Nails are often the best meter of your health condition from the inside. Nails are chiefly complex combinations proteins, keratin and various other minerals. Most of our outer beauty rest on how healthy our internal organs and functions are. This also would mean that beauty is not limited to the female gender. Every individual has a beauty of his or her own, which is a reflection of their health and attitude. Nail health is very important, as any kind of disease can change our circulatory system. This would result in deformation and discoloration of our nails. Most of us consider nails as aesthetics, but in reality, it reflects our body’s functions. Females, in particular, spend thousands in beautifying their nails. The natural growth measures to about 3.5mm a month. Different ailment and stress can cause change in the rate of growth. Anumita takes a look into one of the health and beauty indicator, nails, in the weekly column, exclusively for Different Truths.
It is said that “beauty is skin deep,” but instead of skin, your nails can be a good indi
cator of your inner beauty. Nails are often the best meter of your health condition from the inside. Nails are chiefly complex combinations proteins, keratin and various other minerals. Most of our outer beauty rest on how healthy our internal organs and functions are. This also would mean that beauty is not limited to the female gender. Every individual has a beauty of his or her own, which is a reflection of their health and attitude.
Nail health is very important, as any kind of disease can change our circulatory system. This would result in deformation and discoloration of our nails. Most of us consider nails as aesthetics, but in reality, it reflects our body’s functions. Females, in particular, spend thousands in beautifying their nails. The natural growth measures to about 3.5mm a month. Different ailment and stress can cause a change in the rate of growth.
Here are some of the major nail related problems, their reasons and their remedies:
1.Spoon Nails: As the name suggests, the nails are flatter at the bed and then curves upwards at the edge, like the appearance of a spoon. Often this kind of deformation is due to lack of iron and less oxygen absorption in the blood. Food rich in iron like spinach, chicken and beans should be consumed.
2.Clubbed Nails: When nail grows curved downwards with a bubbling or bulging effect at the bed of the nail, it is called clubbing. Many are born with this kind of nails, but if the nails changes to a clubbed nail shape, it could mean underlying diseases of the lungs, kidney, heart or bowl. Iodine rich food and anti-inflammatory food should be consumed like the sea vegetables as kelp.
3.Yellow Nails: Often such discolorations are the result of using acrylic nails too often or nail polish on a constant basis. But if the nail gets flaky or brittle it could be due to fungal infections, thyroid or psoriasis. Ageing and smoking can cause nail discolorations too. It would be a good idea to get it checked by your physician.
4.Dry, Cracked and Brittle Nails: Lifestyle issues can be a cause of such nails, like frequent washing and exposure to chemicals. It may be also caused by thyroid or fungal infection. Vitamin A, B, C and Biotin would be an immense help to recover the health of this kind of nail issues.
5.White Spots: White spots occur due to nail trauma when the body has an excess calcium deposit. It usually fades and grows out. If it is persisting then it can be due to a more serious cause of the liver problem or fungal infection. Food rich in zinc, like shellfish, pumpkin seeds and mushrooms, are advised.
6.Horizontal Ridges: White horizontal lines (Beau’s Lines) on the nail could be due to nail injury, but if it appears in multiple nails, it could be due to diseases as Pneumonia, high fever, arsenic poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, leprosy, psoriasis, circulatory disease, uncontrolled diabetes, malaria, Hodgkin’s disease. Zinc and the iron enriched food are required.
7.Vertical Ridges: Typically linked to ageing, this kind of vertical ridges are not things of concern. With age, these ridges deepen. But, occasionally nutrient deficiency is also a reason for such ridges. Dark green leafy vegetables, salmon, egg, meat and B12 rich food would be beneficial.
8.Dark Discolorations: Dark and painful growth on your nails warrants for an immediate consultation with your physician. This maybe signs of melanoma or a kind of skin cancer. Other than medical treatment, food rich in antioxidants would be the best way to go.
9.Pitting: Nails with multiple pitting, usually in children, are often a sign of malnutrition. It can be due to psoriasis or eczema. Good nail health and proper diet would be prescribed with oral antibiotics.
10.Nail with Pink Strips: Known as Terry’s nail, occurs when there is only a pink strip at the top of a white nail. Usually linked to ageing but often may be due to liver disease, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, or diabetes. Protein rich food and almond or Vitamin E oil massage on the nails would be helpful.
There is nothing more beautiful than bare, beautiful and healthy nails. Moisturising nails are equally important as we moisturise our skin. If regular manicure or pedicure is not possible, it would be advisable to brush your nails regularly while in the shower. A proper cream or oil should be massaged into the nails after being washed.
As nails are indicators of our health and beauty, it would be a great idea to pay a little more attention to the end of our digits. Toes are often neglected as they are hiding in the shoes. Take time to check and clean and massage them as the rest of our body.
©Anumita Chatterjee Roy
Photos from the internet.
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