Quarterly Update May 2006 Nails Chap

Chapter 5

Medical Highlight: The Long and Short of Nails

Nails serve many functions. They help pick up and manipulate objects, as well as support the tissues of the fingers and toes. Most importantly, nails often reflect the general state of the person’s health.

Nails are produced by living skin cells and are mostly composed of keratin (see Body

Structures and Function, Scott, pp. 69 -70). The average growth of nails is 0.1 mm per day. Nails grow more rapidly in summer than in winter. Nails on the dominant hand

(right vs. left) grow faster, and men’s nails grow faster than women’s nails grow. Nail growth is affected by disease, hormone imbalance, and the aging process. Examination of the nails can reveal much about a person’s health. Many disease conditions may be revealed by the color of the nail bed.

Condition Nail Appearance

Liver disease White nails

Kidney disease Half of nail is pink, half is white

Heart condition Nail bed is red

Lung disease Yellowing and thickening of the nail;

slowed nail growth

Anemia Pale nail beds

Diabetes Yellowish nails, with a slight blush at the

Hypoxia conditions Bluish in color Ref. Nail Health-American Academy of Dermatology http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/NailHealth.htm