Fingernails and Toenails

Information and facts on fingernails and toenails including nail fungus and nail color health indicators.

Finger and toenails grow at an average rate of 3 millimeters a month. Fingernails take 3 to 6 months to regrow completely, while toenails require around 12 to 18 months to grow back fully. Although it is widely believed that toenails do not grow back, this is not true. Actual growth rate is dependent upon age, gender, season, exercise level, diet, and hereditary factors.

Contrary to popular belief, nails do not continue to grow after death; the skin dehydrates and tightens, making the nails (and hair) appear to grow.

Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protein called keratin and include:

Nail fold - A fold of hard skin overlapping the base and sides of a fingernail or toenail.

Nail bed - The adherent connective tissue that underlies the nail, often referred to as the "quick."

Nail plate - The hard and translucent portion, composed of keratin.

Hyponychium - The attachment between the skin of the finger or toe and the distal end of the nail.

Lunula - The crescent shaped whitish area of the nail bed (when visible)

Free edge - The part of the nail that extends past the finger, beyond the nail plate.

Eponychium or cuticle - The fold of skin at the proximal end of the nail.

Paronychium - The fold of skin on the sides of the nail.

Major illness can cause a deep transverse groove to form across the nails. A change in fingernail color, thinning, thickening, brittleness, splitting, grooves, Mees' lines and nail ridges, small white spots, receded lunula, clubbing (convex), flatness, spooning (concave) can indicate illness in other areas of the body, nutrient deficiencies, drug reaction or poisoning, or merely local injury.

Both Fingnails and toenails can also become thickened (onychogryposis), loosened (onycholysis), infected with fungus (onychomycosis) or degenerate (onychodystrophy)

Onychia is an inflammation of the matrix (surrounding tissue) of the nail with formation of pus and shedding of the nail.

Onychocryptosis, commonly known as "ingrown nails" can affect either the fingers or the toes. In this condition, the nail cuts into one or both sides of the nail bed, resulting in inflammation and possibly infection.

Onychodystrophy is a deformation of the nails that can result from cancer chemotherapy. It can include discoloration of the nail, or dyschromia.

Onychogryposis is a thickening and increase in curvature of the nail most commonly seen in the great toe but may be seen in other toes as well as the fingernails. An affected nail has many grooves and ridges, is brownish in color, and grows more quickly on one side than on the other.

Onycholysis is a loosening of the exposed portion of the nail from the nail bed, it is frequently associated with an internal disorder, trauma, infection, nail fungi, allergy to nail enhancement products, or side effects of drugs.

Onychoschizia or splitting of the nails is a very common problem often seen by dermatologists. The term onychoschizia includes splitting, brittle nails, soft or thin toenails and fingernails.

Onychomadesis is the separation and falling off of a nail from the nail bed. Common causes include localized infection, minor injury to the matrix bed, or severe systemic illness.

Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium, is a contagious infection of the nail caused by the same fungal organisms which cause ringworm of the skin.

Onychoptosis is the periodic shedding of one or more nails, in whole or part. This condition may follow certain diseases such as syphilis, or can result from fever, trauma, systemic upsets or adverse reaction to drugs.

Paronychia is a bacterial or fungal infection where the nail and skin meet.

Koilonychia is when the nail curves upwards due to an iron deficiency. The normal process of change is: brittle nails, straight nails, spoon-shaped nails.

Subungual hematoma occurs when trauma to the nail results in a collection of blood, or hematoma, under the nail. It may result from an acute injury or from repeated minor trauma such as running in undersized shoes.

What is nail fungus?

Nail fungus, also known as Onychomycosis, is an organism which digests the keratin found in your fingernails and toenails. Onychia is an inflammation of the matrix (surrounding tissue) of the nail with formation of pus and shedding of the nail.

Further Information Regarding Fingernails and Toenails

Fingernail Ridges Pitting and Shape
Your Fingernail condition, shape, and color, can often alert you to underlying health problems. Nail conditions can include pitting, spoon nails, plus vertical and horizontal fingernail ridges.

Brittle Nails Causes and Treatment
Brittle nails are often a normal result of aging, but may also be due to certain diseases and conditions. Brittle nails usually break or peel off in horizontal layers, starting at the nail's free end. The term brittle nails can also refer to a condition in which lengthwise splits appear in the nail.

Toenail Pain - Causes and Treatment
Ranging from simple issues to situations needing immediate medical care, toenail pain is often ignored until it can no longer be tolerated. Prompt treatment for the underlying cause may be the key to quick healing and reduction of the pain.

Fingernails Nail Color Health Indicators
Fingernail color and condition changes are rarely the first clue of serious illness. In most instances, patients will manifest other signs or symptoms of disease before nail changes become evident. Nail colors can be grouped into black, blue, brown/copper, green, blue-green, grey, yellow, pale, purple or red groups, and each color means something different.

Ingrown Toenails - Causes Symptoms Treatment
Onychocryptosis known as ingrown nails or ingrowing nails, is a form of nail disease. It is a painful condition in which the nail grows or cuts into one or both sides of the nail bed. Ingrown nails can occur in both the nails of the hand and feet, they occur most commonly with toenails.

Nail Fungus Fingernails and Toenails
Nail fungus, also known as Onychomycosis, is an organism which digests the keratin found in your fingernails and toenails. Onychia is an inflammation of the matrix (surrounding tissue) of the nail with formation of pus and shedding of the nail.