Soft spots on your toenails or fingernails are relatively common, and rarely form as a result of a serious medical condition. At times, these spots may also be of a different color, and can occur at any time. If you are experiencing pain or...
Gaining the skill, endurance and strength to compete as a runner takes guts. It also takes extensive practice and time out on the track or trails training and developing. However, there are occasions where this extensive training can be overdone...
The nails are a type of modified skin similar to hair. They assist in protecting the fingers and toes as well as providing clues for general health. The Harvard Medical Center Family Health Guide notes that the nails reveal health signs and can...
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 painful to handle alone.
Toenail fungus may be caused by exposure to germs in public swimming pools or shower areas, excessive foot perspiration, or nail injury, notes the National Institutes of Health. Individuals with immune complications such as diabetes, or a history...
Your cuticles are an important part of your overall nail health. Found at the base of each nail, cuticles are small folds of skin that help keep your nails healthy and strong. When cut or damaged, they can become painful and lead to infection....
Due to the repeated pressure placed on the foot during endurance training, endurance athletes can suffer from a variety of foot problems. By wearing proper footwear, changing shoes every 300 to 600 miles (or less if the athlete is heavy) and...
Doctors often examine the nails when diagnosing patients. The presence of certain nail conditions, such as white lines in the nails, can give doctors an idea of what may be happening inside the body. Nail abnormalities may also indicate the...
With a high level of physical exposure, toenail problems occur frequently. Infections prove particularly common and may affect the nail bed or the surrounding skin. Toenail injuries also commonly occur. Home treatments often suffice for minor...
Nails are formed largely from keratin, which is a protein found in the skin and the hair. Beneath the matrix--the half-moon area below the cuticle on each finger and toe--new skin cells are constantly being formed. The newly-formed skin cells push...
Finger nails are made up of layers of keratin, a type of protein. New cells grow beneath the cuticle, causing old cells to harden and compact. The old cells then grow out toward the fingertips. But as MotherNature.com says, most people do not have...
Fingernails and toenails are living skin cells. Nails protect and support tips of the fingers and toes, and they help humans scratch an itch, tie a knot and pick up small objects. Nail growth is affected by illness or poor health.
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...
Ingrown fingernails occur when the edge of a fingernail grows into the skin surrounding it. The usual cause of ingrown fingernails is improper trimming of the nail, although nail biting or an injury to the hand that tears the nail can be the...
A healthy diet supports strong, healthy nails. Injury and trauma can cause nail disorders and abnormalities, but nutrient deficiencies can also damage nails. The healthiest diet for nails adheres to federal dietary guidelines and includes a...
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...
Nail fungus turns finger and toenails yellow, brittle and can even be painful. The infection is more likely to occur in adults and on the toes. According to The National Institutes of Health, wearing closed-toe shoes, keeping skin moist for a long...
The Mayo Clinic article, "Nails: How to keep your fingernails healthy and strong," explains that nails are made of a protein called keratin. As the cells on the nail continue to grow, they push out from the fingertip to form hard, long nails....
Nails are comprised of hardened, living skin cells and may be affected by illness and physical ailments. One sign of a possible problem is a change in the color of the toenail. Discoloration of the toenails may be due to a variety of reasons. Once...
A hangnail often makes its presence known when you snag it on a sofa or your clothing and it hurts. Hangnails are bits of dead skin that occur when the surrounding skin, referred to as the cuticle, dries out. Hangnails may also result from nail...
Fingernails can provide a snapshot of your overall health. Certain health conditions, injuries or nutritional deficiencies affect nail formation. Because nails grow slowly, deformities caused in the past remain visible for months. Changes in nails...
Ingrown toenails can happen on any toe, but the big toe is the most vulnerable. Caused by improper nail trimming, toe injury or ill fitting shoes, ingrown toenails can become infected and painful. Failing to dissolve the ingrown toenail could lead...
Your nails are a visual representation of your overall health. 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...
Healthy finger and toe nails hint at good personal hygiene. Maintaining a healthy diet is the easiest way to keep your nails healthy; it also helps if you avoid using your nails to pick or pry at things. But odd colors and shapes, dents,...
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...
Taking care of your nails with proper manicure methods and moisturizer can go a long way towards keeping them healthy, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. On the other hand, brittle nails and dry cuticles can be an indication of more serious...
The medical term for nail biting is onychophagia. Nail biting is a habit that many people participate in on a subconscious level. They often do not even realize that they are biting their nails. Habits that are practiced subconsciously are...
Ingrown nails are common, particularly on the large toe. Typically, improper trimming or grooming of the nail and wearing ill-fitting shoes are the cause, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Other causes include the nail...
Taping fingers is good for minor injuries of the middle joint because taping supports the injured area without preventing motion. Learn how to tape fingers and stay fit in this sports medicine video.
Gymnastics can be a lot of fun especially at the advanced level but don't forget to use what you have learned up to this point. That is when injuries start to happen. Watch this free video clip on the importance of using the basics in advanced...
