Do's and don'ts for healthy nails!
Are you taking
good care of your nails? Here's what you need to know to keep your fingernails
in tiptop shape.
Take a close look at your fingernails. Are they
strong and healthy looking? Or do you see ridges, dents, or areas of unusual
color or shape? Many less than desirable nail conditions can be avoided through
proper fingernail care. Others indicate an underlying condition that requires
attention.
Fingernails:
What's normal, what's not
Your fingernails
— composed of laminated layers of a protein called keratin — grow from the area
at the base of the nail under your cuticle. As new cells grow, older cells
become hard and compacted and are eventually pushed out toward your fingertips.
Not all nail conditions are normal, however.
Consult your doctor or dermatologist if you notice:
- Changes in nail color, such as discoloration of the entire nail or a dark streak under the nail
- Changes in nail shape, such as curled nails
- Thinning or thickening of the nails
- Separation of the nail from the surrounding skin
- Bleeding around the nails
- Redness, swelling or pain around the nails
Do:
Keep your
fingernails dry and clean. This prevents
bacteria, fungi and other organisms from growing under your fingernails. Wear
cotton-lined rubber gloves when washing dishes, cleaning or using harsh
chemicals, and avoid long soaks in the tub.
· Trim and file
your fingernails regularly.
Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers. Trim your nails straight across,
then round the tips in a gentle curve. It might be easiest to trim and file
your fingernails when they're soft, such as after bathing.
Use
moisturizer. When you use
hand lotion, rub the lotion into your fingernails and cuticles, too.
Don't:
Abuse your fingernails. To prevent nail damage, don't use your
fingernails as tools to pick, poke or pry things. 
Bite your fingernails or pick at your cuticles. These habits can damage the nail bed. Even a minor cut alongside your fingernail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter and cause an infection.
Pull off hangnails. You might rip live tissue along with the hangnail. Instead, carefully clip off hangnails.
Ignore problems. If you have a nail problem that doesn't seem to go away on its own or is associated with other signs and symptoms, consult your doctor or dermatologist for an evaluation.
Tips
for weak or brittle fingernails
Weak fingernails can be a challenge to toughen up.
To protect weak or brittle fingernails and reduce the risk of splitting or
breaking:
· Keep your
nails short. Long nails
are more likely to split or break.
Use
moisturizer. Apply
moisturizer to your fingernails and cuticles several times throughout the day
and before bed. Consider wearing cotton gloves while you sleep, to help seal in
the moisture. Apply nail polish. A thin coat of clear nail polish can help keep moisture in your fingernails.
Limit use of nail polish remover. Don't use nail polish remover more than once a week. When you do need to use nail polish remover, choose the acetone-free variety. Acetone dries nails.
Ask your doctor about biotin supplements. Changing your diet or taking daily multivitamins isn't likely to strengthen your nails. However, some research suggests that the nutritional supplement biotin might help strengthen weak or brittle fingernails.
Food for Healthy Nails
Unhealthy nails can have slow growth, ridges, dents, white
spots, rips and an unusual color. Minerals and vitamins found in certain foods
can improve the health and appearance of nails. Although eating certain foods
will not provide a quick fix for nails, eating foods for healthy nails can help
to contribute to nail health when combined with proper care and maintenance,
such as cleaning and moisturizing.
A lack of B vitamins, specifically biotin and vitamin B12, can cause dryness of the nails. It can also cause the nails to become dark. Biotin can be found in carrots, tomatoes, leafy green lettuce, liver, peanut butter, nuts, peas, oatmeal and beans. Vitamin B12 can be found in meat, eggs and dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese.
Zinc and Iron
Calcium and
Protein
A lack of calcium can cause the nails to be brittle and
dry. Calcium benefits the body most when it is absorbed along with vitamin D,
so milk is a great source of calcium. Other calcium sources include yogurt,
cheese and kale. Protein benefits nails as well, since nails are made of
keratin, a type of protein. This important nutrient can be found in beans,
legumes, meat, eggs and soy.
Vitamin A and
Vitamin C
Vitamin A, which can be found in beet greens, collards,
carrots, squash, sweet potatoes and liver, can prevent nails from becoming dull
and dry. A lack of vitamin C can cause hang nails. Bell peppers, cauliflower,
oranges, watermelon, mangoes, tomatoes, strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe and
grapefruit are all sources of vitamin C.
A note about manicures and
pedicures:
If you rely on manicures or pedicures for healthy
looking nails, keep a few things in mind. Stick to salons that work with only
with nail technicians. Don't have your cuticles removed — it can lead to nail
infection. Also, make sure your nail technician properly sterilizes all tools
used during your procedure. Various infections can spread through the use of
unsterilized tools. You might also ask how the foot baths are cleaned. Ideally,
a bleach solution is used between clients and the filters are cleaned
regularly.
It's easy to
neglect your nails — but there's much you can do to keep your fingernails
healthy and strong. Start with basic fingernail care. 
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