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 your genetics, all contribute to the health and appearance of your nails. A poor diet can negatively impact your nails. Nutritional deficiencies are linked to a number of nail disorders.
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Nail abnormalities may also indicate the presence of systemic disease, according to Dr. Robert S. Fawcett, in an article appearing the journal "American Family Physician." Although the presence of a nail disorder does not autom...
The appearance of the fingernails and toenails can indicate underlying health problems, though, including abnormalities that affect the nail bed, so physicians often inspect the nail beds during routine exams to make a more acc...
Nails on the ends of the fingers and toes serve several important roles for the body. The nails serve to protect the ends of the fingers and toes and assist with itching, and they can alert a physician of an underlying medical ...
Healthy nails are consistent in shape and uniform in color. Abnormal color, shape, texture or thickness of the fingernails or toenails indicates a nail disorder. An affected nail can also be a symptom of several other serious d...
Nails begin their growth in the matrix, located under the cuticle, and grow out along the nail bed at a rate of 1 to 3mm a month, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Nail disorders can occur due to infections, dam...
Many toddlers hate to get their fingernails trimmed; for most parents, nothing is harder in terms of the health of their toddler's fingernails. However, sometimes a young child's nails need medical treatment due to a fungus, i...
The nail grows outward from the base of the nail or nail matrix which is under the cuticle. The nail plate is the actual fingernail or toenail. The nail bed is the skin under the nail plate. Systemic diseases cause disorders in...
Healthy nails are strong and smooth, so when your nails become brittle and peeling, it's a sign that something's wrong. The hard layers of keratin that compose your fingernails are designed to be strong so that they can protect...
An ingrown fingernail occurs when a sharp edge of your nail grows into the soft skin of your finger. Although you may be able to treat the problem at home, some ingrown fingernails can cause further complications or be too pain...
Dry nails break, rip and tear at the most importune of moments. It's important to take care of them as soon as possible. Proper nail care and proper diet all play a role in the health of your nails, so be mindful of your lifest...
Brittle, splitting and cracked nails are signs your nails are dry and possibly in contact with irritating substances, says the website Nail Doctors. Dry, brittle nails also may reveal a low supply of zinc, iron or possible thyr...
Ridged nails can be the result of too little moisture, too-frequent or vigorous manicuring, the use of artificial nails, or sustained contact with hot water, detergents or chemicals. Ridges may also be due to aging or genetics....
An ingrown nail occurs when the edges of the nail grow into the skin. The improper growth causes pain, swelling and redness to appear around the nail. An ingrown nail is mostly commonly caused by cutting the nail too short, ill...
The nails on your fingers and toes play an important role in protecting the sensitive skin of your nail plate. The cuticle is also plays an role by sealing the nail bed off from bacterial and fungal infections. Both structures ...
Nails, which are made up of layers of a hardened protein called keratin, function to protect and support the tissue of the fingers and toes. Many diseases, including lung, heart, kidney or liver diseases, cause visible changes ...
From time to time, you may encounter viruses or bacteria or sustain an injury that affects your health and your nails in the form of white or yellow spots on the nails. Leukonychia is a nail disorder resulting from an injury or...
