Nail Facts

Your fingernails grow about one-eighth of an inch a month. Fingernails grow faster than toenails. Nails on the longest fingers grow the fastest. If you're right-handed, nails on that hand grow faster than on your left hand; the opposite is true for lefties. Your fingernails will also grow faster during the summer, during pregnancy, and when they are recovering from injury.

Introduction to Home Remedies for Nail Problems

Scratch an itch. Strum a guitar. Peel an orange. Your fingernails come in handy all day long, but too much use -- or misuse -- can cause problems ranging from nasty fungal infections to brittle, broken nails. In this article, we'll talk about fingernail-related health problems, and we'll give you some home remedies for fingernail care and maintenance.

Your nails are made of keratin, the same type of protein in your hair. Each nail actually consists of several parts, all of which play an important role in its health and growth:

  • Nail plate: This is what you see as the fingernail.
  • Nail bed: This lies below the nail plate; the two are attached. The capillaries in the nail bed nourish the nail and give it its pinkish color.
  • Nail matrix: You don't see most of this, yet it may be the most important. It's below the cuticle at the base of the nail. Cells in the matrix produce the fingernail. If the matrix gets damaged, your nail will be distorted or may even stop growing completely.
  • Lunula: This is the part of the matrix that you can see. It's the half-moon-shaped portion at the bottom of your nail.
  • Cuticle: This fold of skin, made of dead cells, keeps foreign substances, such as infection-causing bacteria, out.
  • Nail fold: This is the ridge of skin around the nail.

Although plenty can go wrong with the nails, one of the most common complaints dermatologists hear is that fingernails are brittle, or easily broken. Fingernails can become brittle either because they are too dry, making them hard and easily cracked, or because they are too moist, which leaves them soft and prone to tearing. For that reason, doctors treat brittle nails in much the same way they would treat skin problems. For example, since nails can become dry and split at the tip if they're exposed to too much dry heat, detergents, or nail polish remover, one piece of advice is obvious: Avoid harsh chemicals and other drying influences, and use moisturizer. But don't overdo it -- nails become soft and brittle when exposed to too much hand lotion and other moisturizers. Nails may be extremely soft right after a lot of time underwater or may become dried out from repeated soaking and drying.

Trauma, the doctors' term for injury, is another major problem for fingernails. The classic example: Whacking the fingernail with a hammer. If a bruise forms beneath the nail, a doctor may have to relieve the pressure that builds up.

Injuries also open the door to infections, especially fungal infections. Although these generally plague toenails more often than fingernails (for the same reason athlete's foot develops -- the hot, moist environment of shoes), fungal infections can strike the nails on the hands, with some unpleasant consequences. Infection may turn the nail plate chalky white, yellowish, brownish, or even green and make the nail fold look red and irritated. (If you suspect a nail infection, discuss it with your doctor.)

And finally, certain skin diseases, such as psoriasis, can show up in your nails.

What you don't want to occur: Separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, a condition called onycholysis. It can occur after an injury, infection, allergic reaction to a nail cosmetic, or exposure to chemicals or as a result of disease, such as psoriasis. If the nail appears white, it may have separated. You'll need to see your doctor, and you'll want to be careful not to aggravate the problem further. Unfortunately, once the nail separates, it won't reattach; you have to wait for a new nail to grow in.

For more information about nail, skin, and foot problems, try the following links:

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

Ways To Protect Your Toenails, Too

Toenails are most likely to fall prey to fungal infections. That's because the fungus that causes athlete's foot can invade the toenail after it's been injured.

Topical antifungals containing clotrimazole or miconazole will help defeat athlete's foot; apply them at the first sign of athlete's foot, hopefully before the fungus can invade the nail.

If the toenail does get infected, a prescription medication may be necessary to cure it.

Home Remedy Treatments for Nail Problems

Here are home remedies the experts recommend you try to keep your nails as healthy and attractive as possible:

Avoid the culprits. If you do a lot of housework, it's exposure to detergents and cleansers; if you're a janitor, strong cleaning fluids; a bartender, citrus fruits; and so on. If you can't stay away from these substances, wear gloves whenever possible. Otherwise, you risk brittle nails and even nail separation or infection, which could lead to nail deformity or even loss of the nail.

Keep your nails short. The shorter your nails, the less the risk of damaging them.

Be careful of nail bangers. Don't use your nail

in place of a screwdriver, a scraper, or other tool. Try not to hit it with a hammer or slam it in drawers. You get the idea. Such actions can injure your nails, opening the door to infection, stopping nail growth, or causing bruises. See your doctor as soon as possible if a nail turns black and blue; if your physician isn't available, go to an emergency room. The pressure should be relieved on the blood vessel that's been injured underneath the nail.

Moisturize your nails. Your nails contain no fat, so they can't naturally hold in moisture. Instead, try soaking them in tepid water, then applying a moisturizer, which will help lock in the water.

You may also want to try products that contain phospholipids, urea, or lactic acid -- all are "humectants." Complex 15, Aquaderm, and Moisturel are worth trying, or you may want to use an old standby -- petroleum jelly. Don't forget to reapply moisturizer after wetting or washing your hands or bathing.

Avoid moisture. Sounds like a contradiction, right? If your nail becomes infected, particularly with a yeast organism, it's important to avoid prolonged exposure to water and to keep the nail area as dry as possible, since infecting organisms generally prefer warm, moist environments.

Care for your cuticles. But don't cut them with a mechanical instrument, which breaks down the cuticle's natural protection from bacteria and moisture. Avoid using so-called orange sticks, too. Instead, soak cuticles, then gently push them back with a moist towel.

Don't pick or tear at hangnails. Otherwise, you're opening the door to infection by making a break in the skin where bacteria can enter. Clip the dry part of the hangnail with fine scissors, and apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. Keeping your hands, nails, and cuticles moisturized will help prevent future hangnails.

Realize the risk with nail cosmetics. Sculptured nails can hold in too much moisture. The glues used in nail wraps can cause reactions resulting in permanent damage to the nail bed and root. The most common problem is separation of the nail from the bed. But if you notice any pain or tenderness, you're probably reacting to the glue, and you need medical attention.

Forget formaldehyde. Although most fingernail polishes and nail hardeners are not supposed to contain formaldehyde, some still do. And if they cause an allergy or irritation, you can end up with nail separation.

Cut down on polish remover. Nail polish remover contains acetone, which dries nails. Use these powerful solvents no more than once a week. The less, the better.

Don't eat gelatin hoping to build strong nails. It just doesn't work.

Ditto for calcium. It helps build bones but has little or nothing to do with the hardness of your nails. Unless you are crash dieting or suffering from a malabsorption problem, your nails are not influenced that much by your diet.

Let's discuss natural home remedies for nail problems in the next section.

For more information about nail, skin, and foot problems, try the following links:

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Wear vinyl gloves to keep your nails safe from harmful chemicals.

Natural Home Remedies for Nail Problems

There are several natural home remedies for problem fingernails and toenails, too. Read on to learn about helpful items from your kitchen.

Home Remedies From the Cupboard

Baking soda. Clean your nails and soften cuticles by scrubbing them with a nailbrush dipped in baking soda.

Salt. Soaking painful ingrown nails in a warm saltwater solution will help ease the pain and relieve swelling. Add 1 tablespoon salt per quart of water and soak for 30 minutes. A saltwater soak can also make tough nails easier to trim. Try soaking nails in the same solution for five to ten minutes before trimming.

Home Remedies From the Drawer

Vinyl gloves. Wear vinyl gloves for wet work. Exposing your hands to moisture too often, or getting your hands in harsh detergents or chemicals, can cause brittle nails. Wearing vinyl gloves, not latex or rubber, keeps your hands dry and safe from abrasive materials. To repel moisture even more, try sprinkling a little baby powder in your gloves, or wear a pair of cotton inserts under the gloves.

Cotton gloves. For dry work, wear cotton gloves. You'll help protect nails from damage or possible injury.

Home Remedies From the Supplement Shelf

Biotin. Although the evidence isn't conclusive, a few small studies suggest that this B vitamin may strengthen brittle nails. Ask your doctor about taking biotin supplements.

Practicing these home remedies will help keep nail problems at bay. Remember -- proper care and maintenance will keep your fingernails healthy and strong.

For more information about nail, skin, and foot problems, try the following links:

David J. Hufford, Ph.D., is university professor and chair of the Medical Humanities Department at Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine. He also is a professor in the departments of Neural and Behavioral Sciences and Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Hufford serves on the editorial boards of several journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine and Explore.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

Secrets Your Nails Reveal

The eyes may be the window to the soul, but your fingernails may provide a peek into the status of your health. Remember, the symptoms listed here may signal the health problems listed; they do not provide definite diagnoses. But if you notice any of these, let your doctor know.

Pale or bluish nails: This may indicate anemia.

Pink color slow in returning after nail is squeezed: This may indicate decreased or slowed blood circulation.

White spots: These result from injury to the nail; they're not due to zinc or other nutrient deficiency as some people believe.

Beau's lines: These horizontal depressions occur after a traumatic event, such as a high fever. You might even be able to determine how long ago the event occurred by the length of the nail and the rate at which it grows.

White lines parallel to the lunula (and not the cuticle): These may indicate some sort of systemic (body-wide) insult.

Clubbed nails: These nails are shaped like the backside of a spoon and may indicate cardiopulmonary disease or asthma.

Spoon nails: These dip inward and could indicate certain types of anemia or injury.

Pitted nails: These punched-out-looking spots may signify psoriasis.

Anything resembling a wart around the nail: This could be a skin cancer and needs to be examined by a doctor.

Dark spot: This could be melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. If the spot "bleeds" into the cuticle or nail folds or if you're fair skinned, this is a serious warning sign that requires immediate medical attention.