Why Do We Have Nails and What Are They?

For the most part, people just don't think about what their nails actually are and why they have them. Of course, you may think about whether or not to paint them, how to keep them healthy looking or how to keep them strong and keep them from chipping, but aside from that, they get little or no attention. What you don't know is that your fingernails and toenails serve multiple purposes. They support the tissues of the fingers and toes, they act as armor for the tips of the fingers and toes, they help us to pick up and manipulate things, and they're great for getting that nagging itch. Most people also do not know that their nails are made of the same main ingredient (keratin) that their hair is made of.

About your Nails

Your fingernails and toenails are made up of many different materials. Some of these materials can be seen and some cannot. When you look at your nails, the main part that you can see is defined as the nail plate. The healthy nail plate is hard and smooth. It is rectangular in shape and is slightly rounded.

If you have medical issues with your nails, such as nail fungus or if there is something troubling you about your nails, you can either see a podiatrist (foot doctor) or a dermatologist (skin doctor). If it is a fingernail that you are concerned about, see a dermatologist, as podiatrists general only deal with foot (toenail) problems.

As far as nail color goes, healthy nails should be translucent with a pinkish color underneath. This pinkish color is the result of the thousands of tiny blood vessels which line the underside of the nail. At times, this can become discolored. If your blood vessel are constricted due to coldness, they can become pale in color. When a person is deprived of oxygen in their blood, the nail beds may become a pale blue color as blod darkens when the oxygen level is low.

The Half-Moon

The whiter colored, half-circle area that you see at the base of the nail is called the lunula. The lunula is actually a collection of immature nail cells. As the nails slowly grow out, these cells become mature and change to a translucent color. How large the lunula is varies from person to person and from finger to finger. Usually you will see a more pronounced lunula on your thunbnails and large toenails. As a person grows in age, the lunula will usually begin to fade in color.

The Cuticles and Nail Beds

The cuticle is the area of thin, soft tissue that grows at the base of the nail and overlaps the area where the nail grows out of the finger. The reason we have cuticles is simple, they protect the area, ofrming somewhat of a seal, in the area where the nail grows out from the finger. This keeps out harmful bacteria and/or microorganisms.

The nail bed is the soft tissue directly underneath the nail plate.Many believe that the nail bed contributes to nails growth, but this is wrong. The nail bed does support the nail in terms of giving it blood supply, however the nail actually grows from the base under the cuticle.The nail bed and the nail plate are attached together by a myriad of vertical ridges and depressions, much like a jigsaw puzzle, which lock the nail bed and the nail plate together. There are many nerve endings in this area as well, resulting in a painful experience when they are pulled apart. OUCH!

Finally, we will quickly discuss the nail root. This is the area that is hidden beneath the cuticle and is where the nail keratin is produced by the body. As the cells within the nail root divide, they lengthen and push the previously created cells out from under the cuticle, forming the nail plate.

For information about safe and inexpensive alternatives to nail fungus treatment, visit this Natural Nail Fungus Treatment website.

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