Finger Nails The condition and color of the nails and nail beds are often useful as an early-warning system to self-diagnose underlying or sub-clinical health conditions. The nails and nail beds are found at the ends of our arms and legs- the last areas of the body to receive oxygen and nutrients carried in the blood, and will often show signs of deficiencies sooner than tissues receiving sufficient nutrients. The skin of the body provides a protective barrier to outside environmental substances, but the nails are porous (have small channels and holes) and allow substances and chemicals (especially chemicals such as acetone used in nail polish and remover) to travel directly into the highly vascular (lots of blood supply) nail beds.