Nail Health
The Long and Short of Nails
Nails in good condition can be very attractive. They also reflect an individual’s personal habits and health – good or bad. Women, more often than men, place a great deal of importance on how their nails look – and spend a considerable amount of time and money to keep them in top shape.
Aside from their cosmetic appeal, nails serve many important functions. They help us pick up and manipulate objects and support the tissues of the fingers and toes. Importantly, nails often reflect our general state of health as well.
More Than Meets the Eye
Nails are produced by living skin cells in the fingers and toes. They are composed primarily of keratin, a hardened protein also found in the skin and hair. The nail itself consists of several different parts, including:
Nail Plate: The visible part of the nail on fingers and toes.
Nail Bed: The skin beneath the nail plate.
Matrix: The area under the cuticle, the hidden part of the nail unit where growth takes place.
Lunula: This is part of the matrix and is the whitish, half-moon shape at the base of the nail, usually most pronounced on the thumb.
Cuticle: Tissue that overlaps the plate and rims the base of the nail.
Nail Folds: The folds of skin that frame and support the nail on three sides.
Nails, like hair, grow from the matrix. As older cells grow out, replaced by newer ones, they are compacted and take on a flattened, hardened form.
Fingernails grow faster than toenails. Nails also grow more rapidly in the summer than in the winter. Nails on a person’s dominant hand (right vs. left) grow faster, and men’s nails grow more quickly than women’s, except possibly during pregnancy and old age. Nail growth is affected by


Due to their exposed location, nails take a lot of abuse. Nail disorders comprise about 10 percent of all skin conditions.
Most of us, at one time or another, have closed fingers in doors, suffered from ingrown toenails or endured minor nail infections. Most minor nail injuries heal on their own in time – although they might be unsightly for a while due to the nail’s slow growth rate. More serious injuries or disorders may require professional treatment. Symptoms that could signal nail problems include color or shape changes, swelling of the skin around the nails and pain.
Additionally, the persistence of white lines, dents or ridges in the nail should be reported to a dermatologist.
White Spots
White spots on the nails are very common and usually recur. These small, semi-circular spots result from injury to the base (matrix) of the nail, where nail cells are produced. They are not cause for concern and will eventually grow out. Sometimes toenail injuries result from poor fitting shoes and athletic activity.
Splinter Hemorrhages
A disruption of blood vessels in the nail bed can cause fine, splinter-like vertical lines to appear under the nail plate. Splinter hemorrhages are caused by injury to the nail or by certain drugs and diseases. However, trauma is the most common cause.
Ingrown nails
Ingrown toenails are a common nail problem. The nails on the big toes, called the great toenails, are particularly involved. Improper nail trimming, tight shoes and/or poor stance can cause a corner of the nail to curve downward into the skin. Ingrown nails can be painful and sometimes even lead to infection. Seek treatment for the condition rather than attempting to cut away the nail yourself, as infection may result.
Fungal Infections
Fungal infections makeup approximately 50 percent of all nail disorders and can be difficult to treat. More common in toenails than fingernails, they often cause the end of the nail to separate from the nail bed. Additionally, debris – white, green, yellow or black – may build up under the nail plate and discolor the nail bed. The top of the nail or the skin at the base of the nail can also be affected. Toenails are more susceptible to fungal infections because they are confined in a warm, moist environment.
Bacterial Infections
Redness, swelling
Tumors/Warts
Tumors and warts can be found in any portion of the nail. However, the nail plate could change shape or even be destroyed as a result of
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease characterized by red, scaly patches. Ten to 50 percent of people with psoriasis and 80 percent of people who suffer from inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis also have nail problems. The most common signs include pitting, rippling or discoloration of the nail, reddish-brown discoloration of the skin under the nail, separation of the nail from the nail bed, splinter hemorrhages, crumbling and/or splitting of the nail, as well as swelling and redness of the skin surrounding the base of the nail. The signs of
A Hard Habit To Break
Nail biting is a common problem, especially among young children. While the habit is typically outgrown with age, it has been linked to anxiety or boredom with older children and adults.
Not only does
Nail disorders can affect our ability to pick up small objects, the way we walk and our sense of touch. Infrequent in children, nail problems usually increase throughout life and affect a high number of the elderly. This is due to the susceptibility of the nail to fungal infections, its increased thickness with age, circulation problems and the regular use of medications.
In general, nail disorders respond very slowly to therapy due to the slow growth rate of the nail and its inability to absorb medications very well. Treatments are defined generally as surgical or non-surgical. Surgical treatment is common to remove tumors or correct structural abnormalities. Non-surgical treatments include the use of topical or oral medications.
A Window on Health
The nails can reveal much about a person’s overall health. Many diseases and serious conditions can be detected by changes in the nails. Most doctors will check the nails carefully during a physical examination. The most common health conditions and their effect on the nails are listed below:
CONDITION- NAIL APPEARANCE
Liver Diseases -White Nails
Kidney Diseases -Half of
Heart Conditions -Nail bed is red
Lung Diseases- Yellowing and thickening of the nail, slowed growth rate
Anemia-Pale nail beds
Diabetes-Yellowish nails, with a slight blush at the base
Nail Care
Since many nail disorders result from poor nail care, developing good nail habits early will help keep them healthy. Remember the following tips:
- Keep nails clean and dry
. This helps keep bacteria and other infectious organisms from collecting under the nail. - If toenails are thick and difficult to cut, soak them in warm salt water (one teaspoon of salt to a pint of water) for five to ten minutes and apply a 10 percent urea cream – available at
drug stores without a prescription. Trim as usual. - Nails should be cut straight across and rounded slightly at the tip for maximum strength
. Use sharp nail scissors or clippers to do the job. Filing the nails into points will weaken them. - Use a “fine” textured file to keep nails shaped and free of snags.
- Avoid biting fingernails.
- Avoid “digging-out” ingrown toenails, especially if they are already infected and sore. Seek treatment from a dermatologist.
- Report any nail irregularities to your dermatologist. Nail changes, swelling
and pain could signal a serious problem.

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