The big toenail grows the fastest on the feet, while the pinkie fingernail is the slowest growing of the fingernails. The legs and feet are also subject to greater concerns related to blood flow, such as deep vein thrombosis or other peripheral vascular diseases. This can affect toenail growth and toenail function. Fingernails comprise three layers of tissue called keratin.
Keratin is a tissue type that has amino acid proteins. Keratin is naturally present in your hair and nails. The way keratin cells link to form together can influence the consistency and feel of the fingernails.
For example, the nail layers are made of soft, moderately hard, and hard keratin. These all come together to create the protective shield you know as your fingernails. While the keratin cells are no longer living which is why you can trim your fingernails and toenails , they represent formerly living cells that needed nutrients and proteins to survive.
More about this in the next section. Fingernails may be potential indicators of underlying medical conditions. Amanda Meyer does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Curious Kids is a series for children. Why do we have fingernails and toenails? The short answer is we have evolved to have nails because they help us pick things up like food , pick things off like bugs , and hold tightly onto things. Early humans who had these type of nails instead of claws tended to live long enough to have babies and pass on the fingernails gene to their kids. So over time, the number of human ancestors with nails grew and the number with claws shrunk.
Humans are members of the primate family. The primates are the most intelligent group of mammals mammals are animals who do not lay eggs. Use special care with sharp tools, nail polish, or nail polish remover. These items can be especially dangerous if a little brother or sister gets ahold of them!
Also, the ingredients in some nail polishes and removers can be damaging and dry out your nails. Most of the time, your nails are pink and healthy, but sometimes nails have problems. Some of the most common for kids include:.
Some of these problems, such as a minor nail injury or hangnail, can be handled at home by your mom or dad. But infections and more serious nail injuries need a doctor's care. Signs of a nail infection include pain, redness, puffiness swelling , and maybe some pus.
Don't be surprised if your doctor takes a look at your nails at your next checkup, even if you're having no problems with them. Fingernails provide good clues to a person's overall health.
For instance, when the doctor presses your nails, he or she is checking your blood circulation. By looking at your nails, a doctor may find changes that may be associated with skin problems, lung disease, anemia, and other medical conditions.
Your nails are in the know! Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. A healthy human has a smooth, soft finger nail one without lines or ridges, good indication of something wrong with the internal body is when a finger nail discolors yellow , or gets white spots on it and starts to curl.
If your finger nail shows any such signs, a visit to a physician is recommended. The average time taken for a finger nail to grow is six months, and yes it is a misconception, finger nails actually do not grow after death. Toe nails are an extension of your toes, these nails are harder than finger nails but have the same function, i. Toe nails are prone of getting ingrowths that is when the nail grows towards the soft tissue instead of out.
This in growth can be very painful and if not treated properly, can have serious implications like removal of the entire nail.
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