Cuticle. The area of skin where the nail grows out of the finger. It provides protection to the nail matrix.

What structures protect the nail bed and nail matrix?

The hyponychium (informally known as the “quick”) is the epithelium located beneath the nail plate at the junction between the free edge and the skin of the fingertip. It forms a seal that protects the nail bed. The onychodermal band is the seal between the nail plate and the hyponychium.

What is a protective layer for nails?

A base coat is your best defense against staining. It “provides a clear protective layer between the nail and the pigment of the polish above,” says Waldorf. A good rule of thumb is that the darker the color, the more important it is to use a base coat. The one exception: neon.