What is the meaning of the half-moon at the base of your nails?

Have you ever noticed that little whitish shape at the base of your nails, just above the cuticle? It seems discreet, almost insignificant… And yet, it could contain interesting clues about your general condition. Disappeared, colored, too visible? What if this “lunula” was not simply an aesthetic detail?
What is the lunula, exactly?
The lunula — literally “little moon” in Latin — is the light, half-moon-shaped area that can sometimes be seen at the base of the nail, especially on the thumbs. This is not just a visual detail, but the visible part of the nail matrix, in other words, the area where the nail grows.

This is where keratin is formed, giving rise to the nail we know. Its light appearance is explained by the absence of visible blood vessels on the surface, unlike the rest of the pinker nail.

Why are some lunulae visible… and others not at all?
This is the question we often ask ourselves when comparing our hands to those of a loved one. In reality, the visibility of the lunula depends on several factors: age, skin color, genetics, etc. but also the ambient light. In some people, it is clearly distinguishable, in others, it seems to have disappeared.

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