What Do Your Fingernails Tell You?

Look at your fingernail, are there any marks on it? There may be white, red, yellow, greenish or any other disorders on it, attention! your fingernail is making warnings of your health condition.

Our fingernail is the window of your health condition, marks or disorders on it are meaning the health problem we may have. In this situation, we should pay attention to our body condition.

A very common problem, especially nowadays, is the yellow nails problem that may cause internal problem, like respiratory disease, diabetes, liver problems, but may also be the cause of excessive fingernail polish, nail polish cleanser, and iron water. The white nails indicate that you have anemia problems and even cirrhosis of the liver. Nails that break easily indicate a nutrition poor on vitamins, on protein and minerals or that you just do not digest your food well. Soft nails may also caused by the calcium and magnesium deficiency, or chemicals used in mail cosmetics.

If your nails can not grow long, it is may caused by poor circulation or a thyroid dysfunction. The brittle nails can also be the result of exposure to some chemical substances and water, or because of age.

There are also some other disorders are caused by the nails' disease. Paronychia infections of the nail fold can be caused by bacteria, fungi and some viruses. Act as a barrier between the nail plate and the surrounding tissue. When this infection happened, there are always with pain, redness and swelling of the nail folds along.

Pseudomonas bacterial infection is another usual nail disease. It often occurs between the natural nail plate and the nail bed, with the sign of the classic green discoloration which is just a by-product of the infection and is caused primarily by iron compounds. The after affects of this infection will cause the nail plate to darken and soften underneath an artificial coating. The darker the discoloration, the deeper into the nail plate layers the bacteria has traveled.

There are some other signs of your nail that are not usually seen. Keep an eye of your nail condition which can get to know some diseases in advance for further cure.

What Your Fingernail Color Can Tell You About Your Overall Health

Many health care professionals believe that your fingernail color may be an indicator of underlying health problems and a warning sign to seek medical attention.

Do you regularly examine your fingernails for changes? The color, shape, and texture of your nails can tell you a lot about your health and help you recognize nutritional deficiencies or potential diseases and disorders.

Changes in the color of your fingernails is your body's way of telling you that something may be wrong, and paying attention to these subtle little signs can help you take the necessary steps to improve your overall health and well-being.

It is important to not only notice your fingernail color but to also understand what these changes may mean.

Yellow: A yellow discoloring of the nails does not necessarily indicate a serious health concern. Wearing fingernail polish without a base coat, certain prescription medications, smoking, or the natural aging process can contribute to the yellowing tint. In these cases, there are very effective whitening procedures that will restore your nails to their natural beauty.

However, if the yellowing of your nails cannot be explained by one of these simpler options, it is possible that this discoloration could be attributed to a more serious health issue. Health problems most commonly associated with yellow nails are:

bacterial infection
candida (yeast problem)
respiratory or lung disorders such as emphysema
lymphatic system problems
liver dysfunction
diabetes
Blue: Most often, your nails will turn blue because you are cold. Rubbing or massaging your fingers to improve circulation should help your nails return to their normal color. If your nails are consistently blue despite warmer body temperatures, then you may want to see your doctor and investigate other possible causes such as:
lung disease, asthma, or emphysema
heart disease or circulation issues
Raynaud's Disease - the arteries that supply blood to the skin become narrow and restrict circulations, causing a blue tint.
Cancer - usually presents itself as a single blue line on the nail
If your blue nails are accompanied by other symptoms such as difficulty breathing, blue lips, weight loss, or sore throat, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Red: Red nail beds could indicate heart disease while irregular red lines on or below the nail may be a sign of lupus or other connective tissue disorders.

Brown: A darkening of the nails or the appearance of brown sections, particularly along the sides, could be attributed to liver or kidney disease.

White: White spots on the nail usually indicate an injury; however, some professionals believe that they are also a sign of nutritional deficiencies such as a lack of calcium, iron, vitamin D, or zinc. A whitening of the nails can also be a fungal infection and whitish nail beds usually mean a low red blood cell count typical of anemia. In rare cases, kidney or liver disorders may be possible, particularly if white streaks are present across the nail.

Purple: A purplish discoloration usually indicates circulatory problems or a lack of oxygen in the blood. It can also be a sign of high blood pressure, fungal infection, anemia, or excessive stress and anxiety.

Black: The most common cause of black nails is severe fungal infections or trauma and injury. In rare cases, nails can also develop a black tint due to anemia, kidney disease, adrenal gland problems, liver issues, or the presence of heavy metals in the blood. Dark lines beneath the nail or discolored cuticles could indicate melanoma, which also sometimes appears as a dark blue line on the nail.

By regularly checking your fingernail color and monitoring any changes, you may be able to catch problems early, seek the help needed, and work to rebuild your body and restore your health.

Dark Nail Polish - Why Wear It?

Dark nail polish has always been one of the things of fashion that some people have taken to and others have not. As the winter season approaches, more and more people are veering toward darker shades of fingernail polish as a means of covering up their nails, as it more easily matches many of the components that make up a fall wardrobe.

While dark colored  polish has its drawbacks, one of them being the fact that it can stain nails a nasty yellow color, many people find that it is a perfect accessory for a fall or winter wardrobe. It started out as an essential fashion component in Ancient China, in which dark polish for their nails denoted royalty and transitioned into present day culture as an adornment for the fingers of the chic, ultra fashionable members of society.

As a matter of fashion, many men have even taken to wearing black colors of polish on their fingertips, even if it is only on the fingertips of one hand. David Bowie and Marc Bowan are good examples of fashionable celebrities who have gone so far as to sport black polish.

While black on your fingernails is rather taboo with many outfits, other dark colors like brown hues and deep reds and purples will serve well in this way. Each year has a new favorite shade of polish, that if you check them out are just as much fun if not more than black polish would be.

Dark nail polish is easily applied, although mistakes are a bit more obvious with the darker shades of  polish than with the lighter shades. You will need to reapply it daily as it chips easier and is seen by anyone who looks at your hands. If you are having your nails done by someone else, you might want to buy the bottle of polish that you are going to wear. The biggest reason being no one who is fashionable should ever be seen with chipped polish on their nails, dark or light.

Make sure that when you apply your polish on your fingernails, that you use a good base coat and top coat, as darker colors can have a reaction with the surface of your nail and leave a dull yellow hue behind after the polish is removed, and that is not very attractive at all. If you want to try out the darker colors of polish but you are not the most skilled of nail painters, spend the money and have a professional do it. You can usually get a manicure for about $10 to $15 at your local nail salon. they are trained professionals and can make any darker polish colors look perfect and professional, serving as the perfect complement to any ensemble.

No matter whom you are, you can make darker colors of polish work for you with the right outfit and the right technique. If you don't want to wear black on your nails, why not get a French Manicure done but have black instead of white tips? If you get a manicure or apply it perfectly on your own and you pick the right hues to match and set off your skin tone, dark nail polish can help you stand out among the rest. For most people, black polish on their nails will not do without looking like Vampira, but other darker of polishes can definitely be worked in.

There is no need to wear black on your nails if that is not a color you really like.  For some reason black polish is thought of as Goth but it has hit main stream these days. Just start looking at deep navy blue or royal purple or deep shades of brown as it will work just as well.  Why not pick out a color of dark polish that just might go with everything and most of all have fun with it. Isn't that what wearing polish on your nails is all about, no matter if it's dark and or light?

Why Do My Fingernails Sliver at the Edges?

You need to understand where your fingernails are formed and why it's so important to not damage that area. At the base of your fingernail and behind the cuticle, under the skin is the matrix where your fingernail is actually formed. It continues to form nail, pushing out the old.

From the time your new nail is visible beyond the cuticle, it is considered to be dead matter. What that means is, past the actual bed of your nail, the fingernail is continuously losing its oils. That's why they will eventually break. To keep nicely formed nails, be careful not to damage the matrix. A bruise on the matrix, will show up as a black spot on the nail, as it grows out.

The biggest mistake most folks make, is in removing too much of the cuticle. That cuticle is there for a purpose and constantly trying to get rid of it, weakens your fingernail. If you tend to your own fingernails at home, remember to clean off the dead cuticle that has adhered to your fingernail, while leaving to padding of good cuticle in place. Your fingernail needs that.

The best way to battle brittle, splitting fingernails, is by taking care of the cuticle. If you live in a very arid area, I'd suggest applying a good fingernail moisturizer at night. If you are having problems with brittle nails, splitting off in layers and your have long fingernails, you might take note of how many times you bang the tip of your nail into things. If they are so long, that you can't keep from jamming the end of your finger, you need to shorten them for the sake of the matrix. Jamming the tip of your fingernail, bruises the matrix and just adds to the brittle problem.

When removing nail polish, take note if your fingernail is truly dry. If so, change brands of fingernail polish until you find one that does not dry out your nails. It's best to go without polish for a day or two, between manicures, to give the nail bed a chance to breathe.

If you ever happen to notice the bed of your nails, seeming to have a slight ache, it's a sign you're wearing the wrong brand for you. It seems like such a simple thing but taking care of your cuticle and matrix, could very well cure that splitting and layering off of the fingernail.