Your fingernails are made up of several layers of hardened protein known as keratin. When functioning optimally, the protein grows at a steady rate to protect your fingertips. However, lack of proper nutrients, improper care for the nails or...
Weak nails that chip, break and peel require strengthening to grow long and healthy. In some cases, weak nails may even show signs of yellowing and discoloration. Exposure to chemicals, outdoor elements and excessive amounts of water can weaken...
Your fingernails are a public, visible part of your body that give a picture of your overall health, according to MayoClinic.com. When your fingernails are healthy and strong, it may indicate you eat a well-balanced diet. However, if you...
Fingernail discoloration can be a sign of a nail infection. The condition can also occur from health problems and underlying medical conditions. The fingernails often provide signs of overall health and wellness. Chiropractic doctor and holistic...
Vitamins are essential to keep your body organs functioning and your skin looking its best. They can do the same for your fingernails. Nails area good indication of overall health so major changes in your nails can be a signal that your body needs...
Your body can undergo a variety of symptoms when it's trying to tell you that something is wrong. White lines on the fingernails, fingernail discoloration or texture changes in the fingernail all point to more serious conditions. In some cases,...
Human fingernails and toenails are made of keratin, a fibrous protein produced naturally by the body, according to the Herbs 2000 website. They are considered some of the hardest tissues in the human body. However, certain factors, such as...
Brittle nails, characterized by nails that split or peel into layers, affect as much as 20 percent of the population, according to a report by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Some health conditions can result in peeling of both...
The color and texture variations of your fingernails can indicate much more than the presence of brittle or strong nails. To healthcare professionals, these slight deviations and imperfections can be clues about your overall health and well-being....
A well-balanced diet can aid in the growth of healthy nails. Brittleness, cracks, ridges, discoloring and poor growth can indicate a nutritional deficiency or another health condition. Changes in diet or adding a vitamin supplement can help to...
Fingernails protect the tissue underneath them, and are composed of a layer of hard cells. Nails and hair primarily consist of the protein keratin. Fingernails originate as living cells under the cuticle at the base of the nail bed, and they...
Your fingernails and toenails serve an important function and can be a reflection of the overall health and wellness of your body. Although most nail problems are minor, some signs such as nail thickness, horizontal white lines or concave nails...
The nails that grow at the tip of your fingers and toes consist of hard skin cells primarily made of the protein keratin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, or AAD. Fingernails and toenails also perform several important functions,...
You may develop a fungal infection in your fingernails if your hands are often wet, if you have artificial nail tips, or if you have diabetes or circulatory problems. Most of the time, fingernail fungus is not a serious health problem, but it can...
Approximately 20 percent of women and 2 percent of men have iron deficiency anemia, notes a report in "American Family Physician." The most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, iron deficiency anemia causes severe fatigue in women and mental...
The purpose of a multivitamin is to supply your body with nutrients you may have missed or may not have gotten enough of through diet alone. It's vital to receive all the nutrients your body needs because certain vitamins and minerals help...
Many women who cannot grow long nails because their own nails are brittle or peel, turn to salons to have acrylic nails applied. Acrylic nails are composed of a liquid monomer and a powder polymer that need to be maintained every two weeks,...
Hands are one of the most difficult body parts to conceal. Since they're used in almost every activity, you should do as much as you can to take care of them. If you don't have the time, money or inclination to have manicures at nail salons, you...
Strong, even and fast-growing fingernails indicate overall good health, and eating nutritious foods and breaking unhealthy habits is key to that good health. But there are no specific foods that can give you beautiful fingernails. It may seem like...
This article talks about the many uses of Vaseline as a skin and body care product. It focuses especially on Vaseline's use as a moisturizer, exfoliate and makeup remover. Other uses of Vaseline are discussed, such as use in skin problems in...
According to the Mayo Clinic, the nails are composed of laminated layers of a protein called keratin. This same protein is also found in the hair and skin. The nails are made up of several parts, including the nail beds, folds, cuticles and...
Your fingernails can be a greater indication of your overall health than you may think. Although they serve a cosmetic function for most, nails are a living part of your body and if you're not healthy, your nails won't be either. Changes in the...
Many women are flocking to salons to have their own nails replaced with elegant, long acrylic nails. According to BeautyTech.Info, American women spent more than $4 billion on artificial fingernails in 2000. When acrylic nails are properly applied...
Fingernails are composed of layers of a protein called keratin. Healthy fingernails are strong and smooth and do not have any color abnormalities. Some fingernail conditions, such as ridges in the nail, occur with advancing age and do not indicate...
The appearance and texture of your fingernails can give your health care providers important clues related to your overall health. Many diseases and conditions may cause fingernail changes before other symptoms occur. If you experience a change...
Peeling fingernails is a common problem, especially when the hands are frequently exposed to cold weather, water, harsh detergents, disinfectants and chemicals, according to Health Services at Columbia University. Often, a few changes in your...
Splitting and peeling fingernails are a very common problem, appearing in approximately 20 percent of people. Most often, these issues are caused by external factors, such as chemicals and detergents that cause dryness, or frequent exposure to...
The doctor will take the patient's hands, but it's not for comfort. The doctor is looking carefully, mostly at the fingernails, which can reveal a number of medical conditions, such as problems with the liver and kidneys. Fingernails can even...
Imitrex, or sumatriptan, is a medicine often prescribed for treating migraines. It comes in an oral tablet and a nasal spray. According to Drugs.com, it is thought to work by narrowing the blood vessels around the brain. It is taken during a...
