Nails form a protective shield for your finger and toe edges. If your body system is not functioning as it should be, it reflects on your nails. By looking at a person's nails, you can make out if that person is anemic or suffering from some other medical problems. However, even in a healthy person, sometimes due to neglect, nails take on a sorry look.
Often nails are considered to be either unimportant or strong by themselves, may be that is why it is neglected. Come to think of it, nails are the first things that get noticed when you shake hands to greet people, and there is a risk of an opinion being formed about you, looking at your nail health. Therefore, it is definitely important to look after your nails. Secondly, nails are constantly exposed to environmental onslaught. If unattended, this could lead to weakening of the nails. This necessitates extra care to be given to nails.
What are Nails Made Of?
Keratin, a protein, forms the basic structure of nails built in laminated layers that grow from the base of the nails under your cuticle (the white crescent that you see at the base of the nails sometimes). As new cells are added on, the older ones become hard and get compressed and finally pushed out from your fingertips.
Nail Conditions That Reflect Ill Health
If you are in the pink of health and take good care of your nails, they will be smooth without ridges or grooves. They will be free of spots or discoloration and uniform in color and consistency throughout. If you are having any medical condition that may require attention, you should look out for these symptoms:
- Yellow-colored nail
- A condition where the nail is detached from the nail bed (medically known as onycholysis).
- Small pits in the nail surface (nail pitting)
- Nails that are white or opaque.
- Nails that are curled
- Nails with dents running across (Beau's lines)
How to Maintain Good Nail Health
You can develop and maintain good-looking and healthy nails without much effort. Although hereditary factors do play a role in the way your nails look, following some simple guidelines can help you in your quest of keep your nails looking their best:
- Balanced Diet: The golden rule for good health is good diet. For great-looking nails, you should eat not only macronutrients such as carbohydrates and proteins, but also micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Generally, deficiency of vitamin D results in brittle and poor-looking nails. Biotin, silica, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin C are all very important for the structural development of good and healthy nails. Eat a lot of raw salads to obtain vitamin C. You can also steam or sauté the vegetables. Protein-rich foods like soy, paneer, and dals (pulses); primrose oil, nuts, and oil seeds like linseed, flaxseed, walnuts, and almonds are all good for nail health.
- Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Regular exposure to chemicals such as detergents and soap can wear out your nails and skin of hands. Wear gloves when engaging in cleaning with soaps and detergents.
- Choose Cosmetics With Care: Another reason for deterioration of nails is application of low-quality nail polishes and nail removers. Nail removers may contain acetone, which can rob nails off their natural moisture and make them brittle. Therefore, it is wise to minimize the usage of such cosmetics, and when you experience some problems, to stop using them for a while.
- Moisturize Your Nails: In order to protect your nails from becoming brittle, regular moisturizing is a good idea. Leaving your nails with the nail polish on for many days is bad for your nails. Remove the nail polish before going to bed and rub in moisturizers into the nail and nail beds.
- Nail Oil: Rose hip seed oil, which helps reduce acne scars, also strengthens your nails and helps with nail growth. You can rub this oil in before going to bed.
- Cuticles: Avoid cutting your cuticles because it would make them hard and puffy. Instead, try pushing them backward when they are wet. This will make them less visible.
- Regular Trims: Trim your nails regularly straight across and file them. Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers and an emery board to smooth nail edges.
- Comfortable Footwear: Do not wear tight-fitting shoes, as this may result in ingrown toenails, which is quite a painful condition. Your toes should be able to comfortably sit inside your shoes. Take sufficient time while selecting shoes.
It is important to keep in mind that nails are not something to be abused (by biting) or neglected. Unhealthy and poorly maintained nails reflect badly on your personal hygiene. On the other hand, nails which are well-kept and cared for enhance the beauty of your hands.
