L16: Nail Cosmetics Flashcards
What does the nail consists of?
- Nail plate
- Nail matrix
- Nail bed
What are the three layers of the nail plate? Start from the outermost layer.
- Ventral nail plate
- Intermediate nail plate
- Dorsal nail plate
What are the characteristics of the nail plate?
- Hard part of the nail
- Made of translucent keratin protein
- Consists of several layers of dead, compacted cells that confers strength
When we say “nail”, which portion of the nail are we actually referring to?
Nail plate
What are the characteristics of the nail bed?
- Supply water to the nail
- Ensures nail grow in a fixed direction
- Low water content
Which kind of nail lines are more worrying?
Beau’s lines (horizontal)
How will the nail be affected by vitamin A & B deficiency?
Brittle, dry and darkened
How will low dietary protein intake affect the nail?
White nail beds due to reduced haemoglobin
How will the nails be affected by iron deficiency?
“Spoon” nails
How will the nails be affected by calcium deficiency?
Fragile nails (without white spots)
What does the nail matrix contain?
Melanocytes
What is the nail matrix responsible for?
Producing cells that become the nail plate.
It will continue to grow as long as it receives nutrition and remains in a healthy condition
What are the other parts of the nail and their corresponding functions/characteristic?
- Nail lunula: part of the matrix; not fully keratinized and not in complete contact with nail bed
- Nail cuticle: Tissue that overlaps the plate and rims the base of the nail; Protects the formed nail
- Nail fold: walls/folds of skin that frame and support the nail
What is the composition of the nail?
- Modified epidermal cells
- Hard keratin (absence of keratohyaline granules == strong disulfide bonds)
- Low calcium content
- Low water content
- Low fatty materials
- Absorbs and loses water easily
What is unique about the blood supply in the nails?
Supplied among hard surfaces, like the nail plate and underneath the bone
Which part of the nail does it grow from?
Nail matrix
Toenails grow faster than fingernails. True or False?
False. Fingernails grow faster than toenails
Nails grow faster in summer than in winter. True or False?
True
What causes nails to grow slower?
- Increasing age
- Cold conditions
- Diseased states with reduced blood flow to the body’s periphery
- Malnutrition
- Routine exposure to solvents, detergents or chemicals
What happens to the nails with excess water absorption?
Becomes tender
What happens to the nails with excess water loss?
Becomes brittle
Does the nails grow faster on the dominant hand?
Yes
Why is it possible to use nails for forensic purposes?
Due to the slow growth rate of nails, it is possible to utilize nail clipping to detect previous exposure to drugs, metals and toxins
What does it mean to detect cocaine in the clipped nails of a newborn?
Means that there was exposure during embryogenesis
What are the common nail disorders?
- White spots
- Splinter hemorrhages & split nails
- Ingrown nails
- Fungal and bacterial infections
- Psioriasis
- Nail biting
What are the causes for white spots on nails?
- Allergy
- Nail injury
- Mineral deficiency
- Fungi
How does white spots develop on nails and why?
Results from injury to the base (matrix) of the nail, where nail cells are produced
How does splinter hemorrhages and split nails occur?
Due to disruption of blood vessels in the nail bed, causing fine, splinter-like vertical lines that become dark in color under the nail plate
What are splinter hemorrhages caused by?
- Injury to the nail
- Certain drugs
- Certain diseases
What causes nail split?
Due to loss of plasticity from water loss
How to treat splinter hemorrhages and split nails?
- Avoid hand sanitizers, as they remove water from the nail plate
- Use moisturizer
- Tea bag repair technique
Which part of the body is more prone to having ingrown nails?
Toenails
What are some causes of ingrown nails?
- Improper nail trimming
- Tight shoes
- Poor posture
(cause the corner of the nail to curve downward into the skin)
How to treat ingrown nails?
Cut nails straight across with no curves to leave the sides longer
Which part of the body is more prone to fungal infections and why?
Toenails, due to the warm, moist and bearing environment
How to treat fungal and bacteria infections of the nails?
- Oral medicine
- Topical medicine to be applied on the nails
What is psoriasis?
Chronic skin disease characterized by red, scaly patches
Which condition is usually associated with psoriasis?
Inflammatory arthritis
What are some obvious signs of psoriasis?
- Separation of the nail from the nail bed
- Splinter hemorrhages
How to treat psoriasis?
- If mild, use nail acrylic
- If severe, use cloth to wrap and nail paint to camouflage
Nail biting is common in which group of individuals?
Young children
What is the risk of nail biting?
Transferring infectious organisms from the fingers to the mouth and vice versa
How to treat nail biting?
Apply bad tasting nail polishes or liquids to the nail (eg. Bitrex = denatonium, the most bitter chemical known)
What can be done to harden/strengthen brittle nails?
- Use nail hardeners
- Use nail polish and protheses as strengthener
- Consume a diet rich in proteins
- Use moisturizers to treat dehydrated brittle nails
What is an example of a nail hardener?
Formaldehyde
How does a nail hardener work?
Cross-linking keratin proteins
What is the paradoxical issue about nail hardeners?
It makes the nails more brittle
Which is the best way to strengthen brittle nails?
Nail polish
What is the disadvantage of using nail polish? How can we overcome it?
Problems for removal; requires the use of acetone or acetone-free removers, which dehydrates the nail plate
Can use bamboo-containing polishes instead, as it does not stain the nails
Should nail protheses be used frequently? Why or why not?
No, it decreases the oxygen transport and weakens the nails with frequent removal
What are some good ingredients in a moisturizer for brittle nails?
- Urea
- Lactic acid
- Glycerin
- Petrolatum (occlusive)
- Biotin
Can nail moisturizers be used for the face?
No. It contains slightly more occlusives
Can hand moisturizers be used for the nails?
Yes
What is the main type of ingredient in nail enamel? What are its 3 sub-categories?
Flim-forming ingredients
- Film formers
- Resins
- Plasticizers
What is a common film-forming ingredient?
Nitrocellulose
What is a common thickener used in nail enamel?
Stearalkonium hectorite
What are the 5 types of nail polish?
- Base coat
- Top coat
- Gel
- Matte
- Shellac
Which type of nail polish requires UV treatment? What does it do?
Gel polish, UV light activates cross-linking
What is the base coat nail polish used for?
To strengthen nails, restore moisture and/or help polish adhere to the nail
Which contains more nitrocellulose and plasticizers, base or top coat of nail polish? Why?
Top coat. To improve nail enamel resistance
Which contains more resin, base or top coat of ail polish?
Base coat. Top increase adherence of nails
Is cuticle removal good for the nails?
No
What are some safety concerns about nail products for consumers?
- Throat irritation from direct inhalation
- Nail/skin dehydration
