There are many human nail diseases. According to MedlinePlus, toenails and fingernails consist of multiple layers of the protein keratin, hard substance that provides protection to the toes and fingers. Nails typically are smooth and consistent in...
Psoriasis is a chronic, immunologic skin condition that affects the skin and joints. In psoriasis, the skin makes new skin cells at a rapid rate, much faster than normal; skin cells build up and cause lesions to form. According to the Psoriasis...
Medline Plus, an online medical encyclopedia associated with the U.S. National Library of Medicine, reports that the purpose of fingernails and toenails is to protect the sensitive tissue at the end of the fingers and toes. The American Podiatric...
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,...
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...
Fingernails and toenails are composed of translucent keratin proteins and various sulfur-containing fibrous proteins, which also form the chemical basis of hair and skin. Healthy nails are consistent in shape and uniform in color. Abnormal color,...
If you have inspected your feet recently and discovered that the nails are dark, thick and brittle, there's a chance that your toenails have been infected with a fungus. This form of infection, known as onychomycosis, most often occurs when a...
Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to destroy, stop the spread or retard the growth of cancer cells. Two groups of chemotherapy drugs cause changes to the nails. These two groups include the taxanes and the anthracyclines. Direct toxicity...
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...
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...
Psoriasis is an immune disease that affects skin and joints. In psoriasis, cells grow too fast on the skin, causing skin cell buildup that forms skin lesions. According to the PsoriasisNet website, 50 percent of people with active psoriasis have...
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 are a common target...
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...
Fungal infection of the toenail is called onychomycosis. The affected toenail might have white patches, change to a brown or yellowish color and begin to flake, chip or thicken. Toenail fungus can lead to onycholysis, which is the separation of...
According to MayoClinic.com, nail fungal infections are typically caused by a fungus that belongs to a group of fungi called dermatophytes. Dermatophytes thrive in dark, damp and humid conditions like those surrounding your toenails but can also...
Nail fungus--a medical condition referred to as onychomycosis--is an infection of the nail caused by the presence of fungi. You can develop nail fungus if you have recently injured your nail, wear tight-fitting shoes or are frequently exposed to...
If white or yellow spots appear on your fingernails or toenails, it may be an indication of a fungus infection. Such infections could be caused by fungi called dermatophytes or by yeasts and molds. If left untreated, the fungus infection could...
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...
Tetracyclines are a class of antibiotics with a broad spectrum of activity. They work by inhibiting protein synthesis, which leads to bacterial cell death. The common tetracyclines prescribed in the United States are tetracycline, minocycline,...
Your nails can be a good indicator of your health, and they are important for protecting and supporting the tissues in your fingers. Short, brittle nails are a common complaint, but there are things you can do to achieve healthy nails. Typically...
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,...
Thymol is a component of oil of thyme, or Thymus vulgaris, and oil of oregano, or Oreganum vulgare. Thymol has powerful antimicrobial properties, including a demonstrated ability to fight a number of different fungi which can negatively effect...
Fingernails appear, and begin growing, during the third month of pregnancy. From that day on, your fingernails undergo a continual process of growth that takes about six months from start to finish. The process of fingernail growth depends on age,...
A nail fungus infection occurs when fungi contaminates one or more of your nails. The early signs of a fungal infection may be white or yellowish spots under the tip of your fingernail. As the condition progresses, the nail may thicken and change...
If your toenails are yellow and crumbling, a fungal infection may be to blame. Toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis, affects nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Treating the fungus can help prevent the...
Nail salons found scattered across the United States serve women who are out to have the perfect nails, especially during important occasions, such as their wedding day. However, nails do not solely serve a cosmetic role. According to the American...
Your nails are an outward show of your inner health, and they may display malnutrition or signs of disease, such as heart disease or diabetes. Nails are important as they protect and support the tissues in your fingers. Dry nails can indicate a...
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...
Nail fungus conditions can affect both toenails and fingernails, although it's more commonly found on the toenails. There are prescription and over-the-counter commercial preparations to treat the fungus, but tea tree oil is a natural product with...
