Pamper Those Nails to Keep Them Pretty and Healthy

The finger nails hold lots of attractions to both ladies and gentlemen. It is not uncommon for romantic relationships to be sparked off from merely looking at well groomed and manicured finger nails. Our hands speak volumes about our personality. Yet, for some people, nails are the most neglected part of their body.  Nails that are unkempt reflect lack of personal hygiene, while well-groomed finger and toenails, might indicate a person’s neat, polished and healthy attitude.  The person with well-groomed nails already has an edge over others, particularly during job interviews, social and business engagements.  Despite sincere efforts to make their nails look beautiful many people are bothered with cracked, rough and dry nails that look awfully bad.  However, for the nails to be beautiful, they must first of all be healthy.  Weak, rough nails are often an external indication of health issues, often suggesting some nutritional deficiency.  Therefore, it is important to keep your nails healthy. Pampering your nails with tender loving care and treating any underlying medical condition, can sure make them healthy and pretty.  Before going any further, let us take a quick look at the structure of the nail.

Raedanddigest.com reveals that the fingernails and toenails are composed of millions of tiny keratin cells tightly packed together.  The cells produce keratin fibres which cross each other intricately, like a net keeping the whole composition hard.  The strength of our nails depends largely on the arrangement of the cells, their precision in clinging to each other and the way they are interlinked with the keratin fibres.

How to identify unhealthy Nails

The fingernails will reflect health problems or any kind of deficiency, when these changes are taking place.  Here are a few listed below:

Change in nail colour

Any kind of discolouration that occurs in the nail can signal health problems. When a dark mark forms under the nail and increases with time, this can indicate health problem.

Change in the nail shape such as curling

Nail thinning or thickening can be a sign of liver and kidney diseases, heart and lung conditions, anaemia and diabetes. Nail separation from the surrounding skin can also indicate an underlying health condition. It is advised to quickly consult your doctor or dermatologist immediately, if you observe any one of the above conditions.

How to get a Healthy and Strong Nails

Quit Biting the Nails

To achieve that pretty and healthy nail you desire, you must stop biting your fingernails or pick at cuticles. (Well, I am guilty here.) This has a great chance for developing bacterial infection, which can be transmitted from your fingers to your mouth.  Furthermore, biting can damage the skin around your finger leading to painful ingrown nails.  Both are painful medical conditions that require prolonged treatment.  Therefore, if you have a tendency to bite your nails, dip them in some bitter substance or polish your fingernails to avoid doing so.

Fingernails Abuse

Avoid using your fingernails as tools.

Many people use their fingernails to open cans, or for removing dirt and gum from surfaces.  Besides breaking or peeling away a layer, you are also risking weakening and bending your nail.

Fake Nails

Avoid acrylic fake fingernails, they cause damage to your natural nails; though a lot of people I know cannot do without fake nails. Instead of acrylic fake nails, simply get your natural nails well-groomed and painted.  This will help your nails stay healthy and undamaged.

Cuticle Care

A lot of times, our cuticles are often left untreated and neglected.  However, the cuticles at the base of the nail are responsible for the health of our nails. Therefore, give a gentle massage to stimulate blood flow, enhance growth and prevent dryness and hangnails from developing.

Proper Personal Hygiene

It is always good to maintain good personal hygiene to prevent bacteria and fungi from growing under the nails.

Dry Hands

Always keep your hands dry.  When hands are constantly in water, the nails become soft and that has a tendency to tear and break easily and quickly.

Not forgetting a Healthy Diet

Apart from everyday nail care, consuming a healthy diet comprising whole grains, raw foods like vegetables and fruits along with protein-rich foods like fish, is very crucial and helps build healthy fingernails and toenails.  Take a glass of milk and a hard-boiled egg every day to increase zinc intake.  Zinc works wonders to promote healthy nails sans white spots, a sign of zinc deficiency. As far as vitamins are concerned, take fish oil supplements to keep your fingernails and toenails pretty and very healthy.  Besides this, a well-balanced diet and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, which is most important, are just a few of the simple ways to keep them strong and healthy always.

By: Rifkatu Yusuf