Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Abnormal fingernail
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
Abnormal fingernail
by jr978, Mar 07, 2007 12:00AM
I recently noticed on my left thumb an indentation (significant) and didn't think much of it, later (3 weeks) I started to notice that my right thumb nail is starting to indent. I looked on the internet and I found an identical picture and they labelled it "spooning"....what do you think is causing this? I have been having a lot of GI nausea/stomach pain and heartburn (been taking prilosec otc for the past 7 days with improvement), also I have mildly elevated LFT's and there maybe a possibility of having autoimmune hepatitis (other test are being done). Also I had a iron studies done and they found (slightly low TIBC and transferin, but normal iron and ferritin). Any info would be appreciated.....thanks
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Mar 08, 2007 12:00AM
, Mar 08, 2007 12:00AM
Spooning caused by iron problems or other systemic issues produces the effect on all the nails, not just one. The most common cause of indentation is a thumbnail is the habit of picking at the base of the nail, which irritates the growth area (the white, semicircular part near the base). This causes the nail to have a groove. The treatment is not to pick at the base of the nail. I don't know whether this applies to you, so a visit to a dermatologist would be the way to go.
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
Take care.
Dr. Rockoff
They don't seem to be popping up in the proper website