Why Do Nails Grow? Interesting Facts About the Nail Growth Process

articlemostwanted -  Nails might seem like just a small part of our body, but the way they grow is actually really cool! Both fingernails and toenails are made of keratin, a tough protein that also makes up your hair and the outer layer of your skin. Nails grow from an area under the skin at the base of the nail called the nail matrix. This is where new nail cells are made. These new cells push the old, hardened cells forward, which is why your nails keep growing out toward your fingertips or toes. Pretty neat, right?

Fingernails usually grow faster than toenails, about 3 millimeters a month compared to toenails, which only grow 1 to 1.5 millimeters. But how fast your nails grow can depend on a lot of things, like your age, your health, your diet, and even how active you are. For example, nails tend to grow faster in summer. Why? Because the warmer weather improves blood flow, and that helps your nail matrix create more cells. Even the nails on your dominant hand—like your right hand if you’re right-handed—grow a little faster, because you use that hand more often, improving blood circulation to those fingers. Cool, huh?

What’s even more interesting is how nails can tell you about your overall health. If your nails are brittle, grow very slowly, or change color, it might mean that your body is low on certain nutrients, like iron, or that there’s a bigger health issue going on, like thyroid problems. That’s why people say your nails are like little health indicators!

As we get older, our nails start to grow slower. This is because our metabolism slows down, and there’s less blood flow to the nail matrix. But don’t worry, this is totally normal and just a part of aging.

So, why do our nails even grow? Well, they have a really important job! They protect the sensitive tips of your fingers and toes, which are full of nerve endings. Imagine how hard it would be to do things like scratching, picking up small objects, or even just typing without nails. They’re small, but they’re super useful!

Next time you’re trimming your nails, take a moment to think about how amazing they are. They grow non-stop, help protect you, and even give you clues about your health. Nails might not get much attention, but they’re definitely worth appreciating!