The difference between healthy and unhealthy nails

The core difference between healthy nails and unhealthy nails is concentrated in three intuitive dimensions: "glossy texture, growth rhythm, and no abnormal accompanying symptoms." Without the need to refer to complicated comparison tables, ordinary people can basically make an accurate judgment by looking at their own nails for 30 seconds.

I have been a manicurist for 8 years, and I touch all kinds of nails every day. The healthy nail surface has a delicate matte texture with a slight pinkish feel. The thickness is about the same as two ordinary A4 papers stacked together. Press and release the fingertips, and the pink color of the nail bed will rebound within 1 second. Even if there are no crescents, or only two thumbs have crescents, as long as they are in this state all year round, it will be no problem. Don’t believe the saying that “the more crescents you have, the healthier you are.” This point is actually quite controversial in the academic community: Western medicine believes that crescents are incompletely keratinized nail matrix, and the number is basically determined by genetics. Some people are born with the nail matrix at the back, and the crescents are completely hidden in the flesh and cannot be seen. This is not a sign of weakness at all. ； Traditional Chinese medicine links the changes of the crescent moon to the circulation of qi and blood. If you originally had 10 crescent moons, but suddenly only 2 are left within two months, and you also feel dizzy and have cold hands and feet, you can really adjust your work, rest and diet. There is basis for both opinions, so there is no need to argue about right or wrong.

A while ago, I met a young girl born in 2000 who changed her manicure every two weeks for 3 months. When she removed her nails, the surface was as thin as a cicada's wing. When she was touched, she hissed and gasped. The surface was covered with fine horizontal lines, and it hurt when rubbed with an alcohol pad. This is a typical example of unhealthy nails caused by external damage. Not to mention styling, even touching hot water is uncomfortable. The complete cycle of nails growing from the root to the fingertips is 3-6 months. She has to stop all manicures for at least 2 cycles and apply nail oil every day to slowly return to the original thickness.

There are also many people who come to me in panic, saying that they have a lot of vertical lines on their nails. Is there something wrong with their health? I specifically asked dermatologists and doctors of traditional Chinese medicine who I am familiar with about this, and both sides have different opinions: most dermatologists will tell you that this is a normal physiological phenomenon, just like wrinkles. Everyone will slowly develop vertical lines after the age of 30. Just apply finger oil to moisturize. ； Doctors in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine will often combine your other symptoms, such as whether you often stay up late, get tired easily, have dry eyes and hair loss. If you have these accompanying symptoms, they may recommend that you adjust your work and rest to replenish your qi and blood. Both are correct, but it depends on whether you have other discomforts. You don’t have to worry about a few vertical lines and be unable to sleep.

As for the white spots on nails that people often ask about, when I was a child, my mother always said it was a lack of calcium and asked me to drink milk. Later I found out that most of them were caused by accidentally hitting the root of the nail a while ago, or gastroenteritis during that time when nutrition did not keep up.

Of course, there are situations where you really need to be vigilant. For example, if a certain nail suddenly turns gray or yellow, feels thicker than other nails, has pits on the surface, and sheds flakes when you cut it, then it is most likely onychomycosis, which is what we often call onychomycosis. Don’t apply medicine on your own. Go to a dermatology department for a fungal microscopy, which costs tens of dollars. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, follow the doctor’s advice. Don’t believe in the home remedies online that can cure onychomycosis. It can easily get worse. Some people suddenly develop many small pinpoint pits on their nails, like thimbles. If it is also accompanied by erythema on the skin and joint pain, then you should be alert to whether it is a sign of psoriasis and go to the hospital in time.

The people I encounter the most are actually overly anxious people. They use the online comparison chart one by one and say that they have few crescents, vertical lines, and lack of luster. They must be weak somewhere. In fact, many people just don’t like to wear hand cream. The edges of their fingers are too dry, and the nail surface is naturally dull. As long as the nails are not painful, itchy, split or cracked, and the growth rate is about 1 mm per month, then there is no problem.

Really, you don’t need to think about your nails as an accurate barometer of health. They are just the cuticle that protects your fingertips. Most of the little problems are “created” by yourself – don’t bite your nails, don’t use your nails to open couriers and pry cans, and don’t do manicures too often and leave them too long. It’s better than any other maintenance. If you’re really unsure, go to the hospital to get a dermatology number. It’s much more useful than searching online and making random guesses to add to your illness.