Question: do you have nails that are constantly chipping, snapping or breaking? Are there one or two fingernails that are holding back the whole group? If you answered yes to either of these questions, I’m here to quell your frustration.
Let’s start with the basics: fingernails are formed from multiple layers of the protein keratin. Just like our skin and hair, the state of your nails is totally dependent upon your overall health and how you treat them. Strong, healthy nails are smooth without indentation, streaks, ridges or pits.
Here are my top tips for how to maintain the health of your nails:
1. Protect the cuticles
Your cuticles serve many different functions for your nails. Their main role, however, is to sit on top of the nail matrix and protect the nail bed from bacterial infection. If you or your manicurist are determined to cut them or push them back regularly, you’re removing the protective seal and leaving your nails open to infection and paronychia (inflammation of the skin folds surrounding the nail).
Ask your manicurist to leave the cuticles and instead use cuticle oil to hydrate and nourish them.
2. Avoid bad habits
Stop biting, licking or sucking your nails; in other words, keep those nails out of your mouth! The digestive enzymes in saliva can dry out and irritate the skin around your nail bed.
In addition to this, the mouth is full of bacteria; sucking fingers directly introduces bacteria from the mouth into the nails, which are particularly vulnerable if you’ve had your cuticles pushed back (see point 1).
3. Ditch the acrylics
If you’re an acrylic junkie then healthy, long nails may not be in your future (sorry!). The adhesion of the acrylic chemicals onto the nail bed coupled with the trauma associated with application and removal can cause soft, weakened nails.
Long term usage of acrylic can lead to onycholysis (detachment of the nail from the skin underneath), also known as ‘worn-down nail syndrome’.
My advice would be this: try to save acrylic nails for special occasions or don’t wear them at all. In addition to this, avoid back-to-back acrylics, and pulling and tugging at the nail when they become loose.
4. Avoid the trauma
You might have noticed that the nail on your little finger grows healthy and long, however growth on your other fingers remains stagnant. This is because our little finger gets spared a lot of the stress and trauma the rest of the hand is put through every time you use your hands.
Just like the skin and hair, nails are prone to breakage and damage and therefore require a little more TLC to be maintained. Avoid using your nails to open or scratch things. Instead, use the balls of your fingertips and spare the nails.
In addition to this, always carry around a fragrance-free moisturiser to hydrate the nail matrix and keep them in the best condition.
5. UV protection
A recent study has demonstrated that UV lamps used to dry your freshly manicured nails does indeed increase risk of premature ageing of the hands, skin and nail cancer. If you can’t go without a manicure, then you need to protect your hands.
You can do this by spacing out your manicure sessions, using manicure gloves and always applying SPF just before you go under the UV lamp.
6. Nail care from within
Like many dermatological issues, healthy nails start from within. The state of your nails often provides great insight into your overall health in general.
Brittle nails, soft nails, peeling or yellowing of the nails may be an indication of poor nutritional intake or another chronic condition. A simple blood test will tell you if you’re deficient in any vitamin or mineral.
Those vitamins important for nail health include vitamins A, D, and E, biotin and iron.
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