Our hands and feet are used most often, and the fingers and toes are very prone to injuries. Our nails, which is composed of hard protein called keratin, serve as protective covering to somehow shield our finger and toe tips.
Being rich in nerve endings, our fingers are highly sensitive areas making them prone to shock and various kinds of injuries like cuts, burns, bruises and trauma. That’s why we need to have complete and healthy nails.
What composes our nails?
In common usage the word NAIL usually refers to the nail plate only, that hard part which is made of a tough protein called cartilage and produced from living skin cells in the fingers and toes. But anatomically, fingernails and toenails are made up of different parts:
- the free edge, that which grows past the finger beyond the nail plate
- cuticle (eponychium), the fold of skin at the nail’s proximal end
- paronychium, the fold of skin on the sides of the nail
- hyponychium, the attachment between the skin of the finger or toe and the distal end of the nail
- nail plate, the hard and translucent portion, composed of keratin
- nail bed, the adherent connective tissue which underlies the nail
- lunula, the crescent-shaped whitish part of the nail bed when it is visible
- nail fold, a fold of hard skin overlapping the base and sides of a finger nail or toe nail
Some Nail Trivia:
- Fingernails grow an average of only 0.1 millimeter per day, and toenails grow 1 mm per month. Individual nail growth rates depend on age, time of year, activity level, and heredity.
- Nails grow faster on fingers of dominant hand than toes.
- Nails grow faster in summer than in winter.
- Men’s nails grow more faster than women’s.
- Nail growth is affected by disease, nutrition, medications, trauma, chronic illness, fever, and the aging process.
- Nail problems make up about 10 percent of all dermatological conditions.
- Nail problems usually increase as people age, and more so with senior citizens
- Nail problems are noticeable with color or shape changes, thinning or thickening, swelling of the skin around the nails, when there’s bleeding, pain or discharge.
- Nails can show status of health. Irregularities could indicate health problems in the liver, kidney, heart and lungs; or indicate anemia and diabetes.
- Fungal infections cause about half of all nail disorders; more common in toenails.
- Melanomas can grow under the nail although it is very rare; consult a dermatologist right away if skin discoloration occurs.
- There are several types of nail disorders, but a fungal infection is the most common.
And one of the most common nail disorder that affects the nail is ONYCHOLYSIS, which is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. Know how it can be treated, before it’s too late!
What we should remember:
* Avoid biting or chewing your nail(s). Nail biting might also create an infection in your nails.
* Longer nails catch and trap more dirt and bacteria than short nails. Hence, more care on those who like to keep their nails long.
* Keeping hands wet for a long time may cause nails to break.
* Detergents and too much exposure to water make hands and nails dry, so always wear gloves when washing dishes or cleaning washrooms.
* Refrain from using chemicals with bare hands. Use gloves.
* Massage hands and nails with moisturizing cream or lotion to maintain good blood circulation to finger tips and prevent drying of skin.
* Manicure and pedicure are best treatment for keeping your nails beautiful and regularly cared for.
* Applying nail polish frequently is not recommended. It can make your nails turn yellowish and damage the natural texture of nails.
* Allow your nails to breathe by leaving it without nail polish for at least one week every month.
* Avoid cutting off cuticles to prevent infection. Instead, use cuticle removers for hardened cuticles; carefully pushing it off after you have soaked your fingers in the solution.
* Use only nail polish removers that are not acetone-based to avoid dryness.
* Using of knives or blades to scrape off nail polish from nail is definitely a big no.
* Artificial nails bring glamor, but not advisable for long use because nail beds can become more prone to fungal infections.
* Never use undersized or tight-fitting shoes to avoid nail disorders and bunions. Using of socks is highly recommended!
* At least once every two weeks, pamper your feet and toe nails with routine cleaning and care to keep them good looking and healthy. Nails are prone to disorders and diseases, too.
* When typing, use your finger tips and not your nail tips. Avoid using them as tools, too.
* Wet and dirty nails can bring about infectious diseases like Onychomycosis (ringworm of the nail).
* Patches on nails, discoloration or unusual growth of nails may signify disorders to some internal organs.
- White patches could be a sign of some disorders in your liver
- Half pink, half white nails may indicate kidney concerns
- Reddish nail bed may relate to heart problems
- Yellowish nails and thickening could indicate lung disorders
- Pale colored nail bed may warn you of anemia
- Yellowish nails with slight blue hue at the base of nail could indicate diabetes
- Nails that grow upwards, called spooning, is linked with iron or B12 deficiency
- Nails that curve downwards and bulging nail beds could relate to lack of oxygen, probably lung problem, heart or liver diseases
- Denting or pitting of nails is most often associated with psoriasis
- Unusual thickening of nails usually signifies circulation problems
- Ridges or furrows across the nail usually indicate stress
It is best to seek medical assistance when your nails show discoloration, brittleness, splitting, fraying, cracking, redness, swelling, unusual thickening, or any other irregularity. Likewise, nail conditions which show signs of infection, inflammation or other forms of deformity should be properly checked immediately.
http://wellbody.net/2012/07/27/our-nailsto-hail-or-to-hide/
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