The lunula is the moon-shaped part of the bed if the finger or toe nail. Its normal color is white, but in the case of injury or disease, it can be a variety of colors.
- Blue – indicates circulatory problems or a lack of oxygen. Rarely it can be caused by certain medications, or Silver or Copper poisoning.
- Red – is a non-specific finding in cardiovascular disease, collagen vascular diseases, congestive heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, pulmonary disorders, and certain cancers. Less commonly it is seen in balding, Lupus, and carbon monoxide or heavy metal poisoning.
- Yellow – with fluorence is a classic sign of a certain antibiotic (tetracycline) that is used for chronic lyme disease. It is also a common feature of Yellow Nail Syndrome (YNS), or from the dye contained in nail polish.
- Spotted – Caused by congestion of the capillaries under the nail. It is commonly seen in psoriasis, but can also occur in certain types of balding (alopecia areata), psoriasis vulgaris, and lichen planus.
- Large (or small) – is suggestive of hyperthyroidism (of hypothyroidism if it is small)
- Triangular – can be the result of pushing on the cuticle of the nail from excessive manicures, or less commonly Nail-Patella Syndrome.
- Obliterated – the part of the nail bed close to the cuticle can have a whitish-brownish appearance, which is seen in patients with severe renal disease.
Allison Ippel, Student Blogger (SCPM 2013)
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