Nails aren’t just an appendage meant to look pretty. They can reveal much about a person’s inner health. The ridges, ripples, and bumps on the nails can tell you which diseases you’re suffering from. But does everyone who has bad nails suffer from an internal disease?
Or do people just have bad nails because they’re not following basic health guidelines? Healthy, beautiful nails aren’t a question of extravagant expenses or a lot of wasted time. It’s all in the care and consistency that the secret lies.
This blog discusses useful tips to help you maintain perfectly healthy, glistening nails.
A Good Diet—or Good Supplements
Usually a balanced, well-supplemented diet is quite enough for strong nails. However, if you feel like your diet is lacking or if you have poor nails you can opt for additional supplements. A water-soluble B vitamin, biotin helps strengthen and grow nails. People who aren’t born with strong nails can benefit from biotin supplements.
Take Breaks from Polishing
While nail polishing isn’t injurious, you should take care with the process. Take regular breaks from the polish and when opting for a polish remover make sure it’s free from acetone. For gardening and other chores involving handiwork, use gloves.
Cuticle Care
The cuticles are the protective layer which envelope your nails and protect them from infection. Exposure of the cuticle means you have effectively opened a portal for bacteria to enter. Pushing them back, cutting them, even during professional manicure, is a bad idea.
Keep your cuticles properly moisturized and take care to not be aggressive with them. At the slightest sight of swelling, redness, or pain, see a doctor.
Trim Them
We know talons used to be a thing (and still are) but let’s get the truth out of the way: they’re neither appealing nor healthy. Keep your nails trimmed at all times to ensure that they’re not susceptible to breaking or snagging.
The frequency with which you trim depends on your nail growth. If they grow back quickly, the trimming will have to be done more regularly. Filing the sides and edges is also recommended.
Use a Nail Brush
Often at home or even at manicures women tend to aggressively clean their nails, and at most times with a pointy tool. This supposedly diligent cleaning procedure can lead to the opening of a gap between the nail and the nail bed. And such a gap is an open invitation for bacteria to enter. In the worst case scenario, fungal infection can also form.
Do the Dishes Diligently
You might not know this, but dish soap can be injurious to your nails. It isn’t just the hands which puff up after dish duty. Nails, no matter how strong, can be affected by prolonged exposure to dish soap. The effect is caused due to a drying mechanism which affects your hands and nails. You should therefore always use gloves.
Mind that Manicure
Cut down on the manicures and keep them simple. Restrict your visits to the manicurist to get polish removed, nails shaped, and a fresh coat applied.
Avoid brutal, aggressive treatments and steer clear of acrylic since there’s possibility of infection therein. Even worse, solar nails use UV light which has the potential of leading to skin cancer. Take care to insulate your hands with sunscreen if you’re planning to expose them under the UV light.
Don’t Ignore Symptoms of Infection
Whether it’s a throbbing pain in your nail bed or a swollen cuticle, take it seriously. When accompanied by redness, it’s usually bacterial infection. Fungal infection is worse, characterized by puffiness and irritation. Immediately get medical care if something like this turns up.
Connect with Medical Experts for More Tips and Tricks
A social networking platform that connects members and medical professionals from around the world, Healthguv is here to help. From concerns about your nails to letting others know of your tried and tested techniques, you can voice all your health related concerns here.
Join this budding community dedicated to health and wellness today.