Image by Artotem
They say that you can tell a lot about a person from their hands – make sure yours make the right impression by keeping your fingernails in top shape.
Nails are made from laminated layers of protein called keratin and grow from the base of nail, under the cuticle. As new cells grow, the older cells become hard and compacted and are forced out towards the fingertips. Healthy nails are smooth, with no ridges or grooves, and are uniform in colour, with no spots or discolouration.
While unhealthy nails can be unsightly, they can also cause serious problems and are a source of pain for many people. Make sure your fingertips stay trouble free by following our top tips for healthy nails:
Don’t bite!
Yes, we may be stating the obvious, but according to selfgrowth.com, nail biting is a common habit that affects around 19-29% of young adults.
Besides being unsightly, nail biting can cause a huge variety of problems. In addition to potential damage to the nail bed, nail biters easily transfer bacteria from their mouth to their fingers, which is an ideal way to spread infection.
Also, if you spot a hangnail, don’t bite or pull it off, as you will almost always damage the living tissue. Instead, clip it off at an outward angle.
Moisturise and protect
Did you know that your nails need moisture just like the rest of your hands? When moisturising your hands, remember and pay some attention to your nails too. Also remember to moisturise after taking off nail polish, as nail polish remover can be terribly drying for the nail.
Protect your nails by keeping them dry and clean. Remember to thoroughly dry your nails after washing and bathing, and consider wearing rubber gloves if you are going to be soaking your hands in water for a prolonged period of time.
Maintain a healthy diet
Like everything else in the human body, if you want your nails to stay healthy, you need to provide them with the vitamins and nutrients they need. As nails are technically dead tissue, they are the last part of our body to receive nutrients if your diet is bad.
Keep an eye out for white spots in your nails – they could be an indicator of a low zinc intake. Combat this by making sure you include plenty of milk and eggs in your diet. Also make sure you eat plenty of iron and protein to keep your nails strong and avoid any brittle breakages.
What are your top nailcare tips? Let us know in the comments section below!
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August 18, 2011
Health and Fitness