The fingernails and toenails are made up of keratin, just like your hair. Keratin is a protein, and healthy oils and fats are also needed to keep the skin, hair and nails moisturized and strong. A varied diet rich in vitamins, antioxidant fruits and veggies, protein and minerals is key for healthy skin, nails and hair. Minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, sodium and zinc are particularly important for your nails. However, it’s not just these minerals that make a difference — other nutrients like biotin, folic acid and protein are just as important to nail health.
If you’re deficient in certain nutrients or have ongoing health issues, you may see changes in your nails that include discoloration, ridges or lines in fingernails. Some lines in fingernails can signal serious health problems, while others are simply due to impact or injury. However, with the exception of zinc, folic acid, iron or protein deficiencies. nutrient deficiencies are unlikely to be the cause of your fingernail ridges.*
DOCTOR: Don’t worry, Dave, this is a simple operation
PATIENT: But Doc, my name’s not Dave!
DOCTOR: I know. It’s mine.
Your fingernails can say a lot about you, including whether or not you’re consuming enough vitamins and minerals. Getting insufficient amounts of certain B-complex vitamins can cause ridges in your fingernails. However, lack of certain minerals and protein, as well as various health conditions, can cause these lines in fingernails too.
Deficiencies in zinc, folic acid, iron and protein may cause fingernail ridges. The appearance of your nails may also indicate that you’re experiencing other health issues, like psoriasis or kidney problems. ~LivingStrong
Flowers grow out of dark moments. –Sister Mary Corita Kent, artist and educator
We’ve all heard people say, ‘My nails just don’t grow’. Of course, there are many causes as to why nails appear not to grow or they break before any real length is noticeable. If there are any concerns about hair, skin or nails, please consult your family doctor or a dermatologist.
Healthy, happy nails
Nails are constantly growing, but their growth rate slows down due to matrix damage(finger and/or cuticle area), poor circulation, disease and/or aging. Fingernails grow faster than toenails, at a rate of 3 millimeters per month. It takes six months for a fingernail to grow from the root(matrix) to the free edge, in a healthy adult. Toenails grow much more slowly, at just 1 millimeter per month. It takes a toenail 12 to 18 months to grow from root to tip.
Do you remember your “COLORS” and which colors are primary, warm or cool colors? Well, I didn’t. So here is little reminder. Do you remember the famous Color Wheel?
The wheel divides the different shades into four categories — primary colors, secondary colors, tertiary colors, and complementary colors.
Primary Colors (P)
The pure pigments that cannot be made by mixing any colors together. These colors actually make up all the colors in the spectrum. Various mixes make the different shades, along with elements of black and white. The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.
Secondary Colors (S)
Colors that are made by mixing equal parts of any two primary colors together. They are made up of orange (1:1 red and yellow), green (1:1 yellow and blue), and violet (1:1 blue and red).
Tertiary Colors (T)
Colors made from mixing equal parts of one primary color with one of its closest secondary colors. These are somewhat intermediate colors, and are made up of red-orange, orange-yellow, yellow-green, green-blue, blue-violet, and violet-red.
Complementary Colors
Colors located directly opposite each other on the color wheel. The wheel shows what the colors look like if the two are mixed. If they are mixed evenly, they appear closer to the center and are a brownish, more neutral color. If one is mixed in a higher ratio, than the more abundant color will be dominant. This is shown in the color wheel as the shades move toward the outer edge
Confused, yet? We haven’t discussed the warm and cool colors or colors best for which skin tones.
Will finish this next week!
Why do we have fingernails? They are not just on the tips of your fingers to beautify your hands but to protect and aid in your daily activities.
Nails serve several important purposes.
Dew Drop Nails 