Why Do Fingernails Turn Purple?

Causes and Health Implications of Purple Nails

Under normal circumstances, our nails should exhibit a translucent, slightly reddish hue, accompanied by a resilient, curved, smooth, and shiny appearance. However, the emergence of purple nails necessitates prompt attention as it may signify underlying health concerns. This discoloration often indicates local circulatory disorders, potentially stemming from conditions like heart disease or emphysema. Let's delve into the probable reasons behind purple nails:

1. Causes of Purple Nails

1. Purple nails can arise from blood stasis or impaired blood circulation. This may be attributed to a weakened spleen, responsible for facilitating the transport of nutrients and fluids within the body. A compromised spleen can hinder adequate blood flow. Additionally, cold exposure within the body can cause blood to stagnate and flow sluggishly.
2. The fingertips, inclusive of nails, are distant from the heart and inherently possess weaker blood supply capabilities. During winter, when heat is lost from the fingertips, blood struggles to promptly supply warmth to the area, resulting in reduced temperatures, vasoconstriction, inadequate blood flow, and ultimately, purple nails. In severe instances, this can progress to frostbite.
3. Monitoring hemoglobin levels for abnormalities is crucial.
4. Swelling in the fingers accompanied by purple halos around nails may signify lung disease. Additionally, thin, brittle, or even cracked nails can be indicative of respiratory and circulatory system disorders.
5. A concave indentation in the center of the nail, resembling a spoon shape, can serve as a warning sign for diabetes, anemia, hyperthyroidism, or malnutrition.

2. Nail Color as an Indicator of Health

1. White nails can manifest in acute conditions like blood loss and shock, as well as chronic ailments such as anemia, hookworm disease, peptic ulcer bleeding, late-stage tuberculosis, and pulmonary heart disease. Notably, a substantial portion of the sub-healthy population exhibits white nails, which may also be caused by anemia, liver dysfunction, and kidney dysfunction.
2. Yellow nails can stem from clinical conditions like nephrotic syndrome, hypothyroidism, and jaundice. Furthermore, psoriasis, a skin disease, can initially present as pinpoint depressions on nails, progressing to thickening and detachment of the nail's free edge, resulting in a grayish-yellow and dull appearance.
3. Purple nails are a direct consequence of hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) in body tissues and local circulatory disorders. This phenomenon is particularly evident in severe cases of cardiopulmonary disease, heart failure, emphysema, and notably, in patients experiencing cerebral hypoxia.

It's imperative to note that trauma-induced nail injuries can also lead to blood stasis beneath the nail, which must be differentiated from purple nails arising from circulatory disorders.