The American Academy of Dermatology states that your nails help to support the tissues around your fingers and toes. A health care professional can look at your nails if they are unhealthy, which may indicate an underlying medical condition such...
Weak fingernails can break easily, causing pain and injury to the nail bed and cuticle. A number of things can weaken your fingernails. Certain remedies can help make them stronger, including nail hardeners and certain vitamins. If your...
Underactive thyroid, called hypothyroidism, occurs when the thyroid gland stops producing a sufficient amount of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones help to regulate metabolism--which regulates processes throughout the body. The U.S. National...
Your nails are a hardened skin cell, made from a protein called keratin. Nails serve many roles such as protecting your tissues and fingernails, and allowing you to scratch objects. Nails are prone to infections, so its important to keep them...
Brittle nails are fingernails or toenails that break or split easily. The nails might also flake off or look very thin. Brittle nails are unsightly and can be painful if they break off close to the quick, also called the nail bed. In most cases,...
Your nails have many important roles such as protecting tissues around our nails and toes and allowing us to scratch. Nails are a hardened skin cell, made of keratin, a protein that can be found in hair and nails. If your nails are unhealthy, they...
Selenium is a mineral your body needs to keep your immune system and thyroid functioning normally. Adults who take birth control pills, smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol may require treatment with a selenium supplement to get the recommended 55mcg...
Eating a diet rich in acid-forming forms will cause a pH imbalance. Acidosis will set in, which has many minor side effects and with time can compromise the body's ability to fight disease. Normal organ functions are disregarded while the body...
Brittle fingernails are nails that break or crack more easily than normal. Depending on your circumstances, you can develop brittle nails that are either abnormally dry or abnormally soft. Potential underlying causes for brittle fingernails vary...
While healthy, strong nails can certainly look beautiful, the condition of your nails also serves as a reflection of your inner health. Lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise, repeated and prolonged exposure to water and hygiene, as well as...
Chickenpox develops when people contract the varicella virus through direct contact with another infected individual or through an inanimate object such as a door knob or handle, asserts MedlinePlus. It takes two to three weeks before physical...
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...
Brittle nails are thin and break or peel easily. They can look unattractive and it can be frustrating to have ragged, short nails. Brittle nails can be a sign of aging, nutritional deficiencies, excessive wear and tear, exposure to chemicals and...
