A nail is a layer of hard substance - keratin. It grows with the speed
of 1/8 - 1/4 inches (1 inch equals 2.5 cm) a month depending on the
person's age and health condition. Nails don't breath. The nail-bed
is filled with blood rich in oxygen thanks to the capillary system
that is well-developed.
Nails don't evaporate moisture.
Nails don't need vitamins and minerals as they consist of dead protein
and that's why they can't grow faster with the help of these substances.
Nails are the firm surface that helps to protect gentle and sensitive
finger endings. The nail growth starts in matrix, the tissue that
is the nail base. Matrix is the cell layer in the area where skin
cells separate from nail plate. The matrix damage causes nail deformation
and sometimes can even stop nails from growing. The nail starts from
nail root that is situated under skin. Nail root and matrix are protected
with "nail folding" that is a a skin folding at the nail base. Above
it there is a white formation in the shape of moon called "the moon"
that is the continuation of matrix. As in the process of growing the
nail continues getting hard above "the moon", it remains soft at the
beginning and can easily be damaged.
Nail plate is the dead layer of keratin. In nail matrix you can find
keratinocytes (one of the kinds of nail plate cells) that look like
a pink area of skin that goes above the "moon". Nail plate is rich
in blood capillary through which flows the blood rich in oxygen resulting
in healthy pink color of nail-bed. The cuticle firmly connects nail
folding with nail plate at the nail base and nail plate with the nail-
bed in the area of free nail edge. Cuticle hermetically isolates nail-bed
and matrix from air and water.
Nail strength and girth depends on the environmental influence on
the nail-bed.
NAIL DEFECTS
"wavy edge" - this is the result of nail damage or nail disease
"channels" - this is the result of disease of injured nail cells inside
or near matrix
"white spots" - are not influenced by the illness.They can occur as
the consequence of injuries at the nail base
"hypertrophy" - abnormal nail thickness
"atrophy" - nails lose their glitter, become thin and stop growing
"pterygium" - when cuticle grows on the nail base
DIFFERENT NAIL DISEASES
You can't do manicure on sick nails.
Nail serpigo is an infectious disease that is caused by fungus.
1.When it's a regular disease, you will see white spots on your nail,
that can be easily removed from its surface.
2. When the disease is more serious, white or yellow lines will appear
inside a nail. This disease effects the nail edge and goes until its
root.
3.The third form of disease effects nail-bed and causes unnatural
thinness of upper nail lawyers.
Felon's Prionixy - this is infectious
inflammatory nail tissue condition that are staggered by bacteria
or yield fungus.
Onyxitis - this is a pus inflammation
of nail matrix caused by infection.
Ingrown nails can be not only on
fingers but also on toes. The nail grows into skin folding and that's
how it causes infection.
Onycholysis - this is when the nail
gets weaker but doesn't come apart from the nail-bed. It is often
connected with the inner diseases, infection or taking special medicine.
This is the most common disease.