Nail growth is a process that takes place in the matrix. This is the part of your nail you can see, and it’s made up of keratin. Keratin is the same substance that makes up your skin, hair, and fingernails. However, it is no longer a secret anymore that your middle fingernail grows the fastest, but the question is, “why does the middle finger grow the fastest?”
The longest bone in the fingertip makes the middle fingernail grow the fastest. And thumbnails grow more slowly than other nails. The faster a person grows, the longer their bones are.
On average, a fingernail grows to 3 – 3.5 mm a month. If you lose a nail due to trauma, it will take 4 – 6 months for them to grow out.
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In addition, the middle finger is the fastest-growing nail due to the length of the bone. This is so because the length of the bone in your fingertip determines how your nails grow.
So the smaller the terminal phalanges, the slower the growth. This best explains why your pinky finger and thumbnails grow the slowest.
Besides the length, your middle finger receives more blood flow than the rest. The reason is that the finger is used to grip or flip things the most. Thus, they get stimulated a lot.
Science Behind Stimulation Of Fingernails
When fingernails are stimulated, what happens is, the nail matrix gets a message that such a finger is probably being used or worn out the most. When this happens, blood is suddenly released by the nail matrix, which further stimulates nail growth.
Do Fingernails Grow Faster As You Age?
Fingernails grow faster when you’re younger, but as you age, they change. They grow more slowly and become dull and brittle. There’s a chance the once-clear hue could become dingy and opaque. Hardening and thickening of the nails, particularly the toenails, and an increase in the prevalence of ingrown toenails have been reported.
Which Nail Grow Faster (Fingernail or Toenail)?
On average, Fingernails grow up to 3 mm a month, and toenails are somewhat between 2 mm. This is because your body has much more blood flow to your fingers than your toes. The blood flow helps with the growth and strength of your fingernails and toenails.
Taking a closer look at the rate at which they grow, one can quickly tell which is faster and which grows the slowest.
Why Do Some Nails Grow Faster Than Others?
Nails are a protective barrier that protects the skin underneath them from scrapes, cuts, and other abrasions. They also help form an important part of your hand’s overall structure and function. However, some nails grow faster than others.
Some nails grow faster than others because more blood flows through them. Also, it is because they are more exposed to the air, which can act as a barrier between the nail and the oxygen in the air. Some people believe that certain conditions like genetics can cause some nails to grow faster than others.
What Makes Fingernails Grow Fast?
There are lots of things you can do to fasten your nail growth. For example, taking lots of vegetables like spinach and broccoli, and eating more proteins can contribute to nail growth.
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Besides food, massaging the skin around your nails with good moisturizers such as coconut oil can also help lengthen your nails.
Also, regular exercise, good nail hygiene like filing your nails correctly, and limiting how you expose your hands to moisture. All of these are what you need for faster nail growth.
Why Do My Nails Hurt When They Grow?
Ingrown nails are the primary reason you’re experiencing pains, as your nails are growing. Ingrown nails can be very painful, caused by improper trimming, putting on tightly fitting shoes, and sometimes, hereditary.
To cut, lift them with a toothpick, then gently slide your clipper to clip them off. After cutting, The best way to treat them is by applying antibacterial or anti-fungal cream to prevent infection.
Conclusion
The growth rate of nails depends on the amount of blood it receives and the bone length. This alone best explains why the middle fingernails grow faster than the others. That of the pinky and thumb are said to grow at a millipede speed because of how small the length of the bones are. Simply put, the smaller the bone on the fingertip, the slowest they grow.
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