Oct. 27, 2022 | You were probably told as a child not to bite your nails, the reason being something about it being “bad” for you. What your parents didn’t tell you is that your nails protect the sensitive tips of your fingers and toes. Human nails are not necessary for living, but they provide support for the tips of the fingers and toes, protect them from injury, and aid in picking up small objects. Your nails are made up of layers of keratin, a protein also found in hair and skin. Each nail is comprised of several parts, including the nail plate, the cuticle and the lunula, the whitish, half-moon shape at the base of your nail. The skin below the nail is called the matrix. Fingernails grow about three times as quickly as toenails. Like hair, nails grow more rapidly in summer than in winter. Nails grow at an average of one-tenth of an inch a month. If a nail is torn off, it will regrow if the matrix is not severely injured. White spots on the nail are sometimes due to temporary changes in growth rate.

Oct. 27, 2022 | A person’s nails can be an indicator of their general health, and illness often affects the growth of their nails. Yellow or green discoloration in your fingernails may result from a respiratory condition, such as chronic bronchitis, or from swelling of your hands known as lymphedema. In yellow nail syndrome, nails thicken and new growth slows. Nails affected with this condition may lack a cuticle and detach from the nail bed in places. Clubbing occurs when the tips of your fingers enlarge and your nails curve around your fingertips. This condition results from low oxygen levels in your blood and could be a sign of lung disease. Spoon nails are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid and may be a sign of anemia. Beau’s lines, indentations that run across your nails, can appear when growth at the area under your cuticle is interrupted by an injury or severe illness and may also be a sign of malnutrition.

Oct. 27, 2022 | A fungal infection of the nail, known as onychomycosis, occurs when fungi infect one or more of your nails. Onychomycosis usually begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection spreads deeper into your nail, it may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and develop crumbling edges, an unsightly and potentially painful problem. Nail fungal infections account for about half of all nail disorders. They usually develop on nails continually exposed to warm, moist environments, such as shoes or shower floors. Nail fungal infections may be difficult to treat, and they may recur, but medications are available to help clear up such an infection permanently. These infections can pose a serious risk for diabetes patients, since even a relatively minor injury can lead to a more serious complication, such as a foot ulcer. Diabetes patients should consult their physician immediately if they get a fungal infection.

Oct. 27, 2022 | Ingrown nails, the most common toe disorder, are nails whose corners or sides dig painfully into the soft tissue of nail grooves, often leading to irritation, redness, and swelling. An ingrown toenail can result from a number of things, but poorly fitting shoes and toenails that are not trimmed properly are the most common causes. Stubbing your toe or other injuries can also lead to an ingrown toenail. The best way to take care of an ingrown nail is to soak the foot in warm water three to four times a day if possible but keep the toe dry, otherwise. Gently massage over the inflamed skin and place a small piece of cotton or dental floss under the nail, wetting the cotton with water or antiseptic. Consider wearing sandals until the problem has gone away. Over-the-counter medications that are placed over the ingrown toenail may help some with the pain but do not treat the problem. If this does not work and the ingrown nail gets worse, you may want to consult a medical professional.

Oct. 27, 2022 | In order to keep your fingernails healthy, it’s best to follow these simple guidelines. Keep your fingernails dry and clean as this prevents bacteria, fungi and other organisms from growing under them. Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves when washing dishes, cleaning or using harsh chemicals, and avoid long soaks in the tub. Be sure to trim and file your fingernails regularly using a sharp manicure scissors or clippers. Trim your nails straight across, then round the tips in a gentle curve. It might be easiest to trim and file your fingernails when they’re soft, such as after bathing. Don’t bite your fingernails or pick at your cuticles. These habits can damage the nail bed. Even a minor cut alongside your fingernail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter and cause an infection. And carefully clip hangnails. Don’t pull them, you might rip live tissue along with the hangnail. If you have a nail problem that doesn’t seem to go away on its own, consult your physician for an evaluation.