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NAILS / 'Your Comprehensive Guide to Nail Health and Beauty'

'Your Comprehensive Guide to Nail Health and Beauty'

Take a close look at your nails. Are they strong and healthy-looking?
Nails: What's normal & what's not?
Your nails are composed of laminated layers of a protein called keratin. Nails grow from the area at the base of the nail under your cuticle. Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves. They're uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration.
Sometimes nails develop harmless vertical ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Vertical ridges tend to become more prominent with age. Nails can also develop white lines or spots due to injury, but these eventually grow out with the nail.
Nail care:
Do's
To keep your nails looking their best:
• Keep nails dry and clean. This prevents bacteria from growing under your nails. Repeated or prolonged contact with water can contribute to split nails. Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves when washing dishes, cleaning, or using harsh chemicals.
• Practice good nail hygiene. Use sharp manicure scissors or clippers. Trim your nails straight across, then round the tips in a gentle curve.
• Use moisturizer. When you use hand lotion, rub the lotion into your nails 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.
Dont's
To prevent nail damage, don't:
• Bite your nails or pick at your cuticles. These habits can damage the nail bed. Even a minor cut alongside your nail 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.
A note about manicures and pedicures
Keep a few things in mind if you depend on manicures or pedicures to maintain healthy-looking nails. Choose salons that have a valid state license on display, and only collaborate with state board-licensed technicians. Removing your cuticles can result in nail infection since they serve to seal the skin to the nail plate. In order to stop the transmission of infection, ensure the nail technician thoroughly sanitizes all the instruments used during your treatment.
It's easy to neglect your nails — but taking some basic steps can keep them healthy and strong.