Do you see white lines like these on your nails? Let's talk about Muehrcke Lines.

Have you ever looked closely at your nails and noticed white lines running across them? You might have thought it was just a coincidence, maybe a calcium deficiency. But these lines can be an important signal that tells us about some health problem inside our body. Today we are going to talk about this particular condition that can be seen on the nails called Muehrcke Lines. Don't worry, we will talk about this simply and clearly.

What exactly are Muehrcke Lines?

Simply put, Muehrcke Lines are white, horizontal lines that run across your nails. They are named after the doctor Robert Muehrcke who first described them in 1956. These lines have several unique characteristics.

• Two or more stripes: Usually, you can see two or more stripes like this on a single nail. However, it is very rare to see them on the nail of the big toe.
• The surface is smooth: If you run your finger over these lines, you won't feel any bumps or roughness. The surface of the nail is normal.
• Fades when pressed: This is the most important feature. If you press lightly on the nail, the lines will disappear for a while. Then they will reappear.
• Doesn't move up with the nail: When our nails grow, they usually move up, like a spot on the nail, right? But these Muehrcke Lines don't. They're due to a change in the tissue under the nail, so the lines stay in the same place even as the nail grows.
• Pain in the fingers: Sometimes these lines can cause pain or sensitivity in the fingers. However, the lines themselves do not necessarily cause pain.

Why do these lines appear? What are the causes?

You might think that these lines are a problem with the nail itself. But actually, this is not a problem with the nail. This is caused by changes in the blood vessels under the nail.

The main reason for this is a decrease in the level of albumin protein in the blood. In medical terms, we call this Hypoalbuminemia .

Think about it, albumin is a very important protein in the blood that is produced by our liver. This is what regulates the fluids in our blood vessels. When this albumin level decreases for some reason, there is more pressure on the tissues under the nails, making that area appear white. That's what we see as these white streaks.

Now let's look at the main causes of low albumin levels:

• Kidney disease: This is the most common cause. Our kidneys are like a filter. They filter out the unwanted substances in the blood. But when something goes wrong with this filter, the good things we need, like proteins like albumin, start to come out with the urine.
• Nephrotic syndrome: In this condition, excessive protein is excreted from the kidneys in the urine.
• Glomerulonephritis: Inflammation of the fine filtering units in the kidneys.

• Liver disease: Since albumin is produced in the liver, protein production may decrease in liver diseases such as cirrhosis.

• Malnutrition: When the body does not get enough protein from food, albumin levels can drop.

• Cancer Treatment (Chemotherapy): Some cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy, may develop Muehrcke Lines even if their blood albumin levels are normal.

How does a doctor recognize this?

When you see a doctor with these lines, he will usually recognize them easily.

Usually, it is primarily determined whether these are Muehrcke Lines by looking at the nails and examining their characteristics.

In addition, the doctor will ask you about your health history . Do you have any other medical conditions, what medications you are taking, etc. Then, he will perform a physical examination and order a blood test or urinalysis to find out the cause of these streaks. The blood test mainly checks your albumin level.

Difference between Muehrcke Lines and other types of lines seen on nails

White discoloration of the nails (medically called leukonychia'') can come in many forms. Muehrcke Lines, Mee's Lines, and Beau's Lines are three of the main types. Knowing the difference between these can help you gain some understanding.

Are Muehrcke Lines serious? When should you see a doctor?

This is a problem that many people have. If you take these lines called Muehrcke Lines alone, they are not dangerous. They are not harmful.

But, here's the most important thing - these streaks are a symptom of another, possibly serious, disease inside your body.Just as we know there is a fire somewhere when we see smoke in a house, if we see these lines, we should know that there is something wrong inside the body.

So, if you see streaks like these on your nails, don't ignore them, especially if you have other symptoms, such as:

• Swelling of the body, legs, or face
• Hatiya
• Feeling weak
• Stomach ache
• Less urine output than usual or foamy urine

If you have these symptoms, definitely see your doctor. He or she can diagnose the cause and start the necessary treatment. If you are already being treated for something like kidney disease, these lines may be a sign that your condition is not being properly controlled.

The treatment is not for the streaks, but for the underlying condition that caused them. For example, if your albumin levels are very low, you may need to get albumin through a vein (IV albumin). Once you start treating your kidney or liver disease, and your albumin levels return to normal, the streaks will gradually disappear.