Symptoms of health conditions are not always straightforward. In the case of some illnesses the side effects may have an obvious link, such as a cough being a sign of lung cancer.
But in other cases they might appear in parts of the body you would not expect.
One expert revealed that the appearance of your fingernails could actually tell you a lot about your health.
In a TikTok video, Doctor Karan Raj shared five signs on your nails that could indicate a health problem.
Speaking to his more than five million followers, he said: “This is what your nails tell you about your health.”
Having a small white dot in the middle of your nail is not usually something to worry about, he said.
Dr Raj said: “If you notice these cloud-like white spots in the nails they’re common and usually normal.”
But a “dark streak” on the nail could be a sign of cancer.
“If you notice a dark streak on your nail and it’s been there for a long time and you’ve not injured yourself at all, and it’s growing in size or shade, you should get it checked out,” he said.
“In rare cases this can be a subungual melanoma, a type of skin cancer.”
According to Medical News Today, subungual melanoma can also cause:
- Colour changes in or around the nail
- A bruise under the nail that does not heal
- Nails separating from the nail bed.
If you notice any of these signs you should speak to your GP as soon as possible.
Dr Raj also warned about tiny dents in the nails.
“If your nails look like someone’s taking a tiny ice pick to them this is called pitting,” he said.
“Usually caused by psoriasis, arthritis or eczema.”
The overall colour of your nails can also tell you more about your health.
Dr Raj continued: “If your nails are yellow a common culprit is a fungal infection onychomycosis.
“Tobacco from smoking can also stain the nails yellow.”
He added: “If your nails are cracking and flaking this is an indication of brittle nails.
“This could be a sign of any number of nutritional deficiencies so make sure your diet is varied.”