In fact, nails, like hair, are made of a substance called keratin. Nails grow from the nail bed under the skin. In the process of growth, the nail bed constantly produces living cells, and gradually pushes the old cells forward and slowly extends outward, pushing them to the skin under the nails to replace the old nails. Because the squeezed nails are already dead cells, we won't feel pain when the nails grow or are trimmed.
People's nails look different. Generally speaking, a relatively healthy nail has a smooth surface, moderate thickness and no obvious spots or vertical and horizontal lines. The color of nails is also pink, which is due to the healthy color of human blood supply.
Nails are also a barometer of health, and the growth pattern of nails can reflect the health of the body to some extent. Some people have uneven nail surfaces, which may be caused by fungal infection and malnutrition. Bacterial infection caused by careless personal hygiene can make nails uneven. If the unevenness is accompanied by yellowing and thickening of nails, it means that onychomycosis has been infected and needs to be treated in a hospital in time. In addition, long-term malnutrition and lack of trace elements in the body may also lead to slow nail growth and uneven surface. Usually you can eat more vegetables, eggs and other foods to supplement nutrition. In addition to uneven nail surfaces, some nail surfaces also have horizontal and vertical ridges. Research shows that if the nail has a horizontal ridge, it means that the body is under great pressure, so we should adjust our mentality as much as possible to ensure physical and mental health. If the nail has a vertical ridge, it means that the nail is beginning to age. Nail aging is mostly caused by dieting and malnutrition, so don't be too alarmed, just supplement nutrition in time.
It is said that it is unhealthy to have no crescent and white spots on your nails. In fact, this statement is incorrect. The half-moon white mark on the bottom of our nails is called crescent, and the number and shape of crescent in everyone's nails are different. The crescent is actually a nail that is not completely keratinized. In the process of nail growth, the production of keratin cells decreases from the middle to both sides. Whether we can see the new moon depends on the position of armour. If the methyl group is close to the fingertip, the crescent is clearly visible, whereas the crescent is smaller or invisible. Therefore, the size and amount of crescent moon are related to human metabolism and cannot reflect human health. At the same time, if the nails turn white or have more white spots, it means that the body may lack trace elements such as iron, which does not mean that the body is unhealthy. It is enough to supplement nutrition in time.
In daily life, we should pay attention to protecting our nails, especially in the process of manicure. We should cut the middle first and then cut the sides, so that it is easy to grasp the strength of manicure. After trimming, use nail file to smooth the nail edge to avoid burrs. In addition, there are also girls who choose nail art for their beautiful nails. Manicure will cause nail wear, and the self-repair cycle of nails is about 28 days. So get a manicure at most once a month. If there is redness and inflammation around the nails, it is recommended not to do manicure and leave a recovery cycle for the nails.
This work is the original of "Popular Science China-A Brief Introduction to Scientific Principles", please indicate the source for reprinting.