Fingernails grow at different rates depending on a number of factors. Age, health, diet, and even the weather can affect how fast or slow your nails grow.
In general, fingernails grow about 3mm per month. But there are some people whose nails grow much faster or slower than that.
Your fingernails grow at different rates depending on which finger you’re looking at. Your thumbnail grows the slowest, while your middle finger grows the fastest. But don’t worry, they all grow at a pretty similar pace.
So why do our fingernails grow at different rates? It turns out that it’s all thanks to our body’s natural chemistry. The rate of growth is determined by the amount of keratin in our nails.
Keratin is a protein that’s found in our hair and nails (among other things), and it’s what gives them strength and hardness.
Interestingly, the reason our nails grow faster in the summer has nothing to do with temperature or sunlight.
Instead, it’s because we tend to drink more water during warmer months, which helps keep our bodies hydrated and encourages nail growth.
So if you want your nails to grow faster, make sure you’re staying hydrated!
Do Fingernails Grow at Different Rates
It’s a common myth that fingernails grow at different rates, but it’s actually not true! All fingernails grow at the same rate, which is about 0.1 millimeters per day.
The reason it may seem like some nails grow faster than others is because they may be starting from a different point on the nail plate.
For example, if your left index finger has a longer nail than your right index finger, it’s because the left nail started growing from a higher point on the nail plate.
So while all nails do indeed grow at the same rate, it may appear as though some are growing faster than others due to their starting point.
Is It Normal for Fingernails to Grow at Different Rates
It is normal for fingernails to grow at different rates because of the different growth cycles of each nail.
The nails on the dominant hand usually grow faster than the nails on the non-dominant hand.
The thumbnail usually grows the fastest, followed by the index finger and then the middle finger. The ring finger grows slower than the other fingers, and the pinky grows slowest of all.
Why Do Fingernails Grow at Different Rates
Your fingernails are made of keratin, a type of protein that’s also in your hair. Your nails grow from the base of your nail bed — the skin beneath your nails.
Nails grow at different rates because of many factors. Age is one factor. As you age, your nails tend to grow slower. Other factors include:
Gender – Men typically have faster-growing nails than women.
Health – Unhealthy lifestyle choices or certain health conditions can affect nail growth. Poor diet, for example, can lead to brittle nails that break easily. Smoking has also been linked to slow nail growth.
Seasonality – Nails tend to grow faster in warmer months and during pregnancy.
How Can I Make My Nails Grow Faster
There are a few things you can do to help your nails grow faster. One is to take supplements like biotin, which helps with cell turnover and makes nails stronger and less likely to break.
You can also use nail hardeners, which help protect the nail from damage and make it easier for the nail to grow.
Finally, be sure to keep your nails clean and trimmed so that they have a chance to grow without being damaged.
Why Do Nails on Your Fingers and Toes Grow at Different Rates?
Conclusion
Our fingernails may all look the same, but did you know that they actually grow at different rates?
It turns out that the nails on our dominant hand grow faster than the nails on our non-dominant hand. So why is this?
One theory is that we use our dominant hand more often, which stimulates blood flow and encourages nail growth.
Another possibility is that the nerve endings in our dominant hand are more sensitive, which again promotes blood flow and nail growth.
Whatever the reason, it’s interesting to think about how even something as small as our fingernails can be affected by something as simple as which hand we use most often!
Dr. Aditya Gupta is a highly accomplished Indian doctor with extensive experience in the field of neurology. Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Dr. Gupta completed his medical degree from the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), followed by his postgraduate studies in neurology from the same institution.
