Isla Bennett
Human nails grow continuously and indefinitely, and can reach extreme lengths if left untrimmed. The current world record holder for the longest fingernails is Christine The Dutchess Walton, whose nails measure a total of 19 feet and 9 inches. Nails are made of keratin-containing fibrous proteins, and grow as a result of the continuous division of matrix cells. While nails typically grow continuously, there are certain conditions that can cause nail growth to slow or stop, such as high levels of stress, chemotherapy, poor nutrition, and certain diseases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nails growing indefinitely | Nails grow indefinitely because they are constantly being produced, just like the majority of cells in the body. |
| Nail growth rate | Nails grow at a rate of about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) per month for fingernails and 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) per month for toenails. |
| Factors affecting nail growth | Age, season, nutrition, oxygen supply to the fingertips, stress, chemotherapy, and certain medical conditions like psoriasis and onychomycosis. |
| Purpose of nail growth | Nails serve as protective layers for the fingertips and are indicators of health and well-being. They also provide traction and are used for fighting, digging, and marking territory. |
| Maintaining nail length | Nails need to be worn down through trimming or biting, otherwise, they can grow very long, up to 8 meters if left unchecked. |
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What You'll Learn
Nails grow because of the constant production of cells.
The human body is an ever-evolving system, and nails are a crucial part of it. Nails grow due to the constant production of cells, specifically keratin cells, which form at the root. These cells are pushed forward by newly formed cells, a process facilitated by the continuous division of matrix cells. This results in nail growth at a rate of about 3 millimetres per month for fingernails and 1 millimetre per month for toenails.
The growth of nails can be influenced by various factors, including nutrition, oxygen supply, and overall health. For example, poor nutrition and oxygen supply to the fingertips can slow or even halt nail growth entirely. Additionally, stressful events and certain medical conditions, such as chemotherapy, can impact the activity of the nail matrix, leading to slowed or halted nail growth.
Nail growth also varies depending on the season, with nails growing faster during the summertime, and the hand dominance, with nails on the dominant hand growing at a quicker pace. Interestingly, nail biting, or onychophagia, has been associated with faster nail growth, possibly due to the trauma inflicted on the nail stimulating circulation in the nail bed.
The evolution of nail growth can be traced back to our primate ancestors. According to experts, nails first appeared on the digits of primates or their close relatives between 58 and 55 million years ago when they inhabited trees. Nails provided these early primates with a broader surface area for grasping branches, aiding in their careful climbing behaviour.
In summary, the constant production of cells, particularly keratin cells, is the primary reason nails grow. This growth process has persisted throughout human evolution, offering functional advantages and protective benefits for our fingertips.
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Nails protect fingertips and indicate health.
Nails are an important protective layer for our fingertips. They are made of keratin-containing fibrous proteins that form the chemical basis of horny epidermal tissues. The nail plate is formed as new cells jostle for space, pushing older cells forward, which then flatten and harden to form a tough shield. This process is fuelled by the continuous division of matrix cells.
Nails are also an indicator of health and well-being. For example, high levels of stress can slow down or even halt nail growth. Poor nutrition and oxygen supply to the fingertips can also slow down or stop nail growth. In the worst cases, this can lead to the shedding of the nail plate.
Nail growth can also be interrupted by chemotherapy, which affects rapidly dividing cells, including nail matrices. Onychomycosis, or nail fungus infection, can also cause nails to stop growing. This occurs when dermatophytes, yeasts, or moulds invade the nail plate and/or nail bed. While often treatable, if left untreated, the infection can worsen to the point that the nail plate falls off and nail growth stops until the infection is cleared.
In addition to protecting our fingertips and indicating health, nails are also useful for scratching and creating miniature nail art. From an evolutionary perspective, nails may have first appeared to aid our primate ancestors in climbing trees.
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Nails are made of keratin-containing fibrous proteins
Fingernails and toenails are made of keratin-containing fibrous proteins. Keratin is a protein that your body produces naturally. It helps keep your hair, skin, and nails healthy and strong. Keratin forms the cells of your hair, nails, and skin, too. It also forms cells that are a key part of many glands and internal organs. Nails are so replaceable that they continuously spawn out of the nail beds, ensuring that your body constantly has strong, hard plates ready to serve protective functions.
Keratin is one of a family of structural fibrous proteins also known as scleroproteins. It is the key structural material making up scales, hair, nails, feathers, horns, claws, hooves, and the outer layer of skin in vertebrates. Keratin also protects epithelial cells from damage or stress. Keratin is extremely insoluble in water and organic solvents. Keratin monomers assemble into bundles to form intermediate filaments, which are tough and form strong unmineralized epidermal appendages found in reptiles, birds, amphibians, and mammals.
Keratin comes in two types: the primitive, softer forms found in all vertebrates and the harder, derived forms found only among sauropsids (reptiles and birds). Alpha-keratins (α-keratins) are found in all vertebrates. They form the hair (including wool), the outer layer of skin, horns, nails, claws, and hooves of mammals, and the slime threads of hagfish. The baleen plates of filter-feeding whales are also made of keratin. Beta-keratins are sheets of polypeptide chains that extend in the same directions and never overlap (parallel). This construction gives beta-keratins their tough, rigid structure.
There are 54 kinds of keratin in the human body, with 28 being type I keratins and 26 being type II keratins. Type II keratins consist of basic-neutral, high-weight proteins. Their basic-neutral pH helps balance type I keratins and govern cell activity. The human body has many chemicals, and none of them affect keratin. Therefore, many people believe that keratin treatments are beneficial for hair, nails, and skin.
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Nails grow faster in summer and on dominant hands
Fingernails and toenails grow continuously and indefinitely. They grow at an average rate of about a tenth of a millimeter a day, with toenails growing about half to a third slower than fingernails. While there is no scientific proof of methods to make nails grow faster, certain factors affect their growth rate. Nails grow faster in the summer and on the dominant hand of a person.
Nail Growth in Summers
Some research indicates that nails grow faster in the summer, while winter and cold environments tend to slow nail growth. This could be attributed to the fact that nails grow faster during the day, and the longer days and warmer temperatures of summer may provide optimal conditions for nail growth.
Nail Growth on Dominant Hands
The nails on a person's dominant hand typically grow faster than those on the non-dominant hand. This is because the dominant hand is used more frequently, increasing the risk of trauma, such as catching the nail on something or hitting it with an object. When trauma occurs, the body sends more blood and nutrients to the affected area to aid in repair, stimulating nail growth. Additionally, longer fingers tend to have faster-growing nails, and there may be slight variations in growth rates between specific fingers.
Genetics play a significant role in determining the size and shape of nail beds, but nail growth is also influenced by overall health and nutrition. Maintaining healthy habits, addressing nutrient deficiencies, and taking supplements like biotin can contribute to stronger and healthier nails that are less prone to breakage, allowing for longer nail growth.
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Stress, chemotherapy, and psoriasis can slow or stop nail growth
While nails typically grow continuously, certain factors such as stress, chemotherapy, and psoriasis can slow or even halt their growth temporarily.
Stress
Stress can negatively impact nail health and slow nail growth in several ways. Firstly, emotional stress can lead to nail-biting, which damages the nail plate and can cause it to separate from the nail bed, hindering nail growth. Additionally, stress disrupts the normal regrowth of the nail plate, resulting in the formation of Beau's lines—horizontal indentations across the nail. Furthermore, stress affects digestion and nutrient absorption, depriving the nails of essential nutrients like biotin, zinc, and iron, which are crucial for healthy nail growth.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is known to cause various nail changes and disorders. One common issue is onycholysis, which is damage to the tissue in the nail bed that holds the toenails in place. Chemotherapy can also lead to lines, ridges, and discolorations on the nails, and they may even come loose. Nails become thinner and more brittle during chemotherapy, making them more susceptible to breakage and splitting. While it may not be possible to completely prevent nail changes during chemotherapy, good nail care practices, such as trimming nails carefully and keeping them clean, can help minimize these issues.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis, an autoimmune condition affecting the skin and nails, can also slow nail growth and cause various nail changes. Nail psoriasis may present as grooves in the nails, blood beneath the nail, or lifting of the nail from the finger or toe. Treatments for nail psoriasis include topical applications, injections of corticosteroids or other psoriasis medications, and, in some cases, medication that treats both the skin and nails. While laser treatment has been studied, more research is needed before it can be recommended.
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Frequently asked questions
Nails are constantly replenishing, and they grow because cells are constantly being produced. Nails can grow to be very long if left untrimmed, with the current world record holder for the longest fingernails measuring a total of 19 feet 9 inches.
Nails serve important functions as protective layers for the fingertips, and they can regrow if pulled off or damaged. Nails are also indicators of health and well-being.
There are several factors that can influence nail growth, including age, season, nutrition, stress, chemotherapy, and underlying health conditions. Nail growth is said to peak during puberty and decline as hormone levels balance out with age. Nails also tend to grow faster during the summer and on the dominant hand.
