IT’S A fact of ageing that as we get older it can get harder to bend over and keep your toenails trimmed. But apart from the odd manicure and pedicure, broken nail or stubbed toe, most of us take our nails for granted.
But did you know that ageing, as well as medications and diseases, can influence the condition and growth rate of nails? As our body ages, the growth rate of our fingernails and toenails tends to slow. The change of protein in the nail plate makes nails brittle and prone to splitting. Discolouration and thickening are also common.
Professor Rodney Sinclair, dermatologist with the Australian College of Dermatologists said: “Changes in the nail may also be caused by an injury, fungal disease or other skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema.”
Here are some other fingernail and toenail ‘clippings’:
Think toes, think podiatrist right? But did you know that dermatologists don’t just treat skin conditions they also cover hair and nails. That’s because nails are specialised protective plates of hard keratin (protein that helps form the nail plate) that develops from the epidermis – the skin overlying the small bones at the ends of fingers and toes.
You can get tell a lot about your physical health by looking at your nails. One of the common nail abnormalities includes ridging of the nail. This can be either along (longitudinal) or across (transverse) the nail. Longitudinal ridging normally becomes more prominent with age but can also be associated with medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lichen planus and nail injury.
Nails don’t stop growing. Fingernails take about six months to grow from the cuticle to the tip (3mm a month). Toenails grow more slowly (1 mm/month). It can take 12 months for a toenail to regrow after being removed. Toenails become thicker as they grow out. It is believed that repeated minor pressure from footwear while walking causes this thickening.
The fastest growing nail is the one on your middle finger. The slowest growing nail is your thumb nail. There are some theories that the nails on your prominent hand grow faster.
The nail is made up of several components. These include the nail matrix, nail plate, cuticle, nail bed and nail folds. The nail unit’s job is to protect fingertips and enhance fine touch.
Are your nails getting thick? Thickening of the nail can occur as a result of dermatological or general medical disease. It is most frequently seen in the toenails of the elderly and often results from long-term use of ill-fitting footwear and neglect of the nails.
The owner of the longest fingernails ever recorded on a single hand had them cut this year after 66 years. Shridhar Chillal from Pune, India, had been growing his nails since 1952. When last measured, his nails had a combined length of 909.6 cm, about the same length as a London bus!
Medications, chemicals from hair dyes and nail varnish can cause the nail to discolour. This is as well as nicotine and creams such as dithranol (a medication used to treat psoriasis). Antibiotics can cause nail lifting and brownish discolouration of the nail plate. Anti-malarial medications and agents used in chemotherapy may also cause discolouration.
Nails can be infected by fungi, which can also lead to a thickening of the nail. “The nail plate becomes thickened, crumbly and discoloured,” said Professor Sinclair. “If there is no history of skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema and a clinical exam is not conclusive, a fungal culture from the affected nail area will need to be taken.” Oral anti-fungal medication may be required to treat the infection. He said affected people often have frequent recurrent infections. Some diseases affect all parts of the nail unit and other conditions affect only one area.
Nail biting is called onychophagia. It is a common stress-related or nervous habit and involves biting off the nail plate, and sometimes the soft tissues of the nail bed and the cuticle as well. Onychophagia is also known as onychotillomania, which includes the habit of picking or otherwise manipulating the nails.
These simple precautions will reduce the frequency of recurrent infections:
- Wear thongs/sandals in communal showers.
- Dry feet thoroughly.
- Go barefoot whenever practical, except in communal areas such as gyms or around swimming pools.
- Wear moisture absorbent socks. Thick wool and synthetic materials tend to wick away moisture from the skin keeping it drier. Wet cotton socks thick or thin, do not have this wicking effect and may lead to maceration of the skin.
- Keep nails clipped.
- Change shoes regularly and ‘air’ them in the sun.
- If you have a nail problem, don’t ignore it. Discuss the problems with your general practitioner. A referral to a dermatologist may be needed.
For more information visit dermcoll.edu.au or click here for the A-Z of Skin.
Read more: Common skin rashes and what to do about them
Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
