What are the standards for nail health?

There is no abnormal discomfort, the nail condition is stable for a long time, and there are no sudden changes in shape or color compared with the previous state. It is much more relaxed than the "must have 8 crescents, must be pink and have no lines" posted on the Internet.

Last week, a little girl who had just entered college came to the clinic with her hands clenched and said that she only had two crescents on her ten fingers. She saw a short video saying that it was due to a lack of Qi and blood and a problem with her organs. She was so scared that she did not even dare to drink milk tea for several days. However, after a round of checks, nothing abnormal was found. She herself said that she had only two crescents since she was a child. This is because the natural nail matrix is ​​located at the back and cannot grow more crescents. It is not considered a health problem at all. When it comes to crescents, in fact, there is no unified conclusion in the industry. Some Chinese medicine practitioners will use the number and size of crescents as one of the reference items for the state of Qi and blood. Western medicine generally believes that crescents are only natural traces of nail growth and have no absolute relationship with health. Whether you are born with fewer crescents or have suddenly increased in number recently, as long as your nails are not soft, painful, or deformed, there is no need to be overly anxious.

Compared with these natural and long-term appearance differences, what really needs to be vigilant is the sudden changes in nails. I once met a young man who works out regularly, and many pinpoint-like pits suddenly appeared on his nails. At first, he thought it was a vitamin deficiency, and he took supplements for two months to no avail. Later, further examination revealed that psoriasis had affected the nail surface in the early stages. Fortunately, he was discovered early and intervened in time, and he recovered soon after. Many people panic when they see white spots on their nails, thinking that they are due to calcium and silicon deficiency. In fact, most of the white spots are small marks left by accidentally bumping the nail matrix, just like the skin will leave marks when it is bumped. They will be pushed out as the nails grow in two months. There is no need to take supplements blindly. Girls who often get manicures don’t have to worry that their thin nails are unhealthy. As long as the nails can return to their original hardness within a week or two after removing them, it’s just a temporary reaction after the nail surface is polished, and it’s not considered a disease.

It’s also interesting to say that many people always like to use the online standards to decorate their nails one by one, and they have to get enough crescents and pink enough to feel at ease. In fact, nails are like skin color, and they are born with individual differences. Some people are born with thicker nail beds, some are born with thinner nails, some people are born with whiter nails, and some have a natural yellow tint. As long as the condition is stable for a long time and there is no pain when pressing, it is basically healthy. There is really no need to mess around with natural differences.