According to the Huffington Post, there are 15 things you should know about your nails

In an online article on September 24, 2013, the Huffington Post reports 15 things you should know about your nails. In this blog I will give you the condensed version..

1) Fingernails grow at a rate of slightly over 1/10th of an inch per month. If you are right-handed, the nails on your right-hand grow faster than the nails on your left. If you are left-handed, the reverse is true.

2) White spots on your nails are not caused by a calcium deficiency. According to Jessica Krant, M.D., white spots are not due to a vitamin deficiency but are likely due to previous trauma to the nail plate or the matrix (the root).

3) Hair and nails are made of the same material. They are both made up of keratin. According to Krant, a diet containing vitamins, fruits with antioxidants, vegetables, minerals and protein can contribute to healthy nails and hair.

4) According to the American Academy of dermatology, men's nails grow faster than women's nails except when a woman is pregnant.

5) One important difference between mammals and primates is that mammals have claws whereas primates, including humans, have nails.

6) The scientific name for nailbiting is onychophagia. According to webMD, onychophagia is the most common nervous habit. Approximately 50% of children between the ages of 10 and 18 by their nails. Most will stop by the age of 30.

7) You should not constantly keep nail polish on your nails. You should allow them to "breathe" between manicures and pedicures. Nail polish and nail polish remover contain harsh chemicals which can damage your nails and increase the chance of infection from bacteria and fungus.

8) Signs of systemic disease can be found in your nails. Blueish discoloration may be due to lung disease. Capillaries (small blood vessels) in the cuticles may be a sign of autoimmune disease. A dark brown spot on your cuticle that also has a brown streak across the length of the nail plate may indicate a malignancy, according to Krant.

9) Nails grow slower in the winter than in the summer.The American Academy of Dermatologysays that age can also play a factor in the speed of nail growth.

10) Chronic stress can also affect your nails. Krant says that it is important to get enough sleep and avoid stress, as much as possible, for optimal nail health.

11) there is a reason that most people can't stand the thought of scratching a blackboard with their nails. According to the Huff Post, the frequency that is created is amplified by the shape of our ear canals. There also may be a psychological component to it.

12) Cuticles are important. They should not be removed for aesthetic reasons. Krant says the cuticle helps to seal moisture and environmental germs out of the body.

13) Genetics help to determine the hardness of your nails. Krant says that excessive handwashing, doing dishes without gloves, using a lot of chemicals while cleaning your house, frequent manicures and hand sanitizers can all contribute to drying out and breakage of your nails.

14) Your nails need good blood flow to be healthy. According to Krant,traumatic injuries can affect the microscopic circulation that provides nutrition to the nails. Sometimes the nail will fall off after trauma and be replaced by a new healthy nail. If the trauma occurs at the root of the nail of the root can become permanently damaged and result in dystrophic or abnormal nails.

15) Approximately 10% of skin problems are related to nails. Approximately 50% of nail problems seen are caused by fungus infections, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Other common nail related problems include bacterial infections, ingrown nails, and vertical lines. Older people tend to have more nail issues than a younger people.

if you suffer from problems such as painful Ingrown Toenails,  or thick yellow nails due to Onychomycosis or Nail Fungus in Toronto, your Toronto podiatrist is here to help. Please call my podiatry office at 416-486-9917 to set up a consultation so that we can get your nails to look their best.

For the complete article, please go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/9/24/nail-facts-fingernails_n_3957467.html