What is the healthy color of nails?

In most clinical scenarios, the core color of healthy nails is a uniform and soft light pink. Press lightly with your fingers and the nail surface will turn white. After releasing it, it will return to its original pink tone in 1-2 seconds. This is currently the most basic reference standard for dermatology to judge nail health.

However, in recent years, there have been gradually different voices in the academic circles. After all, individual differences are so great that sticking to the "light pink" indicator can easily create unnecessary health anxiety. A while ago, I went to the dermatology department with my best friend who has been doing manicures all year round. She always said that her white nails after removing them must be anemia. However, the doctor did a full set of tests and found out that nothing was wrong - she has cold fair skin, and the pink of her nail bed is several degrees lighter than that of people with warm skin. In addition, she wears nail pads all year round and covers them tightly. If she occasionally removes her nails, she will look whiter than normal. As long as the color is uniform and shiny, and the blood return rate is normal when pressed, it is completely healthy.

There are many special circumstances where light pink cannot be used as the only criterion. For example, for people who live in high-altitude areas all year round, their nails may have a very light purple tint as their bodies adapt to a slightly lower blood oxygen environment for a long time. As long as they are not accompanied by discomfort such as dizziness, fingertip numbness, or chest tightness, there is no need for intervention at all. It is normal for people who often do farm work or outdoor work, and whose nails have been exposed to the sun for a long time and come into contact with various stains, to have a slightly more beige tone than those who sit in an office. The metabolism of older people slows down, and the aging rate of the nail cuticle is faster than the new rate, and it will also show a light beige color. As long as it does not suddenly become thicker, brittle, or unexplained black lines and white spots appear, there is no need to treat it as onychomycosis.

Speaking of which, I have seen many bloggers compare nail colors with color cards, saying that whiter nails are anemia and yellower nails are a sign of liver disease, which is really a bit too absolute. My mother saw a small white spot on her fingernails a while ago, and she blindly patched it up for half a month based on online posts. Later, when she went for a follow-up check, she found out that she had hit the root of her nail while moving a flowerpot last month, and it would be fine once the new nail slowly grows out. If you really need to worry about the health of your nails, don’t just look at the color. The gloss, thickness, and speed of rebound after pressing can be used to make a reliable judgment. If you are really unsure, go to the hospital to see a dermatologist. It is much more reliable than guessing based on online posts.