Nail Info

As early as 400 BC, Hippocrates taught that the nails reflect the condition
of the inner body. It is true that abnormalities of the nails can often
provide early clues to common medical problems or severe systemic diseases.

There are a number of variables that may affect nail growth;

1.)Nail growth is different from person to person and from finger to finger.
The nail on the middle finger grows the fastest and the nail on the little
finger grows the slowest.

2.)Nails grow from 0.05 to 1.2 millimeters per week. If a nail is lost, it
may take seven (7) months to grow out fully.

3.)As a rule, the nails of babies and older folks grow more slowly than those
of teenagers.

4.)The length of the finger and the size of the lunula or moon suggest the
speed of growth of the nail. The shorter the finger and the less of its
visible lunula, the more slowly the nail will grow. (The thumb is the
exception.)

5.) Biting fingernails, while detrimental to their health in other ways, is
thought to make them grow faster.(Just trim them, Don't bite!)

6.)Fingernails grow faster than toenails and all nails grow more quickly in
the summer than in winter or cold weather. Heat increases the rate of all
metabolic processes.

7.)Nails grow faster during the day than at night due to the natural pulse of
the body rhythms.

ï8.)Mens nails grow faster than womens do. However, women will experience a
spurt in nail growth just before menstruation and during pregnancy. These
growth spurts are thought to be in response to hormonal activity.

The nails reflect the condition of the inner body....

We see color in the natural nail, but the fingernail itself is colorless and
translucent. The central portion of the normal nail (nail body) appears pink
due to the nail bed below which is rich in capillaries, and the nail body
being close-fitting. The lunula, or moon, appears white because it is not
firmly attached to the nail body.

Normal healthy nails can grow in a variety of shapes, determined by a persons
genetics. Everyday fingernail problems are most often focussed on soft or
brittle nails and split or pitted nails. These conditions are generally
related to the effects of the environment, nail biting, age, or heredity.
However, changes in the nails can also be a signal of other internal health
problems, and nail disorders can result from a variety of causes.

Lines and Ridges on the Fingernails

Long lines. As people age, longitudinal lines appear in the nails. They are
considered to be due to age. There are speculations that long, and
corrugated lines on the nails may be due to the bodys poor absorption of
vitamins and minerals, or that these nail lines may signal anemia, an iron
deficiency.

White lines. White lines across the nail bed are common, but sometimes are
indicative of liver or kidney disease.

Ridges. Any inflammation or irritation around the area of the nail matrix
disturbs the growth pattern of the nail body, and a lengthwise furrow is
produced. Cuticle manipulation, such as cutting too much of the cuticle or
pushing it back too vigorously, can cause fingernail ridging.

Lines. Horizontal ridges that cross the nail like wavy furrows,
indicate that something has interrupted the nail growth, such as high fever,
nutritional deficiencies, drug reactions, painful menstruation, childbirth,
or trauma from surgery. The nail matrix stops producing keratin. When the
nail begins to grow again, a groove marks the spot where the nail-forming
cells rested.

The following table outlines some common conditions.
Nail Condition Potential Cause

Complete loss of nail Trauma to the nail; a form of dermatitis, syphilis
Nail body loose Injury; nail psoriasis; fungal or bacterial infections;
medicines, chemotherapy, thyroid disease, Raynauds phenomenon, lupus
Thickened nail body Poor circulation, fungal infection, heredity, mild,
persistent trauma to the nail

Pitted nails sometimes with yellow-to-brown spots 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

Club-like nails growing around 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

Brittle, split nails Nail dryness; nails in contact with irritants; silica deficiency

Infected nails; red tender, swollen, pus Bacterial or yeast infection

Overlarge lunulas or moons Overactive thyroid, genetics, self-induced trauma

No lunula Underachieve thyroid, genetics

The following is a listing of additional disorders that may show up in the
nails and it is for reference only;

1. Black, splinter like bits under the nails can be a sign of infectious
endocarditis, a serous heart infection; other heart disease; or a bleeding
disorder.

2. Brittle nails signify possible iron deficiency, thyroid problems,
impaired kidney function, and circulation problems.

3. Brittle, soft, shiny nails without a moon may indicated an overactive
thyroid.

4. Dark nails and/or thin, flat, spoon shaped nails are a sign of vitamin
B12 deficiency or anemia. Nails can also turn gray or dark if the hands are
placed in chemicals such as cleaning supplies (most often bleach) or a
substance to which one is allergic.
5. Deep blue nail beds show a pulmonary obstructive disorder such as asthma
or emphysema.

6. Downward-curved nail ends may denote heart, liver, or respiratory
problems.

7. Flat nails can denote Raynaudâ€™s disease.

8. Greenish nails, if not a result of a localized fungal infection, many
indicate an internal bacterial infection.

9. A half-white nail with dark spots at the tip points to possible kidney
disease.

10. An isolated dark-blue band in the nail bed, especially in light skinned
people, can be a sign of skin cancer.

11. Nail beading (the development of bumps on the surface of the nail) is a
sign of rheumatoid arthritis.

12. Nails that broaden toward the tip and curve downward are a sign of lung
damage, such as from emphysema or exposure to asbestos.

13. Nails that chip, peel, crack, or break easily shows a general
nutritional deficiency and insufficient hydrochloric acid and protein.
Minerals are also required.

14. Nails raised at the base, with small, white ends, show a respiratory
disorder such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. This type of nail may also
simply be inherited.

15. Nails separated from the nail bed may signify a thyroid disorder of a
local infection.

16. Nails that have pitting resembling hammered brass indicate a tendency
toward partial or total hair loss.

17. Pitted red-brown spots and frayed and split ends indicated psoriasis;
vitamin C, folic acid, and protein are required.

18. Red skin around the cuticles can be indicative of a poor metabolism of
essential fatty acids or of a connective tissue disorder such as lupus.

19. Ridges can appear in the nails either vertically or horizontally.
Vertical ridges indicate poor general health, poor nutrient absorption,
and/or iron deficiency. They may also indicate a kidney disorder. Horizontal
ridges can occur as a result of severe stress, either psychological or
physical, such as from infection and/or disease. Ridges running up and down
the nails also indicate a tendency to develop arthritis.

20. Thick nails may indicate that the vascular system is weakening and the
blood is not circulating properly. They may also be a sign of thyroid
disease.

21. Thinning nails may signal ichen planus, an itchy skin disorder.

22. Two white horizontal bands that do not move as the nail grows are a sign
of hypoalbuminemia, a protein deficiency in the blood.

23. Unusually wide, square nails can suggest a hormonal disorder.

24. White liens across the nail may indicate a liver disease.

25. If the white moon area of the nail turns red, it may indicate heart
problems; if it turns slate blue, then it can indicate either heavy metal
poisoning (such as silver poisoning) or lung trouble.

26. White nails indicate possible liver or kidney disorders and/or anemia.

27. White nails with pink near the tips are a sign of cirrhosis.

28. Yellow nails or an elevation of the nail tips can indicate internal
disorders long before other symptoms appear. Some of these are problems with
the lymphatic system, respiratory disorders, diabetes, and liver disorders.

Discolored Fingernails.

Normally, the color of fingernails is uniform and of a lighter tone than the
skin on the back of the hand. The nail bed will show a pinkish color through
the nail body for the fair skinned and a creamy beige for darker skin tones.

Discolored nails can give clues to internal body imbalances. Toxicity to
certain medications can also discolor nails. This following listing is for
reference only:

1. Colorless fingernails that appear much paler than the surrounding skin
may indicate anemia.

2. Red or deep ink fingernails can indicate a tendency to poor peripheral
circulation.

3. Blue nails may be a sign that the blood is not receiving adequate oxygen
due to respiratory disorders, cardiovascular problems, or lupus
erythematosus. Blue nails may also be a reaction to dyes or chemicals.

4. Yellow nails may be the consequence of colored nail enamels, nail
hardeners, tetracycline, fungus, diabetes, psoriasis, or heredity.

5. White, crumbly, soft nails can result from a fungal infection leading to
thickening and ridging of the fingernails. The fungus usually begins at the
free edge of the nail and works its way down to the root.

6. Half white/half pink nails may indicate a fungal infection or, more
seriously, kidney disease.

7. Small white patches that gradually move down the nail are usually a sign
of injury to the nail matrix (such as bending the nail tip too far back) or
of contact exposure to harsh soaps or cleaning products.

8. Purple or black nails are usually due to trauma to the nail. However, a
brown or black streak that begins at the base of the nail and extends to its
tip could be a clue to a potentially dangerous melanoma.