All About Fingernails
Fingernails play a very significant role in protecting your fingers. They may even contain an indication about an illness that requires medical attention!
Your fingernails are composed of keratin. Keratin are laminated layers of protein, which can also be found in one’s skin and hair. The several parts of a fingernail are: nail plate, nail folds, nail ed, cuticle and lunula. The nail plate is the hard portion. Nail folds is the skin that borders each of the nail plates on 3 sides. A nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate. At the base of your nail bed, there are cells that make the nail plate. The tissue that overlaps the nail plate at the base of the nail is called the cuticle. It is responsible for protecting the keratin cells that emerge from your nail bed. The lunula is a whitish half-moon shape found at the base of your fingernail.
As new cells grow, the older cells become compacted and hard, which are then pushed towards the fingertips. Each day, nails grow about 0.1 millimeter. Taking this into account, it takes a fingernail to fully regenerate for about 4-6 months. Healthy nails have the same color and are free of discoloration. They are usually smooth, without any grooves or ridges.
Clues about your health is all about fingernails and knowing how to read them. If you learn how to read signs that might indicate a health issue, you are one step closer to becoming healthier and preventing sickness.
Some nail conditions may be an indication of a disease. Green or yellow discoloration in fingernails may be a sign of a respiratory condition like chronic bronchitis or lymphedema. Beau’s lines or indentations across fingernails may appear, which might indicate an injury or severe illness like heart attack. On the other hand, some nail conditions are not harmful. Vertical ridges and white lines or spots may be harmless. Spots are usually the result of an injury to the nail bed or plate. In time though, these white spots will eventually disappear. If you have a persisting nail condition, you should go see your doctor, especially if these are connected with other signs and symptoms.
Hand hygiene is all about healthy fingernails. Any nail care product will not give you healthy nails if you are abusing them. To avoid damage to your fingernail, do not use it to pry, pick or poke things. Do not bite your fingernails as this habit may damage your nail bed. Even a small cut along your nails may cause an infection or paronychia. And since your nails have a slow growth, nails with injury will retain its marks for a a few months.
To protect your fingernails, use rubber gloves that are lined with cotton when using soap and water for prolonged time or when touching harsh chemicals. Trim your nails and clean them regularly. Smooth your nail edges with an emery board and use sharp clippers to cut your nails. And most especially, moisturize! Just like your skin, your fingernails need moisture too. Rub your favorite lotion into your fingernails. Make sure that you apply a moisturizer every time you wash your hands. Remember that a basic nail care can help your nails retain its healthy condition!
Related Articles:
Top rated nail fungus treatment
Causes of fingernail discoloration?
