Nutrients for healthy skin, hair and nails
Hair and nails are a type of modified skin cells, which is why skin, hair and nails are often grouped together when considering health. Skin acts as a barrier to the outside world and protects the internal organs and tissues. The outer layer of skin known as the epidermis contains three types of cells, one of which is keratin. Keratin is a type of protein that is a basic component of skin, hair and nails. Hair grows by forming new cells at the base of the root embedded in the skin. As the cells multiply and produce keratin to harden the structure, they get pushed to the surface and form the shaft of the hair. Nails are also formed by skin cells hardening to form keratin as they move to the surface of the skin. As all three are fast growing structures, they need adequate and consistent amounts of nutrients to do so. They are often the first structures to show signs of deficiencies or imbalances in the body. The following are some examples of changes in hair, skin and nails that may i...