For example, Mees’ lines on one or more of your fingernails is a telltale sign of arsenic poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning, congestive heart failure, renal failure, malaria and Hodgkin’s disease are also all possible causes of Mees’ lines. Equally as frightening, Mees’ lines may also be an indicator of leprosy.
Onycholysis
Onycholysis, or detached nails, is a condition where the fingernail quite literally lifts away and becomes largely detached from the nail bed and surrounding skin. It looks as painful as it sounds and besides the obvious detachment, is generally characterized by the affected nail or nails becoming opaque and taking on a white or hello-green hue.
According to an article by WebMD, detached nails are usually caused by some type of trauma or injury to the nail. However, some prescription drugs can be behind onycholysis. Your doctor or pharmacist should be able to review these potential side effects with you.
Psoriasis, a condition where patches of skin become dry and scaly, can cause nail detachment. Certain over-the-counter products, such as nail hardeners and adhesives, can have the same result as well. If you experience onycholysis and do not believe any of the previously mentioned causes fit the bill, thyroid disease can be at the root of your problems. Consult your doctor for professional diagnosis and treatment.
Green Nail Syndrome
Green nail syndrome (GNS), also called chloronychia, is an infection, that as the name suggests, is characterized by a greenish discoloration of the nail. The color can range from dark green to bluish-green to greenish-grey, and generally does not affect all of the nails simultaneously, but rather only one or two.