What are nails? Human nails, as is the case with most mammals, are horny plates that cover the ends of the fingers and toes. The nail root protrudes and covers the skin of the finger, the plates twist on the sides, crushing the skin. That part of the nail that we can see and feel is called the nail body.
What is a he althy person's nail?
A he althy nail is smooth to the touch, colorless, slightly convex. Numerous capillaries are visible through the plate - it acquires a pink tint.
The area and thickness of the horny plate depends on the sex, age of the person, his genetic characteristics and occupation. The drawing on the nail is individual and is formed from protrusions and recesses. The rate of nail growth varies from person to person. During the day, the plate increases by an average of 0.1 mm. The process of complete nail regeneration takes about 170 days.
Can a person not have nails at all?
Fingers without nails are obviously unusual. The nail plates of people are subject to a huge number of diseases, among which infectious diseases occupy an honorable place. We are talking about candidiasis, pyoderma, etc.
Pathological changes in the nail can also be caused by nervous, mental, endocrine and other systemic ailments. It should be noted the frequency of traumatic and occupational injuries of the horny plate. However, if the fingers are without nails at all, we are talking exclusively about a hereditary pathology - anonychia.
Anonychia - features of a hereditary disease
This is a rare hereditary disease in which a person is completely or partially missing nails. Pathology can manifest itself both on the hands and on the legs. In the case of the described disease, in the place where the nail should grow, there is something more reminiscent of the rudiments of the nail plate.
Against the background of a hereditary disease, the patient develops additional abnormalities in the body. This means that he not only has fingers without nails, but also has problems with his skin and hair - the structural component of the epithelium, sebaceous glands and hair is broken.
Specialists do not exclude the fact that a person acquires the disease during his life. This can occur due to a serious injury, complications of a third-party illness. Anonychia, or the absence of nails, may be the result of a disorder in the patient's nervous system.
Why is my nail falling off?
Almost every person in his life faced a situation when a nail fell off a toe or hand. The most common cause of the incident is previous damage, impact or pinching of the horny plate. As a result, the nail can be deformed, change color andfall off.
Why is this happening? For example, you pinched your finger. The mechanical impact on the nail plate led to a rupture of the vessels under it, possibly resulting in bruising. This will be followed by pain, redness of the plate and the finger itself. Over time, changes occur in the blood cells that lead to a change in the color of the formed hematoma - it becomes green, blue or even yellow. A "bruise" is an area of tissue that is no longer attached to the base. For this reason, the hematoma gradually exfoliates, the nail leaves the finger.
First aid for nail injury: a list of manipulations
In case of injury to the nail plate, a series of manipulations should be carried out:
- take off shoes, socks (gloves, if we are talking about hands);
- put the injured finger under cool running water or dip it in a bowl of water;
- in case of bleeding and severe hematoma, apply a cold compress;
- disinfect the wound with iodine or another antiseptic.
If the nail remains in place during the injury, but is significantly damaged, blood will begin to accumulate under it, which will cause its further detachment. To prevent blood clotting, you should try to remove it from under the nail. After this manipulation, the pain will decrease, and the nail may not come off.
If the nail tears after an injury, you should not expect it to grow back promptly. Wholethe period of growth of the nail plate can last for a year. In order for the new nail to have an attractive appearance, you should wear comfortable shoes (in the case of feet) and avoid possible injuries.
Obviously, nails are an integral part of a he althy human body. Fingers without nails lose not only their aesthetics, but also their functionality. Not only genetically predisposed people may face such a problem. A banal injury to the finger can lead to the development of complications and loss of the nail. That is why you should not ignore the means of protecting hands and feet in the process of performing specific work. In the event of an injury, do not hesitate to seek medical attention, even if the symptoms do not seem threatening.
