Best Nail Care Regimen: Keeping Your Nails in Tip-Top Shape

Why should I take care of my nails?

Nails are but tiny details of our bodies. They may look negligible compared to other parts, but they do perform tremendous functions. The fingernails do not have nerve endings, but they enhance the sensation of our fingertips.

Taking care of our nails is an integral part of good grooming.

• They are an important part of our appearance, and therefore they can affect our self-esteem. For such tiny parts, nails can alter our whole appearance. Without them, we look incomplete. For some people, an outfit isn’t finished if their fingernails aren’t sporting nail polishes.

• Clean fingernails show we have good grooming habits. And similarly, unkempt nails turn off people. How we take care of our nails says so much about us.

• They can get infected if left unmaintained. Nails may harbor dirt and germs if they aren’t trimmed and cleaned. And these can contribute to the spread of infections to our body.

Recognize your nail problem

When do you have a nail problem? Not everyone’s fingernails are in tip-top shape. Some nails have grown to unmanageable length due to neglect. Some have temporary yellowish tint after the removal of nail polishes. The nails will go back to normal after proper care. However, there may be times when more serious nail problems arise. And if so, it’s time to consult a physician.

Different problems affect nails such as nail fungus, brittle nails, etc. These may be signs of a greater health problem that needs to be addressed immediately. You may have a nail problem if you notice any of these:

• Discoloration of the nails, including the entire nail or a portion under the nail

• Curling nails or other nail shape changes

• Nails becoming brittle, thicker or thinner

• Detachment of the entire nail

• Bleeding of the skin around the nails

• Inflammation of the skin around the nails

Top 5 Nail Care Tips

1. Use Natural Products for Healthier Nails

For nail care, there are people who swear by natural products. Essential oils such tea tree oil and snakeroot extract can help in treating nail problems like fungal infection. According to a study of 110 people, snakeroot extract was effective in curing nail fungal. On the other hand, tea tree oil is said to be possibly effective as well, but there hasn’t been enough study to confirm this.

2. Use the Right Tools for Your Nails

The right tools can improve your nails. The wrong ones can just hurt you. According to a study, many of those who frequent nail salons suffer from chronic nail bed infections, which make the areas around the base of the nail puffy and red. This is partly due to usage of shared tools in salons. To reduce the risks of infections, it’s prudent to bring your own nail tools during manicure and pedicure sessions. Of course, your own tools should also be properly maintained. Clean and sanitize them after every use.

3. Keep Nails Healthy With Proper Nail Grooming Habits

   • Regular maintenance will keep your nails healthy and strong. This is especially if you like decorating nails or if your nails are brittle by nature. Exposure to chemicals, including nail products used in manicure, can weaken nails. Hence, regular maintenance is necessary.

   • Moisturize nails and cuticles often.

   • Regularly trim the nails to the desired length.

   • If using nail polish, put on base coat first to protect the nails from being stained.

   • Avoid acetone-based nail polish removers as these strip the nails and cause them to become brittle.

   • Avoid using rough emery boards. Emery boards, if not used properly, can cause small fissures and cracks, which will then lead to nail breakages.

   • Avoid nail extensions as they frequently lead to fungal infections. However, if you really must, opt for nail tips over full nail extensions. Nail tip extensions still can cause problems, but as it covers less surface area, it’s a safer choice.

4. Keep Your Body Healthy

Your body has a lasting effect on how your nails appear. The way you treat your body affects both your nails and hair as they consume the same vitamins. You can eat and consume these food and vitamins to maintain your nails’ health.

Remember to eat healthy. Beef, poultry, and beans can help in fortifying the proteins found in nails and hair. Eggs are also a good source of protein; vitamin D and biotin play a role in the development of keratin. Take your vitamins as well.

5. Don’t be too harsh with your nails

   • Maintaining good grooming habits will keep your nails healthy, but not if you are also doing other things that damage them. Sometimes, even innocuous-looking acts can harm your nails.

   • Don’t bite your nails. It’s a habit that many people still do in their adulthood, but it’s also one that damages nails.

   • Don’t use nails to open cans. Even hard nails may not survive breakage when you use them as tools.

   • Leave your cuticles alone. The cuticle prevents fungus and bacteria from entering the skin. Without it, you lose your natural barrier to infections.

   • Minimize contact with harsh chemicals, including dish-washing liquids and laundry soaps. Use rubber gloves when doing house chores.

   • Wear proper footwear like flip flops when at public pools, showers, and locker rooms to reduce the risk of fungus infection in your toenails.

Conclusion: Best Nail Care Tips for Healthy Nails

For such small parts of our body, the nails sure have an overwhelming list of maintenance rules. Our nails are in constant contact with our surroundings, and therefore they are also at constant risk of contacting bacteria and infections. And when the nails are infected, the whole body is also at risk of infection. Therefore, keeping nails healthy is a paramount task.

Don’t hesitate to consult professional opinion should your nails appear and feel out of the ordinary. Nails sometimes give the first signal that there’s something wrong with the entire body. For more information, Global Nail Fungus Organization offers a definitive guide to nail fungus — including its causes, symptoms, removal, and prevention.