Koilonychia: spoon nails

The appearance of nails can be an indicator of overall health. Therefore, today I propose to talk about what is koilonychia or spoon nails, as they are also called. What causes and how to treat this disease.

What are spoon nails

Spoon nails got their name because during this disease the nail plate becomes thinner and softer and then deforms, forming a depression that looks like a small spoon that can hold a small amount of water.

The medical name for this problem is koilonychia, from the Greek words koilos (deepening) and onikh (nails).

Koilonychia occurs in both adults and children.

Symptoms of koilonychia

• As I said, first of all, the nails acquire a concave shape resembling a spoon.
• With this disease, not only the shape, but also the color of the nails changes.
• Pain and swelling may occur if the nail is injured
• In the event that iron deficiency is the cause of koilonychia, the person may appear tired, reflecting signs of anemia.
• The surface of the nail plates will look very dry. This can lead to nail loss.

Causes of koilonychia

There are a number of reasons why spoon nails appear. Most often it is:

• Poor ability to absorb iron
• Patella Syndrome
• Hemochromatosis
• Poor thyroid hormone function
• Raynaud's syndrome
• picero disease
• iron deficiency
• The most common type of koilonychia can also be the result of nail damage, fungal infection, anemia and skin conditions such as psoriasis.
• In rare cases, koilonychia is inherited.
• If you are a fan of biting your nails, then know that this bad habit can also provoke the appearance of koilonychia in the future.
• In very rare cases, spoon nails can be triggered by diseases of the lungs or heart.

How to treat spoon nails

If your koilonychia is due to a medical problem, your doctor will first suggest a treatment plan for the condition.

In the case of anemia, the most common cause of spoon nails, your doctor will prescribe iron supplements and adjust your diet so that you can get more of this element from food. Be sure to follow the instructions for taking iron supplements so that your body absorbs the correct amount.

If your body cannot absorb vitamin B-12 from food, you may need to take a shot of this vitamin.

There are also a few simple steps that will help improve the condition of your spoon nails:

• Keep your nails clean and short
• Apply cream or oil frequently to keep your nails well hydrated.
• Never bite your nails

How to prevent colonychia

Since the most common cause of spoon nails is anemia, the first thing you should pay attention to is your diet. This means that you need to eat foods that are rich in iron. Such foods are spinach, beans, broccoli, red meat, and poultry. You can also consume shrimp, tuna, oysters, which are the most affordable seafood.

Unfortunately, anemia is a common companion of vegetarianism. Therefore, if for some reason you do not eat meat, you will have to consume more vegetable and fruit iron. Also, I advise you to include more foods rich in vitamin C in your diet, as this will help your body absorb iron from food better.

I hope my information was useful to you. Be healthy and beautiful! :)