Nails are made up of a special kind of protein called keratin, which can be found in your skin and hair. Many vitamin substances can help to promote healthy nails, but unfortunately, a deficiency of these vitamins can lead to weak nails....
The appearance of your nails can often point to specific problems with your health. While low levels of magnesium can lead to changes in your nails, this mineral isn't the only reason for a change in nail appearance. Because nail changes and...
Alopecia areata is a common disease that is characterized by hair loss in a sharply defined area on the body. Usually the area is round and there is a lack of other symptoms. The cause of alopecia areata is poorly understood and currently it is...
The fingernails can often show specific changes that signify specific conditions. Kidney disease is associated with multiple distinctive nail problems, according to the American Association of Kidney Patients. A buildup of nitrogen waste products...
Many people are familiar with some of the physiologic changes that take place in the body during pregnancy. Stories about morning sickness, backaches and weight gain are well-documented. Other body symptoms associated with pregnancy are not as...
Chemotherapy can have a variety of side effects for a friend who has been diagnosed with cancer. The fatigue, loss of hair, loss of appetite, depression and dry skin and nails are just a handful of some of the side effects your friend will...
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder that affects 2 to 4 percent of the population, according to MDderma.com. Besides experiencing symptoms of itchy, scaly patches of skin, some psoriasis patients develop arthritis, and many have...
The National Cancer Institute expected approximately 194,000 new cases of breast cancer to be diagnosed in the United States in 2009, with incident rates in women reaching one in eight. Chemotherapy regimes for breast cancer patients depend on a...
Pernicious anemia is an auto-immune condition, which means it is caused by your immune system attacking your own healthy cells. In the case of pernicious anemia, the destroyed cells can result in a deficiency of vitamin B12. One of the symptoms of...
Hypothyroidism is a clinical condition characterized by the thyroid gland's inability to produce sufficient amounts of thyroid hormone. The thyroid releases hormones that are responsible for many aspects of normal metabolism. A lack of thyroid...
The American Academy of Family Physicians states that cirrhosis often becomes a silent killer because symptoms often fail to occur until significant and permanent damage occurs. During this destruction, normal liver tissue gets replaced by tough...
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,...
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...
Nails are made from keratin, the same protein that makes the hair and skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, nail growth is affected by several factors. Women's nails grow more quickly during pregnancy, and everyone's nails grow...
5-fluorouracil, also known as fluorouracil or 5-FU (brand names Adrucil, Efudex and Fluoroplex), is a prescription medication indicated for cancer of the breast, colon, rectum, pancreas, stomach and skin. It is also indicated for other skin...
The fingernails protect the ends of the fingers and function as tools that assist in fine motor functions such as picking up minute objects. Like other body parts, fingernails are vulnerable to diseases that may affect nail structure and function....
Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, getting diagnosed as early as possible is essential in minimizing the symptoms and severity of...
Psoriasis, a chronic, inflammatory disease involving the skin and joints, affects almost 2 percent of the population, according to the American Academy of Dermatology article titled, "Guidelines of Care for the Management of Psoriasis and...
Selenium is found in a variety of different foods, including Brazil nuts, seafood, organ meats and grains. The amount of selenium in plant-based foods depends on the amount of selenium in the soil where they are grown. You can also get selenium...
Laparoscopic gastric banding surgery is one strategy to help with weight loss. The surgeon fastens a band containing an inflatable balloon across the top part of the stomach and fixes it in place. This creates a tiny, upper stomach pouch with a...
Erbitux is the trade name for the generic drug known as cetuximab. It is a monoclonal antibody that targets growth factor receptors, according to chemocare.com. This drug is typically used to treat metastic colorectal cancer that expresses...
Docetaxel is a chemotherapeutic medication used to manage cancer of the breast, cancer, lungs, neck, head and stomach. It belongs to the class of medicines called taxanes, and it stops the progression and spread of cancer cells. Docetaxel is...
Brittle hair and nails can be a cosmetic frustration, but they can also have a more serious significance. If your hair and nails suddenly start breaking off, you may have developed a nutritional deficiency or other disease that is affecting their...
Iron is an essential component of red blood cells, which are involved in the transport of oxygen to the body. Almost 2/3 of iron in the body is found in hemoglobin, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Hemoglobin is the oxygen carrying...
Cancer is caused by the unregulated abnormal growth of cells, which may spread---or metastasize---throughout the body. If you are diagnosed with cancer, you may have a number of treatment options available. Though alternative cancer treatments are...
Juvenile arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, affects close to 300,000 children in the United States, according to a 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common type, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or...
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease that affects 1.5 to 2.0 percent of the Western population, according to Fitzpatrick and colleagues' book on clinical dermatology. It occurs in equal frequency in men and women and tends to occur early in...
If your toenails are thicker than usual and ragged, or if they an abnormal color, such as yellow, white or black, then you may have a toenail fungus. According to the Harvard Medical School, toenail fungal infections account for half of all nail...
Selenium is a mineral your body uses to help prevent cell damage. Health professionals with the Office of Dietary Supplements recommend that adults consume approximately 55mcg to 70mcg of selenium each day. Typically, you receive appropriate...
Nail fungus is a common nail disorder. Get expert tips and advice on nail treatments in this video.
Nails disorders include ingrown toenails, fungi, etc. Get expert tips and advice on nail treatments in this video.
A cesarean section, or C-section, is the surgical delivery of a baby through an abdominal incision. C-sections can be very frightening for new mothers and are often a last resort. Learn about what to expect from a C-section birth in this pregnancy...
