“Here’s what the little Halfmoon under our fingernails mean: The human body is truly remarkable, and that’s in no small part because of its extreme complexity. However, it’s sometimes easy to take it for granted. Your body is constantly giving you all sorts of signs, and some of them you might not even know about.
Take the lunula, for example. These are the pale Halfmoon-shaped patches under our fingernails that most of us see and ignore every day. But did you know these features actually serve some very important purposes? You just might never look at your hands the same way again.
Many of us are aware of the Halfmoon-shaped patches under our fingernails, but we never really give them much thought. After all, why would we? They’re just part of our nail beds, right? While they might be a natural part of our fingernail, that doesn’t mean that they’re any less important than any other part of our bodies. In fact, these areas are actually quite crucial for determining your body’s overall health.
This crescent-shaped patch is called a lunula, which actually means “small moon” in Latin. You can see why it’s given its name; doesn’t it look like a crescent moon hanging in the night sky? If you never noticed the similarity between this part of your nail and the moon in the sky before, you definitely will now.
So what’s the big deal with these fabulous finger features? You might assume that everyone’s lunulae look the same. How can a semicircular shape look like anything else other than nails? But they actually appear in different ways on each person. And if you’re having a hard time locating your own lunulae, that’s totally normal.
For many people, the lunulae are most visible on their thumbs since the epidermis, the layer of skin surrounding the nail, is thicker there. However, if you have particularly fair skin, you still might not be able to spot them.
The lunula is technically the visible part of the fingernail’s root, and it’s crucial to the overall health of the nail. If you can’t see yours, don’t panic; there are other ways to determine the health of your nail. This way is just a bit easier for those who can see it.
So why exactly does this tiny bit of exposed root matter in your daily life? Well, for starters, if it gets damaged, the rest of the nail won’t grow properly. You’ve probably accidentally slammed your finger in a door before, but if you bump it too hard, your nail could never be the same.
Likewise, according to traditional Eastern medicine, a problem with your lunula can indicate a wide array of possible medical problems and conditions. Some of these indications have actually translated into Western medicine as well. For example, the lack of lunula can be an indication of anemia and malnutrition, while pale or bluish-colored ones can possibly be a result of diabetes. Who knew that you could learn so much about your body just by looking at your nails?
Similarly, reddish lunulae can be a sign of cardiovascular disease or a toxin overload in your bloodstream. If you have a family history of heart disease, you’ll especially want to keep your eye on your fingers. If you notice a dramatic change like this in your own little moons, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor immediately. You might feel a bit silly, but a call like this could be the one to save your life.
In addition to being indicators of overall health, the lunulae can also play a stylish part in the way you paint your nails. Lately, highlighting the little moons has been all the rage in the world of nail art. Look at how this nail artist has played up the contrast between these two different shades. Both colors would be stunning enough on their own, but when painted this way, they create something truly special. This nail artist has used the natural lunulae and inverted them to create a flicker of silver that is absolutely eye-catching.
Of course, there are so many other ways to take advantage of this natural nail feature. Check out this cool idea. It’s kind of crazy that more people don’t paint their nails in this particular way. There are so many different options when it comes to the best way to highlight those lunulae, and this one is definitely a winner.
While it’s definitely fun to explore the different ways to highlight your lunulae with nail polish, it’s important that you don’t keep them covered up all the time. As cool as nail art is, you could be hiding something serious. If you can’t see the condition of your lunulae, you could overlook valuable clues about your health.
Experiment with different ways of painting them all you like, but be sure to take a break from the polish. Your lunulae are more than just a fashion accessory, after all. While they might look pretty all on their own, they also give you important information about your health. They are one of the first warning signals your body can give you, a critical way of assessing your own health needs without even having to shell out a dime on high-tech medical diagnostic equipment.
It doesn’t get much cooler than that, now does it? It never fails to amaze us just how extraordinary the human body really is. If you’re not a doctor, you can easily translate what your body is trying to tell you.
