Healthy nails equal a healthy body. Although the eyes are the window to your soul, the nails can tell you a lot about your overall health so we should be more aware of the way we take care of our nails because they can tell you a lot about your overall health. The healthier your nails are, it can be an indication about how health. Nails that are unusually pale can indicate a lack of haemoglobin (a protein that carries oxygen in the blood) in red blood cells or a lack of red blood cells in general. This could be caused by a variety of health conditions, including anaemia, congestive heart failure, liver disease, and malnutrition. Nails that are mostly white are associated with liver conditions and various kidney diseases. Yellow nails are mostly due to fungal infection, vitamin deficiency or psoriasis. Blue nails indicate that they don’t get much oxygen. White spots tell you that there is a calcium deficiency. Dark lines could be a sign of skin cancer known as sublingual melanoma. There are many ways for nails to tell you that something could be wrong with your system
With the pandemic outbreak, we started focusing on our hands more than ever before, making sure they’re clean by constantly washing them and using drying hand sanitizers. As we focus more on our health and hygiene of our hands, we are also looking for ways we can discover our nail care routine, so we can keep them feeling healthy but also looking good.
Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves. They’re uniform in colour and consistency and free of spots or discolouration.
Sometimes fingernails develop harmless vertical ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Vertical ridges tend to become more prominent with age.
Not all nail conditions are normal, however. Consult your doctor or dermatologist if you notice:
* Changes in nail colour, such as discolouration 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
* Swelling or pain around the nails
* Failure of nails to grow out
Strong, healthy looking nails are something that every woman wants, but when it comes to nail care, most women can’t think beyond a manicure. Of course, getting regular manicures is important, but is it the only way to care for your nails? We think not. In order to make them strong and shiny, you have to adopt a few nail care habits and give up on a few others. Whether you are someone who always has a coat of nail paint on or a person who can’t stop picking and biting your cuticles, these tips will change your nail game for the better.
TIPS FOR HEALTHY FINGERNAILS:
1. Moisturise your nails while you moisturise other parts of your hands.
2. Always maintain good hygiene.
3. Don’t try to remove nail polish by scrapping your nails.
4. While applying nail polish, use a base and top coat.
5. Wear gloves when necessary
6. Use quality cosmetics
7. Try to avoid using acetone.
8. Trim those nails regularly.
Moisturizing Your Fingernails:
Dermatologists recommend rubbing petroleum jelly, vitamin E, or cuticle creams into your cuticles at night. Just like our skin, our nails also require external moisture to stay healthy. In fact, your skin and scalp have some ability to produce oil naturally, your nails do not. Frequent washing takes away whatever little nourishment it gets. Therefore, the first nail care habit that you need to adopt is moisturising your nails regularly, and if possible, each time you wash your hands. If you regularly use sanitizer, apply a hand cream right after, and focus on your nails as the alcohol in sanitisers can make both your nails and hands dry.
Always maintain good hygiene:
Regular and prolonged contact with water can lead to split fingernails if they are not dried properly and the trapped moisture can lead to infections. Therefore, don’t let your nails grow too long as bacteria and dirt can easily accumulate inside it. Clean your nails at home regularly and sanitise the manicure tools before and after each use. While cutting your nails, trim them straight across and then around the tips to form a curve, this prevents the dirt from getting pushed into the skin.
Don’t scrape your nails:
Always when the nail polish starts to wear off, do not try to scrape the polish out of the nail, instead use a cotton pad with a few drops of the remover to remove the polish right off. What scrapping off might lead to is ruining the texture of the nail causing it to look dry and unhealthy. Also avoid keeping the polish in for too long because that may result in chipped nails as well.
Using a base and top coat:
If you are someone who applies nail polish regularly, its best to use two coats because it protects the nails from the harmful chemicals that is being put on to the nail. Also it lasts longer with a top and base coat. This is a simple nail care habit that every woman should adopt. After cleansing your nails thoroughly, apply the base and wait for a few minutes. Then apply two coats of your favourite nail colour, wait until it dries off, then apply a top coat to seal everything.
Wear gloves when necessary:
Certain chores can cause harm to your nails such as washing utensils and gardening. The chemicals in the soap can cause your skin and nails to become dry, and all the muddy work you do while gardening can collect and remain in the nooks and corners of the nails for longer than you can imagine. Wearing rubber gloves will prevent the chemicals and mud from coming in direct contact with your hands and nails.
Use quality cosmetics:
Just like any skincare products that you choose, even the nail polish that you choose should be of good quality so that it doesnt harm your nails. Using low quality will only ruin your nails and the particles might even enter the mouth while eating so make sure it is of a good company to avoid harsh chemicals to your nails and probably your body.
Try to avoid using acetone:
Acetone may look like a quick and easy way to get rid of stubborn nail polish and colours, but the truth is that it is very harsh on your skin and nails. It makes them severely dry and prone to breakage. A nail care tip you should follow is to avoid using acetone or products that contain acetone on your nails. In fact, a lot of nail polish removers these days come with nourishing ingredients like almond oil and vitamin E to prevent them from drying out your tips.
Trim those nails regularly:
Don’t grow your nails beyond a certain length, as this makes them more prone to damage and breakage. That does not mean you have to keep them really short, just long enough to look pretty. Like with your hair, trimming nails regularly is a good nail care practice. Take some time out every two weeks to maintain the shape of your nails by cutting and filing them.
Fingernail care: Do’s
To keep your fingernails looking their best:
Keep fingernails dry and clean.
This prevents bacteria from growing under your fingernails.
Repeated or prolonged contact with water can contribute to split fingernails.
Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves when washing dishes, cleaning or using harsh chemicals.
Practice good nail hygiene.
Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers.
Trim your nails straight across, then round the tips in a gentle curve.
Use moisturiser. When you use hand lotion, rub the lotion into your fingernails and cuticles, too.
Apply a protective layer.
Applying a nail hardener might help strengthen nails.
Ask your doctor about biotin.
Some research suggests that the nutritional supplement biotin might help strengthen weak or brittle fingernails.
Fingernail care: Don’ts
To prevent nail damage, don’t:
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.
Use harsh nail care products. Limit your use of nail polish remover.
When using nail polish remover, opt for an acetone-free formula.
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.
If you ask, How often should I care for my nails?
I would say, Moisturising and cleaning should be done on a daily basis if you want your nails to become strong and healthy, trimming can be done once every two weeks.
Can you apply petroleum jelly on your nails?
Well of course, it is completely safe to use petroleum jelly on your nails to prevent dryness. Rub a small amount of petroleum jelly on your cuticles and the surrounding skin every night before going to bed. The vitamin E in it will prevent your nails from getting dry and also add a healthy shine