ALL ABOUT NAILS

Protection
The nail plays an important role in protecting the nail bed beneath the nail. Damage from a tear to the nail or a slight lifting of the nail can leave the nail bed unprotected allowing the entry of a fungal infection.

For information on how to protect your nails from damage, click here.

Loceryl® is a proven way to treat a fungal nail infection1. Loceryl® is clear nail lacquer that is applied to the affected nail once a week. After being applied to the nail, Loceryl® penetrates the nail plate to get to the nail bed where the infection lives3. Once there, Loceryl® kills the fungus4. The new nail can then grow back, healthy and strong.

Appearance
You can only see 70% of your nail. The remainder is concealed under the skin. The nail bed lies beneath the nail plate and its blood vessels give the plate its pink appearance.

What is the nail made from?
The nail plate consists of a material called keratin which is also present in hair and skin. Cells called keratinocytes are formed in the matrix area of the nail (i.e the area of the nail that you can't see). Here they become flat and hard and over time are pushed further out where they become part of the nail that you can see. This process goes on continuously. Fungi feed on nail keratin.

Nail Growth
Nails grow at a very slow rate. They develop from deep in the matrix (under the skin). On average, finger nails grow at a rate of 3 mm per month and toe nails grow at just 1.5 mm a month.

When a nail is infected with a fungus, the fungus must be killed so that the new nail can grow back healthy and strong. Given the slow rate of nail growth, this can take on average 6 to 8 months for a finger nail and 10 to 12 months for a large toe nail.


References:
1:Zaug M & Bergstraesser M. “Amorolfine in the treatment of onychomycosis and dermatomycosis (an overview).” Clinical & Experimental Dermatology 1992; 17 (Suppl.1) 61-70.

3:Franz TJ “ Absorption of Amorolfine through Human Nail” Dermatology 1992: 184 (suppl 1) :18-20

4:Polak AM. “Preclinical data & mode of action of amorolfine” Clinical & Experimental Dermatology 1992: 7 (Suppl. 8-12).