Nail Health

Nail health is very important because nail problems sometimes indicate major health issues. Visit HowStuffWorks to learn all about nail health.

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You can grow your nails to some serious lengths, but would you want to?

By Laurie L. Dove

Hangnails aren't just irritating -- they can be downright painful. What exactly is a hangnail, and what's the best way to treat them?

By Maria Trimarchi

Toenail fungus is unsightly, embarrassing and most of all stubborn. Learn about techniques for correcting toenail fungus.

By the editors of PureHealthMD

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While the majority of nail salon visits won't send you on your way with anything other than an excellent manicure and pedicure, customers -- and salon workers -- are at risk of spreading disease. We've got five culprits to watch out for.

By Tom Scheve

Every now and then, a story will appear in a magazine or on the local news about the threats posed by salons. These stories usually focus on potential threats to customers -- a dirty footbath or poorly sterilized instruments. But what about the manicurists themselves?

By Molly Edmonds

When it's winter and they're clad in boots and warm socks, it's easy to ignore your feet. But when someone stares at your scratchy, callused soles in horror, it might be time for a pedicure.

By Rachel Oswald

Fake or real? Tickle me pink or muted mauve? Cut cuticles or just push them back? The beauty treatment for your hands isn't as straightforward as you might think. And yes, men get them, too.

By Susan L. Nasr

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People use nail polish to beautify their nails, and these days you can find it in almost any color. So when you take the polish off, why are your nails sometimes yellow?

By Stephanie Crawford

If you long for well-manicured hands and your short, broken nails just aren't cutting it, you may be considering acrylic nails. But are acrylic nails safe?

By Susan Sentry

Nail health is more than just a cosmetic matter -- it can be a window to your overall well-being. What changes in your nails' appearance are worth contacting a doctor about?

By Jason Nell

If you're a parent, you might have noticed that your child's fingernails always need clipping, whereas your broken nail is taking weeks to grow back. Why do some nails grow quicker than others, and how fast do nails really grow?

By Susan Sentry

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Maybe you only think about them once a week when selecting a shade of OPI enamel, or perhaps you think about them daily because you're trying to quit biting them. No matter how often you think about them, what do you really know about your nails?

By Elizabeth Forester

Though hangnails may seem rather insignificant in the grand scheme of health problems, they can become infected and lead to a handful of other issues. Fortunately, there are many ways to avoid hangnail hazards.

By Sarah Siddons

Fungus is one of those words that just sound bad. Even if you don't know what it is, you definitely wouldn't want it growing on your body. However, as many as 14 percent of Americans suffer from nail fungus.

By Jason Nell

Nail biting is a common nervous habit, especially in children, but can biting your nails cause health problems?

By Susan Sentry

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It's common knowledge that sun exposure can cause sunburns, wrinkles and even skin cancer, but is the sun also bad for your nails?

By Susan Sentry

You notice a white dot on your fingernail. You try to scrub it off and realize the little white dots are not paint; they're actually part of your nail. What could they be?

By Jason Nell

Whether trimmed or long, polished or plain, your nails say a lot about the state of your health. What warning signs are literally at your fingertips?

By Maria Trimarchi & Jennifer Sellers