The rate of nail growth varies from person to person and from finger to finger. In general, the nail of the middle finger grows fastest. The thumb nail and little-fingernail tend to grow at the slowest rate. Whether you are righ- or left-handed also affects your nail growth. Nails grow faster on the hand you use the most. For unknown reasons, nails grow faster in the premenstrual phase in women. However, nails of males grow slightly faster than those of females. It takes 5 1/2 to 6 months for a nail to grow from the cuticle to the tip. The nails of well-nourished people grow faster than those of undernourished, but, contrary to popular belief, no specific food, mineral, or vitamin accelerates nail growth; not even the old standby gelatin.
