There are many interesting facts that
are related to nails. Some of these facts are pure superstition but
most of them are scientific. Even some of the superstition beliefs
draw attention with the presence of logic in them. So, here are some
interesting facts about nails:
Nails are actually the same as
hair. Both hair and nails are made of the same protein, called
keratin.
The nail plates are dead cells and
contrary to the popular belief, they don't breathe. So they don't
require oxygen. However, the nail beds and the cuticles are live
cells and they do need oxygen, vitamins and minerals.
Nails don't sweat. The nail bed
does not have sweat glands, so it can't perspire. It is the skin
around the nails that gets sweaty.
Nails grow at the rate of 0.1 mm
daily (or 1 cm in every 100 days). So, for a finger nail to regrow
completely, it takes between 4 and 6 months. For toe nails, the
period of complete regrow is 12 to 18 months.
Men's nails grow faster than
women's nails.
Finger nails for both genders grow
faster than toe nails.
Toe nails are about twice thicker
than finger nails.
The fastest growing nail is on the
middle finger. The slowest – on the thumbnail.
When nails are freshly cut, they
grow faster than nails that are not cut often. That is why it takes
so much time to grow nails longer than an inch (breaking nails is
excluded).
Seasons and weather also affect
nail growth. Nails grow faster in warm climates and during daytime,
than in cold climates and at night.
Nails grow faster on young people
than on old people. Also nails grow much faster during pregnancy.
Nails grow at different speeds on
both hands. If you are right-handed, the nails on your right hand
will grow faster than the nails on your left hand and vice versa.
Light trauma, like typing on a
computer stimulates nail growth. Well, this kind of trauma looks
more like a massage actually.
Cutting your nails after dark is
bad luck. Although this is pure superstition, there is enough logic
in it – if you cut your nails when there is not enough light,
you can injure yourself.
Nails reflect your health status.
Some mammals, for example
elephants, have 5 nails on each of the their front legs and most
often only 4 nails per hind leg.
It is a myth that hair and nails
will continue to grow for several days after death. This is an
optical illusion and is due to the fact that the skin shrinks, thus
making it look as if the hair and nails are growing.
Nails are very tough (compared to
skin of course) but even they will be dissolved in about 4 days, if
you put them in Coke because Coke is highly corrosive.
Nail manicure is a very ancient
activity. There is evidence that even 4,000 years ago it was known
to our predecessors.
The longest finger nail ever
recorded was that of an Indian guy and it was 48 inches long.
If you don't drink enough water,
this is bad for your health anyway but you might have never expected
that it leads to dry nails as well.
A hang nail is painful because you
have ripped open the edge of the living nail root.
Male guitar players often leave
the nails on their playing hand uncut and use them for playing as
well.