Causes of Terrys Nails and How to Treat Them

Most people have a pink nail bed with a white lunula, which is the half-moon shape found at the base of your fingernail above your cuticle.

Changes in the color of your fingernails can be caused by certain medical conditions or other health issues.

For example, some people may have nails that are completely white, apart from a brown band at the tip of the nail. This condition, known as Terry’s nails, is especially common in people with severe liver disease.

Additionally, nails that are half white and half reddish brown are called Lindsay’s nails, which is a condition that’s often associated with kidney disease.

This article will review everything you need to know about Terry’s nails, including what causes them, and how they’re treated.

What are Terry’s nails?

Terry’s nails are entirely white with a red or brownish band at the tip. They also have a unique appearance that resembles ground glass.

Although this condition most commonly affects all the nails of your fingers, it can also occur in just one fingernail and has even been reported in toenails.

Apart from the changes in the appearance of your nails, Terry’s nails doesn’t cause any other adverse symptoms.

What causes Terry’s nails?

It’s believed that Terry’s nails occurs when there are fewer blood vessels and more connective tissue than normal in the nail bed, causing the nails to appear white.

While Terry’s nails aren’t harmful, they should be evaluated by your doctor, as they can be a sign of a more serious issue and may be associated with several underlying health issues.

The condition is most common in people with liver disease and cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver. In 1954, Richard Terry found that 82 out of 100 consecutive cirrhosis patients had white nails.

It may also be linked to several other conditions, including:

• peripheral vascular disease
• chronic kidney failure
• type 2 diabetes
HIV
• congestive heart failure
• skin conditions like vitiligo or tuberculoid leprosy
• viral hepatitis

Furthermore, Terry’s nails may also occur naturally as you get older, even if you don’t have any other underlying health conditions.

How are Terry’s nails treated?

Terry’s nails don’t require any medical treatment and typically subside as the underlying condition they’re associated with improves.

Still, because many of the conditions that cause Terry’s nails can be very serious, it’s important to talk to your doctor if you notice any nail abnormalities.

Terry’s nails vs. Lindsay’s nails

Like Terry’s nails, Lindsay’s nails are characterized by changes in the color of your nails and are often caused by an underlying health condition.

They are sometimes referred to as “half-and-half” nails because they appear white at the base and brownish red near the tip.

While it’s unclear exactly what causes Lindsay’s nails, it’s believed that chronic anemia due to kidney failure may cause the nail bed to appear pale. Meanwhile, the dark color at the top half of the nail is likely due to higher levels of melanin, which is a type of brown pigment.

Lindsay’s nails are usually only present in people with chronic kidney disease and reportedly affect between 10 and 40 percent of people with this condition.

Takeaway

Changes in the color, shape, or texture of your nails can sometimes be a sign of certain health issues.

For example, Terry’s nails and Lindsay’s nails may be associated with conditions like liver or kidney disease.

Similarly, other nail abnormalities like ridges or pits in your fingernails or toenails can also be caused by an underlying medical condition.

For this reason, it’s crucial to talk to your doctor if you notice any changes in your nails to help determine the cause and the right course of treatment for you.

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