Acrylic nails subject

[2manyfibers]

The original topic on Acrylic nails was locked a few weeks ago, but I thought I might have some relevant information on the general subject. One thing I noticed about my condition was that my nails became very thick and tough. Until the last year or so I couldn't cut my toenails using large toenail clippers because the clippers simply weren't wide enough to go over the nails (the nails were too thick). I still have to use large toenail clippers to cut my fingernails - regular fingernail clippers just won't cut through them (they just bend out of shape). I learned from my research that the nails are made of keratin with collagen and keratin fibers running through them for support and reinforcement. My fingernails have grown very fast over the last couple of years which makes sense for having too much keratin and collagen in my bloodstream (my toenails didn't grow much in length, but rather thickness until the last year or so). I noticed prominent longitudinal ridges in my nails and looked on the web to find an explanation. I've been unable to locate any information that identifies the cause of these ridges, but many sites say they are pretty normal and no cause for concern (horizontal ridges may be another story).

That brings me to the subject of acrylic nails. Whenever I cut my fingernails, I can actually feel fibers pulling through the skin around and across my eyes (very strange and hard to believe I know, but it's reality for me - as soon as I cut the nail, the fibers move). Based on what is known about the structure of fingernails and this strange phenomenon, I believe that the ridges in fingernails are actually collagen fibers (the ridges that make up fingerprints are known to be collagen fibers). When I cut my fingernails the collagen fibers are also cut which makes a few of them "release" or move in the skin around my eyes (collagen fibers in skin can be more than 10 feet long under normal circumstances). I don't know much about acrylic nails (although rednecks are well known for their meticulous fingernail care), but I would guess they have to be glued on or attached to the nail bed in a similar fashion. Although collagen fibers in normal skin are fairly "stationary", there is some natural "give" and "play" in the skin and nails that allow them to move slightly as the body moves (you just don't realize it under normal circumstances - the skin has microscopic tunnels that allow the movement - the nails might, but I haven't found anything to document that). I think it's possible that the glue (or however the acrylic nails are attached) keeps these fibers from being able to move at all in the nails, which may be noticeable only if you have Morgellon's. Of course this theory is speculative, but I can tell you from my experience that collagen fibers are a part of the nails (normally) and the fibers in the nails can be continuous through the skin. Just food for thought.

[Tootsie]

Heres a medical website that goes into length about nail appearance. I havent read it all but it looks like good information

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040315/1417.html