Tag: Terry s nails

Over 80% of patients with severe liver disease, specifically cirrhosis, have been found to have Terry's nails, indicating a strong link to systemic illness rather than a direct nutritional cause. This distinctive nail appearance, with a ground-glass whiteness and a narrow pink or brown tip, is a crucial diagnostic clue for doctors.

In a 1954 study, researcher Dr. Richard Terry found that 82 out of 100 consecutive cirrhosis patients had the distinctive white, opaque nails with a narrow, pink distal band known as Terry's nails. While most commonly linked to liver disease, understanding what deficiency causes terrys nails involves exploring both major organ health and overall nutritional status.

While severe nutritional deficiencies can impact nail health, B12 deficiency is not considered a direct cause of Terry's nails. Instead, this specific nail condition is far more commonly associated with serious underlying medical issues like liver failure, kidney disease, or diabetes.

While many assume a simple vitamin or mineral deficiency causes changes like Terry's nails, the striking 'ground glass' opacity is more often a clinical sign of serious underlying systemic diseases, not a singular nutritional shortfall.