MyKidneyDiseaseCenter

Question: What can cause pinkish color spots just above the lunula of your nail?

In people with kidney disease, nail changes like this are fairly common. The most notable condition is called "half-and-half nails" or Lindsay's nails, where the bottom portion near the lunula appears white while the upper portion shows pink, red, or brown discoloration. These color changes may be related to:
- Anemia causing the white bands at the bottom
- Increased melanin production due to elevated urea levels causing darker bands
- Changes in blood vessels under the nail

It's important to note that these nail changes can occur even with mild kidney impairment and may not improve with treatments like dialysis.