Public health depends on nail health
Your nails are a description of your general health. Changes in nail color or stunted growth can be a sign of an illness, malnutrition or high stress.
Your nails are made of keratin
Part of general health depends on the health of the nails. Keratin is a protein made up of nail tissue cells. Keratin plays an important role in nail health. Keratin makes nails strong and resistant so they are not damaged.
Keratin is what makes your hair
Keratin also makes up the cells of your hair. The cells of the main part of the glands and the inner membrane of the organs are also made of keratin.
The part of your nail that is visible
Nails begin to grow under the skin. As new cells grow, old, dead cells are pushed into the skin. The part of the nail that you can see is made up of dead cells, which is why nail trimming is painless.
The same dead nail tissue needs blood to grow and form the nail
There are tiny blood vessels called capillaries under the nail bed. Blood flow in the capillaries helps the nails grow and be pink.
Nails also make sense
Part of the general health depends on the health of the nails. The nails you see are dead and do not make sense, but there is a layer of skin under the nails called the dermis, which has sensory nerve endings. These nerves send a signal to the brain when pressure is applied to the nail.
Fingernails grow about 3.5 mm each month
Toenails also grow about 1.5 mm per month. Proper nutrition and care of your nails will affect the speed at which your nails grow.
Nail growth is faster in the dead.
But hair growth is faster in women. Except during pregnancy when both the mother’s nails and hair grow faster than a man’s nails and hair.
The nails of the dominant hand grow faster
Part of general health depends on the health of your right-hand nails. You must have noticed that your right fingernails grow faster than your left fingernails, and vice versa. This may be because the dominant hand is more active.
Seasons affect nail growth
Nails grow faster in summer than in winter. Not much research has been done on the reason for this difference, but research on mice receiving cold air has prevented their nails from growing.
How much you use your hands affects the growth of your nails
Excessive use of hands can cause your nails to move more, such as using a keyboard. This increases blood flow to the hands and stimulates nail growth.
Nail color can change according to health status
Part of general health depends on nail health. About 10% of all skin diseases are related to nails. Yellow, brown or green nails usually indicate a fungal infection. In some cases, yellow nails are a sign of thyroid disease, psoriasis or diabetes.
White spots on the nails are not a sign of calcium deficiency
White spots on the nails are usually caused by damage to the nails, for example by chewing them. These spots are generally harmless and will go away as the nail grows.
Stress affects your nails
Stress can cause nails to grow more slowly or even stop growing. When they start growing again, you will probably see horizontal lines on your nails. These lines are also harmless and disappear with the growth of nails.
Nail biting is the most common symptom of anxiety
Nail biting, also called onychophagia, usually does not cause long-term damage. But it can increase the risk of getting the disease because germs enter the mouth. Damage to the skin around the nails can also lead to infection.
You really need to let your nails breathe
Part of general health depends on the health of the nails. To keep your nails healthy, leave them for a while without nail polish or artificial nails. Using such things and removing them can damage the nails, so sometimes let them breathe and rest to repair themselves.
The thickness of your nails can have a genetic cause
Nail growth and other factors depend in part on the genes you inherit. Other factors include your age and health status.
The delicate silver skin cuticle at the base of your nails protects the new nail from germs. You should not remove the cuticles, as this will remove an important defense barrier against infection.
A nutritious and balanced diet that is high in minerals and vitamins can help with a wide range of health issues, including strengthening nails.
If a person does not get the minerals and vitamins their body needs through their diet, it can replace a multivitamin. However, it is always advisable to consult your doctor before taking any multivitamin to ensure that they do not interfere with the medications you are taking.
