Isla Bennett
A lot of factors influence the growth of nails, including the hand, finger, age, hormone levels, and overall health. Nails grow at an average rate of 3.47 millimeters per month or about a tenth of a millimeter per day. Nails on the dominant hand tend to grow faster, as do nails on longer fingers. Interestingly, biologically, everyone's nails grow faster on their non-dominant hand. Nails can also be indicative of a person's health, with nutrient deficiencies, diseases, and conditions affecting their appearance. For instance, thin, spoon-shaped nails can indicate an iron deficiency, while dark streaks can be a sign of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
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What You'll Learn
Nails grow faster on the non-dominant hand
It is a biological fact that nails grow faster on the non-dominant hand. While the exact reason for this is not known, it is speculated that the dominant hand's nails are subjected to more trauma through fine movements and nail-biting, which can affect their growth rate.
The growth rate of nails is influenced by several factors, including age, sex, season, exercise level, diet, and hereditary factors. Nails that are frequently exposed to trauma tend to have increased blood and nutrient circulation, which can stimulate faster growth. This could explain why nails on the dominant hand, which experiences more trauma, tend to grow at a faster rate.
Additionally, the nails on the longest fingers of the dominant hand may also grow quicker. This could be attributed to the protective function of nails, ensuring that the longest fingers have adequate protection. The difference in growth rate between fingers can be noticeable, with a variation of around 0.1 mm.
It is worth noting that nail growth can also be influenced by other factors such as fever, injury, chemotherapy, or major stress, which can cause nails to grow slowly or even stop growing temporarily. Once these factors are addressed or resolved, nail growth typically resumes to its normal rate.
While it is interesting to observe the varying growth rates of nails, it is important to maintain good nail hygiene and address any unusual symptoms or changes in nail appearance by consulting a medical professional.
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Nutrient deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies can influence the growth and appearance of nails, which are made up of a protein called keratin. A well-balanced diet that includes whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can usually provide the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that nails need. However, certain nutrient deficiencies can lead to nail problems.
Zinc Deficiency
Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a role in nail health. A severe zinc deficiency can lead to lowered testosterone levels and even impotence in men. Scattered white spots on the nails, known as leukonychia, can be a sign of zinc deficiency. Additionally, horizontal white lines across the nail bed, known as striata, are also associated with low zinc levels. To increase zinc intake, one can consume foods such as oysters, beef, or tofu, or take a zinc supplement.
Iron Deficiency
Iron is crucial for nail health, as it is responsible for transporting oxygen to the cells in the body, including the nails. A deficiency in iron can lead to brittle nails, ridges, and changes in nail shape, such as spoon-shaped nails (koilonychia) or nails that curve downward over the fingertips (nail clubbing). Pale-looking nails may also indicate low iron levels. Consuming iron-rich foods or taking supplements can help address this deficiency.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 is essential for red blood cell development and iron absorption, ensuring that essential nutrients reach the nails. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can cause discoloured, weak, and brittle nails, with pigmentation changes ranging from bluish to grey-brown. Eating foods rich in vitamin B12, such as animal products and fortified plant-based sources, can help address this deficiency.
Vitamin A, B6, C, and D Deficiency
Deficiencies in vitamins A, B6, C, and D can also impact nail health. Vitamin C, in particular, plays a crucial role in enhancing the absorption of non-dairy iron sources. Together with vitamin D, it helps maintain strong and healthy nails. A lack of vitamin D can also lead to soft or flexible nails, a condition known as Hapalonychia. Consuming a balanced diet that includes a variety of whole foods can help ensure adequate intake of these vitamins.
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium is a vital mineral that contributes to the structure of nails. Insufficient calcium intake can lead to dry, brittle nails. Dairy products, sardines, beans, and seeds are excellent sources of calcium.
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Nail abnormalities
While fingernails grow at an average rate of about a tenth of a millimeter per day, there are several factors that can affect this rate of growth, including nutrient deficiencies, which hand it is, your age, hormone levels, and overall health. Toenails, for example, grow much slower than fingernails, and the nails on your dominant hand grow faster than those on your non-dominant hand.
- Beau lines ( Beau's lines ): Depressions across the fingernail that can occur after illness, injury to the nail, eczema around the nail, chemotherapy, or poor nutrition.
- Brittle nails: Often a normal result of aging, but they can also be due to certain diseases and conditions.
- Koilonychia: Spoon-shaped nails that are thin, flat, and curved inward with raised ridges. This condition is associated with iron deficiency anemia.
- Leukonychia: White streaks or spots on the nails often due to drugs or disease.
- Pitting: Small depressions on the nail surface, which can also cause the nail to become loose and fall off. Pitting is associated with psoriasis and alopecia areata.
- Ridges: Tiny, raised lines that develop across or up and down the nail.
- Onycholysis: Nails become loose and may even detach from the nail bed, causing rapid damage and debris collection beneath them.
- Paronychia: An infection around the nail, often caused by the yeast-like organism Candida, resulting in inflammation (redness and swelling) at the base of the nail.
- Clubbing: Nails curve downward, causing fingertips to swell and feel spongy when pressed.
- Onychogryphosis (Ram's horn nails): Nails thicken and overgrow, possibly due to genetic factors, psoriasis, ichthyosis, or circulation problems.
- Washboard nails (onychotillomania): Grooves and ridges in the center of the thumb, often caused by the habit of picking or pushing back the cuticles.
- Hutchinson sign: A darkening of the cuticle associated with a pigmented streak, which may indicate aggressive melanoma.
- Yellow nail syndrome: Nails lack a cuticle, grow slowly, and are characterized by a yellow appearance.
- White nail syndrome (leukonychia): Can occur with arsenic poisoning, heart disease, renal failure, pneumonia, or hypoalbuminemia.
- Arsenic poisoning: May cause white lines and horizontal ridges.
- Silver intake: Can cause blue nails.
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Trauma to the nail
Nail trauma can manifest in different forms, each requiring specific care. One common type of nail trauma is a nail bed laceration, which occurs when there is a deep cut or tear in the skin beneath the nail. This can cause pain, bleeding, and potential damage to the nail matrix, resulting in the nail separating from the nail bed. When the nail breaks or cracks due to trauma, it can be incredibly painful, and fractures can occur horizontally or vertically, with possible partial or complete separation of the nail.
If you experience severe pain, excessive bleeding, or signs of infection such as pus, redness, or swelling around the injured nail, it is crucial to consult a medical professional, such as a podiatrist or dermatologist. Patients with medical conditions such as neuropathy, diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or compromised immune systems should be especially vigilant and seek treatment at the first sign of nail trauma. It is recommended to avoid drilling, lifting, or trimming your nail if you suspect any trauma, as home treatments can further damage the nail bed and lead to complications.
Treatment for nail trauma aims to ensure proper healing and prevent deformities. Depending on the severity of the injury, repairing the nail bed may involve grafting missing areas from the same finger, other digits, or even a toe. Tendon injuries may require splinting or pinning, and local skin flaps or skin grafts can be used to replace missing skin. In the case of severe crushing of the nail bed, there is a higher likelihood of scarring and subsequent deformity of the nail as it grows. The final appearance and function of the nail depend on restoring the normal anatomy of the nail and surrounding structures.
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Age and hormones
Ageing affects the body in many ways, and the growth of our nails is no exception. The rate of nail growth slows down as we get older, with a 0.5% decrease in growth rate per year from as early as the age of 20. Over time, this will affect the growth rate, texture, thickness, shape, and colour of our nails. Nails may become more brittle and prone to breaking, and this can be worsened by repeated wetting and drying, or exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals or cosmetics.
Hormones also play a role in nail growth. Puberty is a time of tumultuous hormone activity, and nail growth is said to peak during this time. As hormone levels balance out with age, nail growth slows down. Pregnancy is another time of significant hormonal change, and can also affect nail growth.
Nail growth can also be affected by conditions such as diabetes or circulatory issues, and frequent nail clipping or biting can stimulate faster growth.
While changes in nail growth rate, texture, thickness, shape, and colour can be a normal part of ageing, sometimes they can indicate an underlying condition. Dark stripes or ridges along the length of the nail, known as "longitudinal melanonychia", can be a normal occurrence in darker-skinned people as they age, but can also be a sign of melanoma, or malignant skin cancer, particularly if it appears on only one digit, such as the big toe, thumb, or index finger.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many reasons why your nails might grow unevenly. It could be due to nutrient deficiencies, such as an iron deficiency, which can cause spoon-shaped nails or thin, curved inward nails. It could also be the result of an injury, illness, or chemotherapy, leading to Beau lines or depressions across the fingernail. Additionally, frequent nail picking or pushing back of the cuticles can cause grooves and ridges to form.
There are several signs that may indicate your nails are not healthy. These include changes in color, such as white lines or streaks, dark streaks, or greenish-black discoloration, which could indicate an infection or skin cancer. Other signs include changes in texture, such as thickening or overgrowth, and changes in shape, like curving downward or lifting up.
If you notice any abnormalities in your nails, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist or your primary care doctor. They can examine your nails, identify any underlying causes, and provide treatment options or advice to promote healthy nail growth.
To improve the health and appearance of your nails, you can take vitamin supplements like biotin, which helps strengthen nails. Maintaining a healthy diet and ensuring proper nutrient intake can also positively impact your nail health. Additionally, practicing good nail hygiene, such as regular clipping and avoiding nail biting, can contribute to healthier and stronger nails.
