"Be very careful" — If your nails turn this color, go to the hospital immediately [Health Talk]
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- 2026-01-26 05:00:00
- Updated
- 2026-01-26 05:00:00
[Financial News] Fingernails do more than protect the tips of your fingers. They are also considered a health indicator that can reflect nutritional status and chronic disease. If the entire nail turns white and a pink band appears near the tip, you should suspect possible liver or heart disease.
According to the medical community, when most of the nail appears white and a reddish band forms at the distal edge, the condition is called "Terry's nails." First described by British physician Richard Terry, this finding is useful in assessing the likelihood of liver cirrhosis or Diabetes mellitus.
Study conducted on 82 patients with liver cirrhosis
In a study of 82 patients with liver cirrhosis conducted by Terry, more than 90% showed a 0.5–3 mm-wide pink band along the edge of the fingernail. The sign appeared symmetrically on both hands and was especially prominent on the thumb and index finger. Later research revealed that Terry's nails are also associated with conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF), Diabetes mellitus, and Chronic renal failure, and the finding is now used in clinical practice. It is known that the more fingers show this sign, the higher the risk of liver cirrhosis.
A related study published in 2021 in The American Journal of Gastroenterology supports this association. Brigham and Women's Hospital in the United States analyzed 1,000 patients in hepatology and gastroenterology clinics and found Terry's nails in 117 of them. Notably, 25% of patients with liver cirrhosis exhibited this sign.
Eighty percent of liver cancer patients have preceding liver cirrhosis
Liver cirrhosis, which is closely linked to Terry's nails, is regarded as a condition that greatly increases the risk of liver cancer. About 80% of liver cancer patients have pre-existing liver cirrhosis, and some studies report that the incidence of liver cancer can rise more than 1,000-fold in people with cirrhosis.
This is because liver cells destroyed and hardened by liver cirrhosis trigger immune responses and carcinogenic mechanisms, thereby raising the likelihood of cancer. If Terry's nails are observed, it is recommended to visit a hospital and undergo a thorough medical evaluation.
hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter