The relationship between your hair, nails and skin and your overall health is underestimated. They share the same nutritional requirements for health. They react to deficiency in similar ways. Their general look and feel alone can even reveal much to the non-professional.
Lack of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and trace elements you ingest show your health status clearly through nail disease.
> Description
> Conditions
> Statistics
> Causes
> Diagnosis
> Signs and Symptoms
> Treatments
> Conventional
> Natural
> Recommended Protocol
Description
Like hair, nail is made up of keratin, formed by living skin cells.
The nail consists of the.
- Nail plate – The surface you can see on your fingers and toes.
- Nail bed – The skin underneath the nail surface.
- The Matrix – The hidden area of the nail under the cuticle, responsible
- for growth.
The Lunula – The white ‘half-moon’ shape at the base of the nail plate.
Cuticle – The skin tissue that covers the bottom of the nail plate.
Nail folds – The skin on 3 sides of the nail surface, providing support.
The relationship between your hair, nails and skin and your overall health is underestimated. They share the same nutritional requirements for health. They react to deficiency in similar ways. Their general look and feel alone can even reveal much to the non-professional.
Lack of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and trace elements you ingest show your health status clearly through nail disease.
Deficiency of necessary nutrients for hair, nail and skin health, through chemical or hormonal imbalance, illness or side effects from medication, can result in disease becoming more and more commonplace around the globe due to biological, environmental and genetic causes.
Healthy nails are strong and smooth. They are see-through, having little colour. They offer protection to the fingertips and toes.
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Conditions
Like your hair, nail growth is affected by and vulnerable to disease. Abuse to your body, lack of nutritional maintenance, prescription medications, illness, disease and chemical or hormonal imbalance, whether due to aging or body malfunction, can result in conditions such as:
- Viral and bacterial infections (redness, swelling and pain of the nail and skin folds)
- Tumours and warts (associated viral infections)
- Fungal infections (causing pitting and discolouration)
- White spots (mineral deficiency)
- Splinter hemorrhages (disruption of blood vessels in the nail bed causing splinter-like lines under the nail plate)
- Ingrown nails
- Underlying systemic or skin disease.
Consequently, any of the below conditions can result:
Psoriasis
A pitting, rippling, or discoloration of the nail, causing crumbling and splitting, with swelling and redness.
Beau’s lines
Depressions in the nail surface from poor nutrition, illness, or a reaction to medication.
Onycholysis and Onycholysis
Separation of the nail surface from the nail bed, often occurs from thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism).
Yellow Nail Syndrome
Nail growth stops. The nail remains hard, thickened, curved and yellow. A possible result of chronic bronchitis.
Trachyonychia
Ridged and rough nails, resulting from psoriasis, alopecia and eczema.
Due to their own deficiencies and medical treatments, more serious health conditions can cause nail problems too, resulting in discomfort, pain and possible deformity.
These include:
- Liver diseases
- Kidney diseases
- Heart conditions
- Lung diseases
- Anaemia
- Diabetes.
- The average number of hairs on an adult scalp is 100,000.
- Blonde people have around 140,000 hairs, redheads have around 90,000.
- Baldness affects 1.7% of the population, with over 4 million in the US alone.
- Baldness generally occurs in 2 out of 3 men and 1 out of 5 women.
- Male pattern baldness is thought to occur in 66% of adult males.
- 1out of 10 children will develop eczema before they reach their teens.
- Androgenetic alopecia affects approximately a third of susceptible women, and is most commonly seen after menopause.
- Nail disorders comprise about 10% of all skin conditions.
- Onychomycosis makes up approximately 50% of all nail disorders.
- Around 10-15% of patients with psoriasis develop joint inflammation (psoriatic arthritis).
- Around 50% of patients with psoriasis have finger and toenail conditions.
- Around 50% of people with psoriasis, and 80% of people with inflammatory arthritis also have nail problems.
Causes
There are many causes leading to diseased nails. The most common and most important causes are the chemical and hormonal imbalances that occur as a result of aging, illness and nutritional deficiency. Nutritional deficiency being the most significant, leading to chemical and hormonal imbalances and illness and accounts for the majority of all nail disease.
Nutritional deficiencies, an unbalanced diet and lack of adequate nutritional supplementation, along with related digestive and absorption problems cause the majority of changes you may see in your nails.
Other important causes include:
- Chemical toxins
- Prescription medications
- Bacterial and viral infections
- Fungal infections
- Heredity
- Skin conditions, e.g. eczema
- Eating disorders
- Drug sensitivity.
Chronic medical conditions cause changes in the shape, smoothness, growth rate and colour of your nails, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis.
As with your hair, many drugs can produce nail disease too:
Antineoplastic drugs – cause hyperpigmentation, splinter hemorrhages, beau’s lines, onycholysis and onychomadesis.
Beta-blockers – lead to thickening and pitting of the nails, beau’s lines, ischemic changes.
Chlorpromazine – turns the nail colour to a blue-purple pigment.
Minocycline – causes a blue-grey pigment.
Tetracycline – leads to onycholysis.
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Diagnosis
Your health professional will ask questions about your diet, medicines you are taking, any recent illnesses, your menstrual cycle, any pregnancies and whether or not you are experiencing menopause and associated symptoms.
A physical examination will take place, possibly including hair and nail analyses or skin biopsy if necessary.
Blood tests may be requested if underlying disorders are suspected. These may include vitamin and mineral analyses to locate any nutritional deficiencies.
If a reaction to medication is thought to be the cause your health professional may suggest an alternative medication or therapy.
Neurological, circulatory and the musculoskeletal systems should all be examined, along with thorough history taking including details of occupation, family history and drug history.
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Signs and Symptoms
Because of their natural relationship and similar build, signs of hair, nail and skin disorders usually intertwine, especially if they are age-related, related to an underlying medical condition, or are down to nutritional deficiencies.
Common symptoms to look for include:
Hair
Nails
Skin
Finding small patches of hair
Slow growth
Itching
Thinning of the hair
Dull and brittle nails
Lesions
Excessively dry hair
Discoloration
Moles
A flaking scalp
Hardening/thickening of nails
Rashes/Hives
Red, itchy or oily scalp
Splitting at the fingertips
Skin color changes
Frequently weak or tired
Appearance of ridges or dents
Tenderness
Itching, redness or pain
Swelling or bumps
Leathery (thick) skin
Hypersensitivity
Peeling
Bleeding or bruising
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Treatments
Untreated fungal nails are more than just an embarrassing cosmetic problem. They may cause further health problems, for example infections may spread and damage your entire nail and infect your fingers; infection may spread to your other nails or spread to other people via showers, swimming baths and shared towels; infections may lead to other more serious bacterial infections, cause painful ulcers, or lead to permanent deformity.
Damaged fingernails reduce sensitivity in your fingertips and thick toenails can cause severe pain on walking.
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Conventional treatments
There are many prescription medications on the market for the treatment of hair, scalp, skin and nail conditions. Although these medications have a short-term effect they do not address your underlying causes. They also have numerous detrimental side effects that can cause you serious health issues.
Common prescription medicines for nail health solutions include:
Ampicillin, Calcipotriol, Ketoconazole and Hydrocortisone
Antibiotics that block the formation of bacterial cell walls, rendering bacteria unable to multiply and spread. Hydrocortisone interferes with the formation of substances directly responsible for the process of inflammation, swelling, redness and pain.
Side effects may include colitis, mild itching, diarrhea, fever, itching, nausea, rash, stinging or other skin problems, discolouration, dizziness, sore mouth, vomiting, dry hair and scalp.
Cloxacillin
A penicillin used to treat infections caused by bacteria. It works by killing the bacteria and preventing regrowth. Side effects can include allergic reactions, rash, fainting, and in more severe and rare cases, seizures, watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
Fluorouracil
Interferes with the growth of skin cells. It works by causing the death of abnormal or infected cells. Side effects may include diarrhoea, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting. In more severe rare cases also potentially causing chest pain.
Cyclosporin
Appears to slow down the rate of infective growth by inhibiting the immune system. Side effects may consist of bleeding, tender or enlarged gums, fever or chills, frequent urination and vomiting.
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Natural treatments
Along with general dietary and lifestyle tips to improve your resistance, many specific natural ingredients are known to boost your body’s normal processes and maintain the correct nutritional composition needed by your skin, hair and nails.
These ingredients include:
Sulfur as MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
A naturally occurring organic compound used to maintain normal keratin levels in the hair, skin and nails. It helps to make the cell walls more permeable which increases circulation and helps regulate insulin production, improving hair, nails and skin.
PABA
(Para-aminobenzoic acid)A co-enzyme forming part of the folic acid structure, necessary for healthy skin and hair pigmentation. It stimulates intestinal bacteria to produce folic acid and promotes the breakdown of proteins. Beneficial in hair loss, hair greying and dermatitis.
Saw Palmetto
Comparable in efficacy to Finasteride (Proscar), but much better tolerated with little or no side effects. It blocks receptor sites on cell membranes that are required for the absorption of DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), a causative factor in alopecia.
Iodine
A trace mineral that converts to iodide. It helps to regulate thyroid hormone production, preventing dry hair and hair loss. The condition of hair, skin and nails are dependent upon a well functioning thyroid gland.
Biotin
A water-soluble B vitamin acting as a co-enzyme to metabolise proteins, fats and carbs. Beneficial in hair loss and the underlying causes of hair and nail problems. Studies show a 25% increase in nail plate thickness in patients with brittle nails.
Inositol Hexaphosphate
A powerful antioxident effective in promoting lecithin production, required for brain neurotransmitter action. It inhibits the production and activity of free radicals and slows the rate of abnormal cell division.
L-Methionine
A sulfur-bearing essential amino acid necessary for hair and muscle production. A building block of proteins and peptides. The body uses methionine to manufacture creatine and uses the sulfur in methionine for normal metabolism and growth.
Vitamin B5 (D-Pantothenate)
Supports carb, protein and fat metabolism. Beneficial in hair loss, dandruff, grey hair, enhancing the immune system and benefiting the underlying physical disease causes of hair and nail neglect.
Omega 3 Fish Oil
Essential fatty acids known for their ability to improve hair and nail health significantly, improving lustre and condition, as well as many other health benefits.
These ingredients are available in literally thousands of hair, nail and skin products advertised all over the world. However, although these ingredients certainly have their place, individually they are not powerful enough to provide the treatment you need to correct your chemical and nutritional imbalances and prevent reoccurrence.
Combined in a synergistic and balanced way however, and with other ingredients as co-factors, these ingredients show significant benefits, not only in treating your problem but in providing an overall health advancement regime, strengthening the immune system and helping to ensure optimum whole health.
Xtend-Life lead the way in combining these ingredients, plus other enhancing trace elements, to provide such advanced results.
Thousands of people throughout the world have found that after taking Xtend-Life Total Balance for a period of time they have noticed a distinct improvement in the condition of their hair and nails and major enhancement in their skin health, indicating an underlying improvement also in their general health.
Their results have shown to be further enhanced with the addition of Xtend-Life Omega 3/DHA Esters to their regime, as per the recommended protocol below.
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Recommended Natural Protocol
Xtend-Life Total Balance is recommended in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and a good diet.
Protocol
Product
Quantity Per Day
You need
Xtend-Life Total Balance
Adults: 6 tablets per day
Teens: 3 tablets per dayAdults: 2 bottles per month
Teens: 1 bottle per month
Omega 3 DHA/Esters
2 soft gels per day
1 bottle per month
NB: Please note that we develop our formulas in a way that minimizes possibilities of interaction. However, as with all natural supplements there is still potential for ingredients to interact with prescription drugs. You are advised to either check with your physician or Contact Us with details of your medicines so that we can check our databases for potential problems. Please also check our legal notices found in About Us.
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