If you have ever wondered about that ridge on your nail, read this. episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 2, 2026 · 22 MIN

If you have ever wondered about that ridge on your nail, read this.

from The Habit Healers · host Laurie Marbas, MD, MBA

What your nails say about your health is not an old wives’ tale. Your fingernails are a six month record of what your body has been through, and your skin is a much longer one. In this episode I show you how to read both.I walk you through the nail changes that actually mean something and the ones that don’t. The horizontal grooves called Beau’s lines, which mark the week you were sick months ago. Spoon shaped nails and what they suggest about iron deficiency anemia. Brittle nails, splitting, and peeling, and the protein, iron, and zinc gaps that often sit underneath them. Why white spots on nails are almost never a calcium deficiency. Then we move to the skin on your hands and forearms, the easy bruising and thin, fragile skin that dermatologists call actinic purpura, and the two habits that do the most to slow it down: daily broad spectrum sun protection and steady vitamin C for collagen production. I also give you the findings that belong on a call your doctor now list, because a few of them do.What you’ll learn:* How to read Beau’s lines and date a past illness on your own nails* What spoon shaped and pale nails suggest about iron deficiency and when to ask for ferritin testing* Why brittle nails respond to protein, iron, and zinc, and why biotin supplements can skew your lab results* What causes easy bruising and thin skin on the hands and forearms, and how to slow it* How your body makes collagen, and why vitamin C rich plants matter more than a powder* The nail and skin changes that need a doctor’s appointment, not a wait and seeDr. Marbas Substack Article: https://drlauriemarbas.substack.com/p/if-you-have-ever-wondered-about-thatCheck out the Habit Healers Community: https://www.skool.com/habithealers/about Get full access to The Habit Healers at drlauriemarbas.substack.com/subscribe

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If you have ever wondered about that ridge on your nail, read this.

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