Does the "little half-moon" on the nails have anything to do with health? What situations require attention?

A friend asked Huazi a question: Can the "little crescents" at the base of fingernails reflect a person's health condition? The bigger and more crescents there are, the better the health condition will be?

Huazi told his friend that traditional medicine says that "the liver governs the tendons, and its beauty is in the nails". If a person is in good physical condition and has a balanced diet, his nails will be rosy and smooth, and each fingernail will have a large and clear half-moon. However, according to modern medical explanations, the half-moon on the nail has little to do with health.

1. The half-moon on the nail is called the "lunula". The human nail is a layer of translucent keratin covering the fingertips, which is composed of keratin produced by the nail matrix. The newly generated keratin is white and takes a period of time to become translucent. However, the speed of keratin production by the nail matrix is ​​different. The production speed in the middle is fast and gradually decreases towards the edge, forming a semi-arc white area, which is scientifically called the "lunula".

The lunula is the newly formed nail, which will push the old nail outward, growing about 0.1mm per day. It grows faster in summer and slower in winter.

2. Why are there different sizes of lunulae? From a modern medical perspective, the factors that affect the number and size of lunulae are related to the location of the nail matrix and the rate of keratin production. There are large individual differences, which are mainly related to personal genes, but have little to do with health conditions. However, for the elderly or those who are malnourished, the growth rate of nails will slow down, and the lunulae will become smaller.

The lunula is also related to the mobility of the hands. People who usually do more work have faster nail growth and larger and more lunulae. People who usually do less hand mobility have slower nail growth and smaller lunulae.

Generally speaking, thumbs are used more often in daily life, and nails grow faster, so the lunula of the thumb will be larger, while the lunula of the little finger will be smaller. However, for violinists, computer operators and other people who need to use their little fingers frequently, the lunula may also be larger, which is normal.

3. Does the lunula have anything to do with health? Normally, the shape of the lunula on the nail is different for everyone, just like everyone's appearance and body shape are different, and it has little to do with health. Only when the lunula suddenly changes, it may be a health problem.

If there is an infection (such as onychomycosis), or if there is a nutritional deficiency or hypothyroidism, the nail will grow slowly, causing the lunula to suddenly become smaller or disappear. If the lunula suddenly becomes larger, it means that the metabolism is faster, which is common in patients with hyperthyroidism.

The vertical lines on the nails have little to do with health. They are usually not obvious when you are young, but become more obvious as you get older. The principle is the same as that which causes wrinkles on the skin due to aging. It is not a health problem.

Patients with respiratory, lung, and cardiovascular diseases have chronic hypoxia in the fingertips, which may lead to "clubbed fingers" and changes in nail shape. If they are injured, their nails may become uneven.

To sum up, the "little crescents" on the nails are called lunulae. The number and size of the lunulae are mainly related to each person's physical constitution and have little to do with health. Only when the lunulae suddenly change, it may mean that there is a problem with your health. At this time, it is the best choice to see a doctor in time. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.