Nail Structure

Nail structure ,nail structure and growth ,nail structure and product chemistry ,nail structure and function ,nail structure quiz ,nail structure mantle, Growing longer, stronger nails is a desire that many women have. Though it's hard to grow your nails long when they are so brittle that they break easily. This is one of the reasons why so many women wear fake or acrylic nails. Other people prefer shorter nails, but wish they weren't so thin. Understanding the structure of your fingernails, what they are made of and how they grow is essential for being able to grow the exact type of nails you want.

Anatomy

According to the Nail Doctors website, fingernails are made up of mostly keratin, a protein. The website explains that there are actually six different parts that make up fingernails: the root, nail bed, cuticle, nail plate, perionychium and hyponychium. The nail plate is hidden and is actually a translucent form of keratin. It appears pink because of all the blood vessels directly under the nail plate. Each part of the nail's anatomy has a specific function in protecting the nail and the skin below it.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, how quickly nails grow depends on the season, the person's age, how often they move their hands, whether they are pregnant and many other factors. The American Academy of Dermatology says nails grow faster in the summer than they do in the winter. They also grow faster during pregnancy and with old age. Moving hands a lot brings extra blood flow.
Growth Problems

Some medical problems prevent nails from growing as fast as they should or cause abnormal changes to the nails. For instance, the American Academy of Dermatology says dark spots or long streaks of dark colors on the nails sometimes occur with skin cancer. They also describe a nail growth problem called psoriatic nails, which occur in some people with the skin condition psoriasis. It involves nails that are discolored, reddish-brown and easy to split or break.
Minerals and Nail Growth



According to the Nail Doctors website, good health of the nails depends on a good balance between dietary intake of the minerals calcium and silica. They state that people often eat too much calcium and not enough silica. The website also says people who are deficient in the minerals silica and magnesium often have brittle, slow-growing nails. Magnesium is found in foods such as nuts and meats, while silica is present in cucumbers, bananas, bran cereal and raisins.
Speeding Up Nail Growth



Even though nail growth is for the most part affected by factors people cannot control, some things can be done to speed up nail growth. The Nail Doctors website says the more blood flowing to the nails, the quicker they grow. Therefore, gently massaging the area around your fingers and nails each day can speed up nail growth. Heat also brings blood flow, so if your hands are very cold, warm them up with a hand warmer, a heating pad or simply by putting them in your pockets. Making sure to eat foods with enough silica, magnesium and calcium can also help your nails grow faster.Nail structure ,nail structure and growth ,nail structure and product chemistry ,nail structure and function ,nail structure quiz ,nail structure mantle.