You can usually tell by simply looking at them. Healthy nails are smooth and free of spots and unusual shapes and colour.

Onychoschizia means brittle, splitting, soft or thin nails. It is a common problem that is often more prevalent in women and usually occurs with aging.

When something is wrong, one visible clue is nail discolouration. Healthy nails have a pinkish hue and are evenly coloured.

Fungal infections of the nails can be the result of the same fungi that cause athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm.

Having healthy nails is basically a matter of keeping them clean and treating them gently.

While melanoma is a type of skin cancer, rarely it can also develop beneath the surface of the nail.