Nail Facts

Hi! 

Since it's my first time with this, I decided to start with the facts. Now I got all of these from multiple sources (listed at the end) please enjoy. I plan on posting more that I do myself, but I like have facts first. That is why I am putting the facts before I get to have a say so. Oh, and if you know other sites, please tell us!

• Nails are actually the same as hair. Both hair and nails are made of the same protein, called keratin.
• The nail plates are dead cells and contrary to the popular belief, they don't breathe. So they don't require oxygen. However, the nail beds and the cuticles are live cells and they do need oxygen, vitamins and minerals.
• Nails don't sweat. The nail bed does not have sweat glands, so it can't perspire. It is the skin around the nails that gets sweaty.
• Nails grow at the rate of 0.1 mm daily (or 1 cm in every 100 days). So, for a finger nail to regrow completely, it takes between 4 and 6 months. For toe nails, the period of complete regrow is 12 to 18 months.
• Men's nails grow faster than women's nails.
• Finger nails for both genders grow faster than toe nails.
• Toe nails are about twice thicker than finger nails.
• The fastest growing nail is on the middle finger. The slowest – on the thumbnail.
• When nails are freshly cut, they grow faster than nails that are not cut often. That is why it takes so much time to grow nails longer than an inch (breaking nails is excluded).
• Seasons and weather also affect nail growth. Nails grow faster in warm climates and during daytime, than in cold climates and at night.
• Nails grow faster on young people than on old people. Also nails grow much faster during pregnancy.
• Nails grow at different speeds on both hands. If you are right-handed, the nails on your right hand will grow faster than the nails on your left hand and vice versa.
• Light trauma, like typing on a computer stimulates nail growth. Well, this kind of trauma looks more like a massage actually.
• Cutting your nails after dark is bad luck. Although this is pure superstition, there is enough logic in it – if you cut your nails when there is not enough light, you can injure yourself.
• Nails reflect your health status.
• Some mammals, for example elephants, have 5 nails on each of the their front legs and most often only 4 nails per hind leg.
• It is a myth that hair and nails will continue to grow for several days after death. This is an optical illusion and is due to the fact that the skin shrinks, thus making it look as if the hair and nails are growing.
• Nails are very tough (compared to skin of course) but even they will be dissolved in about 4 days, if you put them in Coke because Coke is highly corrosive.
• Nail manicure is a very ancient activity. There is evidence that even 4,000 years ago it was known to our predecessors.
• The longest finger nail ever recorded was that of an Indian guy and it was 48 inches long.
• If you don't drink enough water, this is bad for your health anyway but you might have never expected that it leads to dry nails as well.
• A hang nail is painful because you have ripped open the edge of the living nail root.
• Male guitar players often leave the nails on their playing hand uncut and use them for playing as well. 
  
  
  
  
  Myth: To get stronger nails, use polishes that contain hardeners or apply ingredients like gelatin.
  Fact: While using polishes that contain strengthening ingredients may help make nails less prone to splitting, they also increase nail stiffness, causing the nails to break more frequently under trauma, because they become hard and inflexible. While some people swear that immersing their nails in gelatin makes them stronger, there is no scientific evidence that applying gelatin has any benefit. 
  
  
  Myth: It's important to push your cuticles back to keep them healthy and help your nails grow.
  Fact: Most people are aware that cutting the cuticle is never a good idea and it's much better to groom them by pushing them back. However, dermatologists recommend against this as well because it can create problems. "The cuticle is a barrier that protects the skin and the delicate nail matrix, or 'root' of the nail. Pushing back on the cuticle can injure it and expose the paronychium, or skin fold around the nail, to bacteria and result in infection," Dr. VanBeek said.
  
  
  
  
  Myth: Nail salons are regularly inspected so I don't have to worry about safety.
  Fact: Most nail salons take sanitation very seriously and follow strict cleanliness and disinfection guidelines, but consumers should not be afraid to ask how implements are cleaned. 
  
  
  
  
  Myth: Artificial nails are the best solution for problem nails.
  Fact: Covering up nail problems will not make them go away and may even make them worse. While artificial nails are not always a bad thing, they are not recommended for people who are prone to fungal infections or have brittle nails because they can actually make the condition worse. 
  
  
  Myth: Always wearing dark nail polish can discolor your nails.
  Fact: This is not a myth; it's true. For some people who use darker shades of nail polish on their fingers and toes, removing the color may reveal yellowed, discolored nails. 
  To prevent this from happening to unblemished nails, apply an extra layer of base coat first before using the nail color. 
  
  
  
  
  Myth: Fungal infections of the nail can be effectively treated with topical products.
  Fact: Despite the wealth of over-the-counter products available that claim to treat fungal nail infections, the only way to cure an infection is to see a dermatologist. 
  
  
  Myth: Nail problems can be cleared up quickly.
  Fact: Because nails grow slowly -- about 0.1 mm a day -- replacing the damaged or diseased nail may take many months. It's important to follow the instructions for the medications or treatment carefully to ensure that the new nail growth is healthy. 
  
  

  Fingernail Health - Some indicators of what your nails are telling you!

  Your nails are a reflection of the health and wellness of your body. You can tell you a lot from looking at fingernails It is true that abnormalities of the nails can often provide early clues to common medical problems or severe systemic diseases. Take a few moments and examine your unpolished fingernails under a good light. You will gather a new appreciation for how your lifestyle affects your nails and overall health.

  Wasting away of Nails; Nail loses luster and becomes smaller, Injury or disease Thickened Nail Plate: Poor circulation; fungal infection; heredity; mild, persistent trauma to the nail Pitted Nails sometimes yellow-to=brown: Eczema or psoriasis; hair loss condition Very soft Nails: Contact with strong alkali; malnutrition; endocrine problems; chronic arthritis Spoon shaped Nails: Iron deficiency; thyroid disease Clublike Nails - swollen finger ends: Chronic respiratory or heart problems; cirrhosis of the liver Horizontal ridges: Injury; infection; nutrition Longitudinal ridges: Aging, poor absorption of vitamins and minerals; thyroid disease; kidney failure Colorless: May indicate anemia. Red or deep pink: Can indicate a tendency to poor peripheral circulation. Yellow: Could indicate fungus, diabetes, psoriasis, use of tetracycline, or heredity. White, crumbly, soft: May be a result of a fungus infection No Moons: Possible underactive thyroid; genetics Overlarge Moons: Possible Overactive thyroid; genetics; self-induced trauma (habit tick) Complete loss of Nail: Trauma Nail Plate Loose: Injury; nail psoriasis; fungal or bacterial infections; medicines; chemotherapy; thyroid disease; Raynaud’s phenomenon; lupus Brittle, split Nails: Nail dryness, nails in contact with irritating substances (detergents, chemicals, polish remover); silica deficiency Pale, brittle nails, spoon-shaped or with ridges down the length - can signify anemia; this lack of iron can be due to inadequate nutrition Thick, distorted fingernails can signify a fungal condition: If you have a fungal infection distorted fingernails could also be due to arterial sclerosis, so see your health care conditioner to rule that out. Clubbed fingernails can signify a problem with your blood flow. See your health care practitioner. White spots on your nails - is often due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Brittle and lifting easily from your nail beds, along with dry skin, always feeling cold and hair falling out - could indicate a problem with your thyroid gland; Excessively flexible nails, may signify deficiency of calcium and sometimes protein. Infected Nails: RED, TENDER, SWOLLEN, PUS: Bacterial or yeast infection Whitish hue at base of fingernails, may signify liver trouble. If it's a matter of cleansing your liver, taking milk thistle (silymarin) capsules, available at your health food store; Splinters that don't hurt - could be subacute bacterial endocarditis, a very serious condition. See your health care practitioner immediately! Purple or black: Usually due to trauma, or may also be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. Bluish nails - probably means you aren't getting enough oxygen; combined with a cough and shortness of breath means heart failure or chronic lung trouble and you should see you health care practitioner; A Brown or Black streak:, that begins at the base of the nail and extends to its tip could be a diagnostic clue to a potentially dangerous melanoma. See your healthcare provider.

  Minerals and Absorption:
  
  Health and strength in nails depend on a good balance between calcium and silica in the diet and a system, which can metabolize and make good use of these minerals efficiently.
  
  Sometimes there is a deficiency in other minerals like Magnesium, which is also involved, in structural health and this is the reason that a little Dolomite is useful to ensure sufficient Magnesium (and Calcium).
  We often don't have enough Silica in our Diets and often have far too much Calcium. We are told that we must drink milk to grow strong bones and all the rest, but in fact westerners mostly have too much Calcium and not enough of the other minerals required and are actually worse off than we would have been without milk at all.
  Internal treatments using Equisetum (also called Horsetail) which is very high in Silica with Yarrow and Comfrey have good nail nutritional value.
  
  Circulation and Stress:.
  
  Circulation:
  
  When the correct herbs and supplements alone don't seem to make much difference to nail health, it is generally because of a circulation problem, which compounds a nutrient delivery problem.
  Ingredients in our diet and carried within the blood, but if the blood supply is not sufficient to get enough of the minerals down to the nails this can cause nutrient deficientcy in these areas.
  
  There are many people who suffer from cold hands and feet or even circulation problems specific to the fingertips like Reynard's disease and for these herbs like Nettle, Rue and Prickly Ash can improve peripheral circulation. Use Nail Doctors - Cuticle Therapy Oil, to help stimulate circulation
  A simple dietary, circulation and metabolic tonic is Rosehips tea, which also contains biotin, another ingredient essential to healthy nails.
  
  Reynard's disease mentioned, is a particular condition where the circulation at the fingertips is restricted through the action of stress on blood vessels serving the fingertips.
  This restriction can be so severe that the tips even die like in cases of frostbite.
  The effect of stress on the metabolic efficiency of fingernail health is important.
  This is where eating patterns and habits again feature in my recommendations for patients worried about the health of their fingernails.
  
  
  
  
  
   

  Nail problems

  • Nail problems make up about 10 percent of all dermatological conditions.
  • Nail problems usually increase throughout life and affect a high number of senior citizens.
  • Symptoms that could signal nail problems include color or shape changes, swelling of the skin around the nails, thinning or thickening of the nails, bleeding or discharge, and pain.
  • Nails often reflect our general state of health. Changes in the nail, such as discoloration or thickening, can signal health problems, including liver and kidney diseases, heart and lung conditions, anemia and diabetes.
  • Fungal infections cause about half of all nail disorders. They are more common in toenails because the toes often are confined to a warm, moist, weight-bearing environment within your shoes.
  • Although rare, melanomas can grow under the nail. Such melanomas may be mistaken for an injury, so you should consult a dermatologist if a dark-colored streak appears within the nail plate, if the nail discoloration does not gradually improve, or if the size of the streak increases over time.
  • Other common nail problems include:
    • White spots that appear after an injury to the nail.
    • Vertical lines, known as splinter hemorrhages, under the nails that are caused by nail injury or certain drugs or diseases.
    • Bacterial infections, which are most often due to injury, poor skin hygiene, nail biting, finger sucking, or frequent exposure to water.
    • Ingrown toenails, which are caused by improper nail trimming, poor stance, digestive problems, or tight shoes. 

  Tips for keeping nails healthy

  • Keep your nails clean and dry to prevent bacteria from collecting under the nail.
  • Cut your fingernails and toenails straight across and rounded slightly in the center. This keeps your nails strong and helps avoid ingrown toenails.
  • Wear proper-fitting shoes and alternate shoes on a regular basis. Tight shoes can cause ingrown toenails.
  • Do not try to self-treat ingrown toenails, especially if they are infected. See a dermatologist.
  • Use an antifungal foot powder daily.
  • Do not bite your fingernails. You can transfer infectious organisms between your fingers and mouth. Also, nail biting can damage the skin around your fingers, allowing infections to enter.
  • Report any nail problems to your dermatologist. Nail changes such as redness, swelling, and pain could signal an infection or other serious problems.

  Nail salon safety

  • Most nail salons follow strict sanitation guidelines, but consumers should check to make sure that the salon, the manicure stations, and the implements are clean and that the technicians wash their hands between clients.
  • Consumers who get frequent manicures and pedicures should bring their own implements to the salon.
  • Don't let a nail technician cut or push back your cuticle. It might allow an infection to develop.
  • If you have itching, burning, or any type of allergic reaction to a nail cosmetic, see a dermatologist.
  
  
  
   http://www.nail-care-tips.com/interesting-nail-facts.php
  http://www.thirdage.com/skin-nails/nail-care-myths-and-facts
  http://www.naildoctors.com/nail_health.html
  http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/nails/nails