•Zinc deficiency (usually the pit will form a line across the middle of the nailbed)
•Connective tissue disorder
•Psoriasis
•Alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disorder that results in hair loss
Brittle/Dry Nails
Healthy nails should be producing natural moisturizers to help maintain themselves. Excessively dry or brittle nails can be a sign of a hormonal balance problem or a bacterial infection as well as:
•Thyroid disease can result in brittle, dry nails that also crack and split very easily
•Fungus can cause nails to become dry or even crumbly and is a common problem
Both these potential problems can be treated and the nails will return to good health once a full growing cycle has passed (hand nails grow at about 1 mm per week so on average the full life cycle of human nail is about six months).
Cuticles
Cuticles are “there for a reason, like a barrier or a protection for the nail matrix,” says Richard Scher, MD, a Cornell University dermatology professor.
Dermatologists say there’s no good reason to cut the cuticles.
Cutting them could open the door to infection or irritation. “If you remove the cuticle, that space is wide open, and anything can get in there,” Scher says. Bulging or discolored cuticles are often a sign of infection.
Cutting your cuticles can also lead to nail problems, such as ridges, white spots, or white lines.
If you get a bacterial infection in that area, it can hamper that fingernail’s growth.”That’s not particularly aesthetic, as well as being uncomfortable,” says Ella Toombs, MD, a Washington, D.C., dermatologist.
Visit the BlackDoctor.org Skin and Beauty center for more articles and tips.