How to do a nail health check-up

Daily nail health check-up at home is actually very simple and does not require any professional equipment. Just take 1 minute to look at natural light and touch a few key points. If you are not sure, just go to the dermatology department and go through the formal check-up process. There is no need to scare yourself with the fragmented claims on the Internet.

A while ago, I met my aunt who was worried about her nails. She said that there were only two crescents, which must be kidney deficiency. She saved a bunch of kidney-tonifying health products and planned to see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. However, she was taken to a community hospital. The doctor took a look and said that her nail matrix was naturally set back. There is a lot of controversy when it comes to crescents. The current mainstream dermatology point of view is that the number and size of crescents are basically innate and have nothing to do with physical fitness. However, a small number of clinicians have suggested that if the original crescents suddenly disappear or appear suddenly several times in a short period of time, If you are accompanied by palpitations, heat intolerance, fatigue, or cold intolerance, it is best to check your thyroid function. It may be that hormone fluctuations affect the growth rate of the nail matrix. This statement has not yet been supported by large-scale studies, but it can be regarded as a reminder to everyone. It is always right to pay more attention if there are mutations.

You can do a check-up on the way in the morning when you wash and dry your hands. First, look at the natural light. Normal nails are a uniform light pink. Press the surface of the nail with your finger and it will turn back to pink immediately after you release it. If the color does not return after pressing for a long time, it is probably because of poor peripheral circulation. My best friend always felt dizzy a while ago and had to wait two or three seconds for the nails to turn back to pink after pressing them. When I went to check, it turned out to be iron deficiency anemia. After two months of iron supplements, it was completely cured. If your nails are inexplicably yellow, gray and thick, don't buy onychomycosis. When I went to the dermatology department with a friend, I met an uncle who applied antifungal medicine for more than half a year but it didn't heal. In the end, it was found that it was nail dystrophy caused by eczema on the hands. It was not a fungal problem at all. I suffered for a long time in vain.

Just follow the feel when you touch it. Normally, the nail surface is smooth and tough. If it suddenly feels bumpy and bumpy, like the surface of a thimble, it is best to check for psoriasis. Many people's psoriasis first starts with nail lesions, and it is easy to be ignored. There are also many people who are afraid of black lines on nails. In fact, most of them are nevus, which is equivalent to a mole on the nail. There is basically no risk. However, if one day you find that the black line has widened in a short period of time and exceeds 3mm, the edges are still fuzzy, and even the skin around the nail is black, go to the hospital quickly and don’t delay.

If you feel something is wrong after looking at it at home, don’t panic when you go to the hospital. The dermatologist will first conduct a visual examination and ask you how long this condition has been present and whether you have any other discomforts. Common problems can be judged on the spot. If you are really unsure, you can do a dermatoscope. It is non-invasive. The probe is placed on the nail and the screen can magnify dozens of times to see the fine structure under the nail. Basically 90% of the problems can be diagnosed. Only particularly suspicious malignant lesions require nail biopsy. It is an invasive examination and is generally rarely used. Oh, by the way, don’t always do those full-on manicures. It’s best to rest for two or three months. I had a colleague who kept doing manicures for a year and a half. Later, the nails became as thin as paper and fell off as soon as they were torn off. It took more than half a year to grow them back. Nail damage caused by external forces is also very common. When you go for an examination, it is best to tell the doctor in advance whether you have the habit of frequent manicures to avoid misjudgment.