Damaged Skin or Hair & Brittle Nails
Damaged skin or hair can be another symptom of hemolytic anemia. This occurs because the low hemoglobin levels in the blood would lower the amount of oxygen to cells, which are responsible for hair growth. When hair and skin lack oxygen, they may become weak and dry. That’s why many people with this condition tend to experience hair loss or dry skin. [7]
A much less common sign of hemolytic anemia is spoon-shaped or brittle nails. This disorder is also known as koilonychia. One of the earliest symptoms is brittle fingernails that may crack or chip easily. In later stages, the nails may have a spoon shape, which means the middle of the nails would dip with raised edges like a spoon. Nevertheless, this symptom is quite rare and only reported in more serious cases. [8]
