Basic Information About Nail

What Do You Need To Know?
Basic Information About Nail

Nail is a plate of keratin that lies on the tips of the fingers and toes. The main purpose of
the nail is to protect the fingers and toes, however, the fingernail also assists with certain
physical activities in daily life.
Below are the diagrams of the nail and its structure.
Structures of Nail
1. Lunula - the pearly coloured and crescent shaped is due to the cells being
pushed closely together, the blood capillaries cannot be seen through the
lunula because of this.
2. Cuticle - the overlapping epidermis around the nail. It is the transparent
skin, which is called the 'true cuticle', that is removed during the manicuring
process
3. Free edge -the part of the nail that can be filed and shaped. It is an
extension of the nail plate that overlaps the hyponychium
4. Matrix - the only living reproducing part of the nail. This is situated directly
below the cuticle. New cells form here and continually push towards to
produce the nail plate. It also contains blood vessels and nerves. Blood
supply provides the cells with nourishment. If the matrix is damaged the
nail will grow deformed.
5. Nail bed - the part of the nail where the nail plate rests on, also a
continuation of the matrix. It is abundantly supplied with blood vessels and
nerves, having numerous parallel ridges which dovetail exactly with the
ridges on the under surface of the nail plate.
6. Nail walls - the folds of skin that overlap the sides of the nail. They hold
your nail in place and protect the nail plate edges.
7. Nail Plate - is visible nail that rests on the nail bed up to the free edge.
This is made up from dead cells and minimum amount of moisture. The
nail is semi-transparent – allowing the color of blood supply of the dermis
to show.
Shapes of Nail
The shape of nail conforms to that of finger tips of an individual.
1. Oval nail - this is common among people with long, perfect nail beds. It may be styled
slightly rounded at the base and slightly pointed at the fingertips. Most often this type of nail
has a natural look and looks very good in a short-medium length.
2. Round nail - ideal for shorter nails, the nail is allowed to grow out straight at the sides
for approximately 1.5 mm and then the tip is filed into a rounded shape. This is a strong shape
which is great for those who keep their nails short.
3. Stiletto/ pointed nail - filed away at the sides to a point at the tip; this shape is very
weak as the sides of the nail (which provide the strength) are totally lost.
4. Squoval – as above, but followed by squaring off the tip, this gives the nail tip strength
over the oval shape.
5. Square nail – The square-shaped nails are the most famous among the nail shapes. It
is created by allowing the nail to grow out straight and then filing the tip straight across at
right angles with the rest of the nail plate.
NAIL DISEASES AND DISORDERS
Nail diseases are conditions of both the nail, and the surrounding skin which result from
bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Some conditions will show a green, yellow or black discoloration of
the nail, depending on the nature of the infection. The main course for infection is through damaged
cuticles and broken skin.
Many disorders can affect the nails. These disorders can affect any portion of the nail unit and
can impact the appearance of the nail plate itself. Nail disorders can r
Given below is a list of the few important nail diseases and disorders and their characteristics.
Nail Disorders Characteristics
1. Blue nails
It is bluish in color, may be attributed to
poor blood circulation or heart disorder.
2. Brittle nails
It is a vertical splitting or separation of
the nail plate layers at the distal (free) edge
of the nail plate. Over exposure to
detergent soap and other chemical solvents
may attribute to the effect.
3. Bruised nails It shows dark purplish (almost black

or brown) spots in the nail.
This is usually due to injury and bleeding of
the nail bed. As the nail grows, dried blood
in the nail bed will also go out.
4. Eggshell nails The nail plate separates from the nailbed

and curves at the free edge. It may be
caused by chronic illness of the systemic or
nervous origin.
5. Furrows These are long ridges that run either
lengthwise or across the nail. Some
lengthwise ridges are normal in adults. These
ridges increase with age and can also be
caused by psoriasis, poor circulation and
frostbite.
Ridges that run across the nail are caused
by high fevers, pregnancy & measles.
6. Hangnails It is a condition in which the cuticle splits

around the nail. Carelessness in removing
the cuticle, dryness, cutting off too much
may result in hangnails. It may cause
infection if not treated.
7. Leconychia or white White spot appears frequently in the nails.

spot They may be caused by injury to the base of
the nail. As the nail continues to grow, these
white spots eventually disappear.
8. Pterygium It is an overgrowth of cuticle which sticks to

the surfaces of nail plate. Carefully remove
the adhering growth by means of a cuticle
nipper.
9. Onychatrophia It is describe as wasting away of the nail. The

nail loses its luster, shrinks and falls This can
be caused by injury to the nail matrix or by
internal disease.
10. Onychauxis or It is an overgrowth of the nail usually in
hypertrophy thickness rather than length. It is caused by
an internal imbalance, such as local infection
or heredity.
11. Onychophagy or It is a deformity of nail plate caused by biting

bitten nail nails. It is an acquired nervous habit which
prompts the individual to chew the nail or
the hardened cuticle.
12. Onychorrhexis or It refers to split or brittle nails caused by an

split or brittle injury to the finger, careless filing of the
nails nails, excessive use of cuticle solvents and
nail polish removers. The nails may be
extremely dry because of some granular
disorder.
13. Ridges
It is caused by uneven growth of the nails,
usually resulting from illness. Buffing the
nails with paste polish will help remove
ridges.
14. Treating cuts It is caused by an accident during manicure

service. Apply an antiseptic immediately. Do
not apply nail polish on the affected area.
Nail Diseases Characteristics
1. Onychomycosis It is an infectious disease caused by a
vegetable parasite. The onset of the disease
takes about two to three months and the
attack is rarely on more than one or two
nails. The appearance of the nail is frayed
(worn out), brittle with furrowed surface,
opaque, grayish, or yellowish in color and is
lifted-up by an accumulation of epidermis
underneath.
2. Onychia Is a term applicable to chronic

inflammation of the nail fold and nail bed
(matrix). It results from the introduction of
microscopic pathogen through small
wounds.
3. Onychocryptosis It is referred to ingrown nails which affect
the fingers and toenails. It is marked by nail
growth into surrounding tissues and may
cause infection. Incorrect trimming a
shaping of nails are often responsible for
ingrown nails.
4. Onychoptosis It is the periodic shedding of one or more

nails, either in the whole or in part. This
condition maybe a symptom of a more
alarm disease such as syphilis or can result
from fever, trauma systematic upset or
adverse reaction to drug
5. Onycholysis
It refers to the detachment of the nail from
the nail bed, starting at its distal and/or
lateral attachment. The most common
cause of onycholysis is psoriasis.
6. Onychogryphosis or It pertains to extreme thickening curvature
claw nails of the nails, usually it is caused by varying
degree of hyperkeratosis (skin disease in
which the skin gets thicker) on the distal
portion of the nail bed that detaches and
lifts the plate off the bed.

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What Do You Need To Know?

Basic Information About Nail

Below are the diagrams of the nail and its structure.

Nail Disorders Characteristics

3. Bruised nails It shows dark purplish (almost black

4. Eggshell nails The nail plate separates from the nailbed

6. Hangnails It is a condition in which the cuticle splits

7. Leconychia or white White spot appears frequently in the nails.

8. Pterygium It is an overgrowth of cuticle which sticks to

9. Onychatrophia It is describe as wasting away of the nail. The

11. Onychophagy or It is a deformity of nail plate caused by biting

12. Onychorrhexis or It refers to split or brittle nails caused by an

14. Treating cuts It is caused by an accident during manicure

2. Onychia Is a term applicable to chronic

4. Onychoptosis It is the periodic shedding of one or more

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