Causes of Peeling Fingernails

What is Fingernails?

A nail could be a horn-like envelope covering the tips of the fingers and toes in humans, most non-human primates, and some different mammals. Nails are the same as claws in other animals. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protecting protein referred to as keratin.

How fast do fingernails grow in a week?

Thus, in humans, the nail of the index finger grows quicker than that of the small finger; and fingernails mature to four times quicker than toenails. In humans, nails grow at an average rate of three millimeter (0.12 in) a month. Fingernails need 3 to 6 months to regrow fully, and toenails require twelve to eighteen months.

What are your nails made out of?

Fingernails grow from the matrix. The nails are composed mostly of keratin, a hardened protein (that is additionally in skin and hair). As new cells grow within the matrix, the older cells are pushed out, compacted and defy the familiar flattened, hardened form of the nail.

How will your nails grow?

Nails begin within the nail root, hidden underneath the cuticle. once cells at the root of the nail grow, the new nail cells push out the old nail cells. These old cells flatten and harden, thanks to keratin, a protein created by these cells. The fresh shaped nail then slides on the nail bed, the flat surface underneath your nails.

What is the nail bed?

The nail bed is the skin below the nail plate. Like all skin, it’s made of 2 varieties of tissues: the deeper dermis, the living tissue which has capillaries and glands, and the epidermis, the layer simply below the nail plate, that moves toward the finger tip with the plate.

Causes of Peeling Nails?

Trauma or injury to the nail itself will cause peeling. Soaking your hands in hot water whereas doing the dishes or engaging in the other prolonged water exposure will dry out the nails. This will cause peeling.

Other traumatic causes of peeling include:

• any activity that presses on the nail
• overusing the nails as tool
• picking or peeling off nail polish
• applying false or acrylic nails

If you can’t attribute your peeling nails to an external or internal cause, one way to inform the difference is to look and compare your toenails and fingernails. If your fingernails are peeling however your toenails aren’t (or vice-versa), this signals an external cause. If each your fingernails and toenails are peeling, this signals an internal cause.

Internal causes will vary but typically dry, peeling nails will indicate a vitamin deficiency, usually an iron deficiency.

Picture of Peeling Fingernails