Hair and nails – Information and Treatment for the Disease - Diseases Treatment - Symptoms, Causes and Cure for Diseases on A to Z

Hair and nails are dead, hardened structures that are very similar to the surface layer of your skin. Hairs grow from follicles, which are pits of actively-dividing cells that occur in varying numbers in your skin. Nails grow from folds under your skin. The substance that gives both hair and nails their hardness is the protein keratin, which is found in smaller amounts in the skin itself. Because hair has little real function in human beings, diseases that affect it generally cause cosmetic and psychological problems rather than medical problems. Similarly, nail disorders can be unsightly and irritating but are not harmful to your physical health . Nevertheless, because appearance is usually of some importance to a feeling of well-being, hair and nail problems should be dealt with.