Many people have small pits on their fingernails, but many do not know the cause, even though it poses a threat to some people's beauty. Therefore, we need to understand why these pits appear and how to improve them.
Onycholysis, also known as spoon nails, has not yet been fully understood in terms of its causes. It may be related to the following factors:
1. Hypoxemia: Oxygen deficiency can cause a decrease in arterial oxygen partial pressure in the body, leading to hypoxia in peripheral tissue blood circulation and causing nutritional metabolic disorders in the nails, which can result in nail pits.
2. Heavy Physical Labor: The intensity of physical labor also has a certain impact on nail pits. Among people with small pits on their fingernails, there are more heavy physical laborers than light physical laborers.
3. Nutritional Status: Iron deficiency anemia can lead to limb ischemia, which may cause Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and nail pits. There is a certain relationship between nails and nutrition.
4. Long-term Exposure to Cold Water: Prolonged contact of fingers with cold water can cause peripheral vasospasm and direct immersion of nails in cold water, which may also be a contributing factor to nail pits.
5. Cold Factors: People who work outdoors for a long time have a significantly higher incidence of nail pits than those in other occupations.
6. Abnormal Cysteine Metabolism: Some believe that spoon nails may be caused by abnormal cysteine metabolism.
Functional Development of Fingernails
As one of the accessories of the skin, fingernails have specific functions. Firstly, they serve as a "shield" to protect the distal phalanx and pulp from damage, maintain stability, enhance the sensitivity of finger touch, and assist in grasping, pinching, squeezing, etc. The nail bed is rich in blood supply and has the function of regulating peripheral blood supply and body temperature. Fingernails are also a key aspect of hand beauty, and beautiful fingernails add to a woman's charm. Patients with nail defects or deformities may hide the affected finger due to self-esteem issues, even if the finger functions well, leading to functional disuse atrophy.
