Apart from your nail turning yellow, white, green, dark red or black, which are the obvious symptoms, there are other indications of toenail discolouration which include thickening of nails, easily cracking or lifting of the nails off the skin, signs of blood under your nails or formation of little dents in the nails, known as pitting.

Nail discoloration could be signs of possible disease in your internal organs. Certain type of discolored nails and significant changes in the growth rate could be due to possible signs of lung, kidney, liver or heart diseases. It is extremely important to consult a doctor immediately when you see your nails getting discolored.

Deficiency of Vitamin B12 can cause the nails to turn brownish or gray in colour. Anemia, lack of iron, causes nails to turn white and pink or red nails may be due to malnutrition.

The first step to treating discolored nails is to make an appointment with your dermatologist to understand the cause of it. The doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, topical treatments or medical procedures depending upon the underlying cause.