Do Nails Breathe? Understanding Nail Growth and Structure

Nails don't breathe in the way we typically think of breathing. They don't have lungs or any respiratory system. The cells that make up your nails are dead cells that are packed tightly together and made of keratin, a protein.

Think of it like your hair. Your hair doesn't breathe either. The living cells responsible for nail growth are in the nail matrix, located under the skin at the base of your nail (near your cuticle). These living cells receive nutrients and oxygen from the blood vessels in the underlying tissues.

So, to summarize:

* Nails are made of dead cells and don't breathe.

* The living cells responsible for nail growth are in the nail matrix and receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood supply.

Therefore, terms like "nail polish suffocates the nail" are misleading. While constant polishing and removal can damage the nail surface, causing it to become dry, brittle, and thin, it's not because the nail is being deprived of oxygen. The damage is more akin to the kind of damage that can be done to hair with excessive styling.