, the nails are flattened and have concavities. This condition may be associated with iron deficiency. In onycholysis the nails become loose.