Nail/Finger Disorder?

Hi,
I am 22 years old, and my hands stopped growing at around the age of 15.  I never really looked at it before, but several ppl pointed out that my nails were short/discolored/weird. I took some pictures and posted them in my profile for you guys to take a look.  Some things I'd like to note, is the excessive red with discoloration of white (like the nail is being pressed down firmly), as well as the lack of straightness (the nails kind of just curve and bend around my finger bone). Also, my nail doesn't have too much of a nail groove and is lifted up all around the edge. Is this a fingernail disorder or just something hereditary? No one else in my family has nails that look like these. I thought it might be indicative of thyroid issue or something?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be due to clubbing of the nails or leconychia(half and half nails).Clubbing is a thickening of the soft tissue beneath the proximal nail plate that results in sponginess of the proximal plate and thickening in that area of the digit.it can be idiopathic(cause not known)or associated with a number of diseases, mostly of the heart and lungs.

Leuconychia is a white discoloration of the nail secondary to color change in the nail bed.They can occur due to renal disease or hypoalbuminemia.

I would suggest a diagnostic evaluation by a physician to rule out the various conditions.
Treatment will depend on the diagnosis.
Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries.Warm regards.