Fingernails and toenails are horn-like structures at the tip of an animal’s finger or toe which are made of a hard protein called keratin. Just like skin nails can get dry, they can peel, break or be infected. Toe infections, for example, are most likely caused bacteria that flourishes on dirty socks or tight footwear or due to walking barefoot in an unclean environment. Nail tool may transmit infections if used by different people; and in fact, over 100 bacterial infections in 2000 were traced to footbaths in nail salons. Doctors may use the fingernail beds as an indicator of distal tissue perfusion if individuals may be dehydrated or in shock. After pressing on fingernail gently the nailbed turns white and the normal pink colour should restore within a couple of seconds. If it is delayed it could mean that a person is in in a state of shock such as hypovolemia. However, the test is not widely considered reliable in adults.
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