7 Nail Abnormalities That May Reveal Hidden Tumors in the Body – Check If You Have Them!

Though often overlooked, the condition of your nails can actually reflect many types of cancer.

Nails not only show personal care habits but can also signal serious health problems, including cancer. According to Dr. Amy Derick, clinical instructor of dermatology at Northwestern University (USA), dozens of nail abnormalities are linked to diseases, and many serve as warning signs of malignant tumors.

Healthy nails are usually pinkish, smooth, and shiny. If you notice the following changes, be cautious—they may be “silent signals” of cancer inside the body:

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1. Black streaks running vertically on the nail
A dark line extending from the base to the tip of the nail, not caused by injury, is a typical sign of subungual melanoma—a dangerous skin cancer that spreads quickly. The tumor forms due to abnormal growth of pigment cells in the nail bed. Besides cancer, such streaks may also appear in people with darker skin, pregnant women, or from fungal infections.

2. Clubbed fingers with curved, soft nails
When fingertips swell and nails curve downwards, it may result from prolonged oxygen deficiency caused by lung tumors. Cancer cells obstruct gas exchange, leading to excessive tissue growth at the fingertips. This sign is often observed in patients with lung cancer and cardiovascular cancers, but may also occur in cirrhosis or bowel disease.

3. Brittle, easily broken nails
Skin cancer around the nail or glomus tumors beneath it can damage the nail bed, making nails brittle, rough, and prone to falling off. As the tumor grows, nails cannot grow evenly and eventually detach. This condition also appears in nail fungus or hypothyroidism.

4. Red or brown spots on nails
Small reddish-brown spots accompanied by pain may result from small blood vessels being compressed by tumors, typically hemangiomas or subungual skin cancers. Malignant cells damage capillaries, causing blood to leak and accumulate under the nail. These spots may also be seen in lupus or arthritis.

5. Entire nail changes color abnormally
Dark or brown nails may signal liver or blood cancers, as cancer cells alter pigmentation processes. Unusual pale-white nails may indicate lymphoma due to low blood protein. In lung cancer, yellowed nails have also been reported, linked to circulation disorders and fluid buildup beneath the nails.

6. Horizontal depressions or deep ridges
When nails develop horizontal grooves like “cuts,” this may be the body’s response to severe stress from cancer or chemotherapy. Nail matrix cells temporarily stop growing, leaving deep ridges. Such signs may also occur after severe chronic illness.

7. Lumps or tumors around the nail
A hard lump or persistent sore near the nail that doesn’t heal may indicate squamous cell carcinoma around the nail. Malignant epithelial cells grow uncontrollably, invading both skin and nail bed, and are often mistaken for warts or fungal infections. This is the most common type of skin cancer in the nail area.

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Dr. Amy Derick emphasizes: “Not every nail change is cancer, but if abnormalities persist—especially if they appear on just one finger—you should see a doctor immediately.”