The white area surrounding the nails is called the lunula, which comes from the Latin word meaning "little moon." This is a very delicate and easily damaged portion of the nail. Since this structure is the fifth basal layer of the epidermis, its white color is apparent.
It is most noticeable on the thumb and actually conceals the blood vessels below. But not everyone has the "white moon" visible to them. The lunula may occasionally be covered by the thicker skin that surrounds the fingernails and toenails, decreasing or eliminating its visibility.
In case the lunula, the visible part of the nail root, gets damaged, it is very likely that the entire nail will be deformed.
According to alternative medicine, the lunula can tell a lot about your health. In fact, Chinese medicine suggests that the lack of lunula may be a sign of diabetes or anemia. If the lunula is red-colored, it may indicate cardiovascular issues.
Lack of lunula or having very small lunula often indicates indigestion, which is caused by accumulation of toxins and slow metabolism.
Medical experts believe that healthy individuals have 7 or 8 lunula on their nails. In case you such structure on your thumb only, it can be a sign of a kidney failure.
To sum up, the lunula is considered a sign of how healthy you are. Therefore, any change should be taken seriously and get checked.
