When it comes to Nailcare, there's a lot to consider, including
your overall health..
Healthy nails aren't just nice to look at. Your nails are reflective
of your personal grooming habits and even your overall health. Are
your nails in tip-top shape? Read on to learn more about healthy
nailcare. All about nails: Why do we have nails anyway? Nails
serve important functions-they help us pick up objects and support
and protect the tissue of the fingers and toes. It's important to
keep our nails healthy. In general, most nail conditions are not
the result of serious illness. In fact, at some point, most of us
experience a nail problem-whether it's a chipped nail, a hangnail
or an ingrown toenail. Most minor nail problems will resolve on
their own.
Common nail conditions include:
- White spots
- Nail discoloration
- Nail chipping or splitting
- Ingrown nails
- Fungal infections
- Bacterial infections
- Psoriasis
Basic nail care
Many nail conditions, including ingrown toenails, can be prevented
with proper nail
care. In general, when it comes to caring for your nails, follow
these tips:
- Keep your nails dry and clean. This will help prevent bacteria
from collecting under the nail and causing infection or discoloration.
- Cut your nails straight across, rounding slightly at the tip.
Use sharp nail scissors or nail clippers. Soak your nails in warm
water before clipping.
- Don't clip your cuticles. The cuticle forms a seal between the
top of the nail and the skin, blocking entrance by bacteria. When
cuticles are clipped or removed, the lack of protection can lead
to infection. Pushing back cuticles is OK, but do so only after
soaking your nails in warm water. Use a soft towel or an orange
stick to move back cuticles.
- Don't bite your nails. When you bite your nails, you transmit
germs from your fingers to your mouth and vice-versa.
Salon nail care
Many people, in order to maintain healthy-looking nails, visit
nail salons. There are some health risks associated with nail salons
and retail cosmetics, however. These risks include allergic reactions,
irritant reactions and viral infections. So when it comes to salon
nailcare, be wary and make sure the manicurists' equipment is properly
cleaned and disinfected.
Diet counts, too
Good nutrition also is an important part of caring for your nails.
Insufficient amounts of certain nutrients can affect the appearance
of your nails. For example, ridges in your nails can be caused by
a vitamin B deficiency. Dryness and brittleness can result from
insufficient calcium or essential fatty acids. Hangnails can develop
due to insufficient amounts of vitamin C and folic acid. If you
think your diet is affecting your nail health, talk to your doctor.
When to see your doctor
Some nail conditions require a doctor's care. If you're concerned
about the appearance and health of your nails, talk to your doctor.
Both surgical and nonsurgical treatments are available for a variety
of nail conditions.
For more information as well as nailcare
products, see product menu at right.
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