What are Fingernails Made of

Nails are parts of the human body that are found or grow on the fingertips. Nails grow from soft gel-like cells that die, harden, and then form as they begin to grow from the fingertips. The epidermis at the base of the nail protects from dirt. The main function of the nail is to protect the soft and full nerves of the fingertips, and enhance the touch power. Nails are part of bone, not protein.

In the skin under the nails there are many capillaries that have a strong blood supply which causes a reddish color. Like bones and teeth, nails are the hardest part of the body because the water content is very small.

The growth of finger nails in one week averages 0.5 - 1.5 mm, four times faster than the growth of toenails. Nail growth is also affected by body heat.

Good nutrition is very important for nail growth. Conversely, if you are malnourished or suffer from anorexia nervosa, nail growth is very slow and brittle.

For a long time, there have been techniques for diagnosing nail disease. In addition to passing nails, diseases can also be detected through the eyes, tongue, blood tests, feces and urine. This interpretation of nail disease has actually been done by people since the time of Hippocrates.

Here are some nail irregularities that can help doctors diagnose a disease:

• Bluish color at the base of the nail indicates poor blood circulation and is a symptom of heart disease.
• If half of the part near the tip of the nail is pink or brown while the epidermis is white, it is a symptom of chronic kidney failure.
• If horizontal wrinkles arise and the nail looks dull, it indicates malnutrition or symptoms of a disease such as measles, chickenpox, mumps, heart and conditions such as Reynaud's syndrome (spasms of the fingers and toes due to extreme cold).
• The red layer extends to the nail, indicating bleeding in the capillary vessels. Double lines are a symptom of high blood pressure (hypertension).
• If nail growth appears to be slow, thick and hardened and yellowish, indicating lymphatic disorders or chronic digestive disease.
• The appearance of irregular spots on the nail, indicating the presence of psoriasis (chronic skin disease).
• If there is excessive arching at the base of the nail and around the tip of the nail, it indicates symptoms of tuberculosis, emphysema (lung disorders), cardiovascular disease or liver.