Fingernail Abnormalities in ME

[Hoping]

Because missing white half-moons (lunula) were referenced in the new ICC definition document, I thought I would add a thread to discuss fingernails here.  (I did search first for any old thread with this topic, but did not find one).  Not sure if this belongs here or in General Topics...so admin pls move if I have started this in the wrong place. 


Here is what the ICC said:
"Notes: Orthostatic intolerance may be delayed by several minutes. Patients who have orthostatic intolerance may exhibit mottling of extremities, extreme pallor or
Raynaud’s Phenomenon. In the chronic phase, moons of finger nails may recede."



Here is a link to wikipedia that has a good photo of a finger with a healthy lunula:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunula_(anatomy)




Here is an article about fingernails in the elderly (ok... I am 58 and don't consider myself elderly yet...but I am getting there  ...which is a good thing):


http://www.handresearch.com/news/examining-fingernails-elderly-patients.htm


My lunula on my thumbs are so small that I almost need a magnifying glass to find them.  <1mm at the widest point.
On the rest of my fingers they are completely missing.


I dare you all to upload pics of your fingernails     (Just remembering folks uploading pics of crimson crescents)   


Also,  any good references for using fingernails to help dx conditions...add here.


Hoping

[Jaz]

I still have good lunulas on my thumbnails but they've been gone from all of my fingernails for years now. 

[Tango]

I have a mix.  On both thumbs, but they are on some fingers and not others. 

[joy]

I have not at all 

[Mark3981]

non-existant lunula's essentially. Maybe 0.3 mm on one thumb

[hatshepsut]

I have clear lunula's on all my fingers.

I am positive trough serology.

[MoonMyst]

I hadn't thought of this in a long time, a few years ago I still had the half moons.

They are gone on my fingers now, and on the thumbs they are about a third the size of the healthy ones Hoping linked to.

For years, I had one index fingernail that grew downward.  Now, both thumbs, pinkies and index nails grow out in a curved or downward shape.  The thumbnails are especially bad, they are almost like an upside down scoop shape.

(I'm positive)

MM

[Robyn]

I know I used to have them on all fingers.  Now only on my thumbs and they appear to be shrinking.  One of my worst symptoms is tachycardia.  I'm positive by culture and sero.

My boyfriend still has all of his.

[girlinthesnow]

Never noticed this before, none on fingers, faint and small on thumbs.

[girlinthesnow]

This is interesting too

Patients who have orthostatic intolerance may exhibit mottling of extremities

My arms are becoming covered in brown age spots, like a very old lady's arms ( I am in my late 40's). 

[joy]

This is interesting too

My arms are becoming covered in brown age spots, like a very old lady's arms ( I am 49).

Not sure but I took this to mean the red blotchy - I have it

This is not my hand 

[since]

I've read that it is normal for some people not to have moons on their fingernails, but not normal to have them and then have them disappear. The ones on my thumbs are quite large but I don't have any on the rest of my fingers. I honestly don't remember if they used to be there or not.

As for other abnormalities:

Starting about a year ago my fingernails have had a slight bluish tint.

I've had longitudinal ridges on them my whole life.

[Flopsy]

I've got them on my thumbs only (they are small-medium size).

My husband is the same but he has a heart / circulation problems and his nails are blue at the moment.

[moigo]

Small moons on thumbs, barely visible moons on other fingers, pinky moons gone.  Fingerprints seem to be disappearing too.   

[cassea]

Non existant lunulas - though I don't really know if I ever had them

Longitudinal ridges

Poor fingerprints - lines or creases throught them

Also, the pads of my fingers have become somewhat squishy. If I push my fingers against each other the pads stay depressed for a while after taking them apart. If I push on something like a button the indented image of the shape stays for quite a while