Your toenails and fingernails protect the tissues of your toes and fingers. They are made up of layers of a hardened protein called keratin, which is also in your hair and skin. Your nails' health can be a clue to your overall health. Healthy nails are usually smooth and consistent in color. Specific types of nail discoloration and changes in growth rate can signal various lung, heart, kidney and liver diseases, as well as diabetes and anemia. White spots and vertical ridges are harmless.
Nail problems that sometimes require treatment include bacterial and fungal infections, ingrown nails, tumors and warts. Keeping nails clean, dry and trimmed can help you avoid some problems. Do not remove the cuticle, which can cause infection.
- Nail Fungus & Nail Health(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_nail.html
- Nail Disorders(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec18/ch216666/ch216666a.html
- Nail Problems(American Podiatric Medical Association) - http://www.apma.org/s_apma/doc.asp?CID=371&DID=9418
- Nails: How to Keep Your Fingernails Healthy and Strong(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/nails/WO00020/METHOD=print
- Fingernail Injury(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/fingernail-injury/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Toenail Pain(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/toenail-pain/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Toenail Problems(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/toenail-problems/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
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Ingrown Toenails(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/skin/disorders/208.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/skin/disorders/208.printerview.html
- Nail Fungus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/nail-fungus/DS00084/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Vertical Nail Ridging: A Cause for Concern?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/nails/AN00591/METHOD=print
- Nail Trauma(InteliHealth) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/25971.html
- Bacterial Nail Infection (Paronychia)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/paronychia.htm
- Beau's Lines(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/beausLines.htm
- Fungal Nail Infection (Onychomycosis)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/onychomycosis.htm
- Nail Lifting (Onycholysis)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/onycholysis.htm
- Nail Splitting (Onychoschizia)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/onychoschizia.htm
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Skin, Hair, and Nails(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/skin_hair_nails.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/skin_hair_nails_esp.html
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Nail Diseases
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Nail+Diseases%22
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Genetics Home Reference: Nail-patella syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=nailpatellasyndrome
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Gene symbol: LMX1B. Disease: Nail-patella syndrome. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18846612&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Alternatives to complete nail plate avulsion. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18793936&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Plummer's nails. Onycholysis. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18791631&tool=MedlinePlus
- Nail Diseases -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=nail+diseases[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) - http://www.aad.org/findaderm/
- American Academy of Dermatology - http://www.aad.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
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What's Wrong with Biting My Nails?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/nails.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/preguntas/nails_esp.html
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Your Nails(Nemours Foundation) - Requires media player - http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/nails.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/cuerpo/nails_noSW_esp.html
- Skin, Hair and Nails - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/skinhairandnails.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Nail Diseases is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/