Nail disorder in the lunula – Blue nail moons: a.k.a. ‘Azur lunulae’!

FINGERNAIL DISORDERS: Blue lunula

How to recognize ‘blue lunulae’? A blue (purple) lunula is characterized by a bluish color of the nail moon (notice: the nail moon usually has a ‘whitish’ color). Common causes for a blue nail moon: In general blue nail moons are an indiation for circulatory problems (cold weather may be a part of the cause), or a lack of oxygen (smoking and/or obesity might play a role in this!). More rare causes blue lunulae can be: • A drug’s side-effect; • Wilson’s disease (genetic disorder in which copper accumulates in tissues); • Argyria (a condition caused by improper exposure to chemical forms of silver); If the condition persists, it would be wise to consult the opinion of a doctor – for, even though this is a clinical sign of a simple condition, the cause can actuallly be more severe as well. MORE DETAILS: THE COLOR & SHAPE OF THE LUNUA: Do you have a lunula nail disorder?

PHOTO – Where to find the lunula, a.k.a. the’nail moon’:

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING:
• The FINGERNAIL TUTOR: an online nail disorder identification tool!
• 20 Common nail disorders!
• More reports about nail disorders!
• More hand & fingernail facts!

Anatomy of your fingernail: the lunula or lunulae!

The lunula, or lunulae (a.k.a. the ‘nail moon’), is the crescent-shaped whitish area of the bed of a fingernail (or toenail). The lunula can also be described as the visible part of the nail matrix – which is the ‘root’ of the nail. The lunula or the white ‘half moon’ at the base or proximal end of the fingernail is particularly smooth, flat and shiny. The whiteness of the lunula is still a matter of controversy but its absence – especialy when the lunula is not present in the first finger (thumb) – could be described as notable and important. In certain chromosome abnormalities the lunula is absent, i.e., monosomia 4 and the lunulae may be diminished in trisomy 21 (= Down syndrome). A technical description of the ‘lunuala’ from An Atlas of DISEASES OF THE NAIL: “…the matrix is responsible for the majority of the nail plate substance. The proximal portion of the matrix lies beneath the nail folds and the distal curved edge can usually be seen through the nail plate as the white lunula.”