Photography By Betsy

I’ve been having some maaaajor fingernail breakage recently, and it’s had me slightly worried. Not because I must have my nails looking perfect, but because I’m concerned they might be reflecting my general health. So I’ve done a spot of research and have come up with some interesting findings!

Did you know your fingernails grow about 0.1 millimeter a day? Which means it takes a fingernail about four to six months to fully regenerate! Apparently healthy nails are smooth, without ridges or grooves (uh-oh!) They’re consistent in colour and free of spots or discolouration. White spots and vertical ridges are harmless though.

As we age, our nails are prone to breakage, splitting, peeling and becoming brittle. This happens because the natural oils which act as the ‘cement’ to hold the layers of our nails into place lose some moisture. But! There are a few nifty methods which can help treat the nail drought and other nail issues;

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Problem: Breakage, splitting, peeling or brittle nails
Solution: Weak or brittle fingernails can be hard to defy, but the following tips can help you protect them, making your nails less likely to split or break;

Keep your nails short, square shaped and slightly rounded on top.
Trim brittle nails after a bath or a 15 minute hand soak in bath oil. Then apply a moisturiser. You can also moisturise your nails and cuticles at bedtime and cover them with cotton gloves.
Apply a nail hardener, but avoid products containing toluene sulfonamide or formaldehyde because these chemicals can cause redness or irritate the skin!
Don’t use nail polish remover more than twice a month (ahhh, this is where I went wrong!) Instead, touch up the polish. When you do need a remover, avoid acetone based products which dries nails.
Repair splits or tears with nail glue or clear polish.
Dietary changes don’t work unless you’re deficient in protein — which is extremely rare among people in the UK and US.
There are plenty of nail products out there, but a bottle of Botanical Oil from Sally Beauty Supply works pretty well too!

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Problem: Nail biting (onychophagia)
Solution: It’s a common habit and usually causes no long-term nail problems, although bitten fingertips can become very sensitive to pain, and can be related to dental problems. It can also worsen some existing conditions of the nail bed, such as; infection of the skin around the nail (paronychia) or warts around the nail bed - youchies.

The most common treatment is a special clear nail polish which releases a bitter flavour and discourages the habit.
There are also mouthpieces that prevent biting.
For really extreme cases, people have found professional behavioural therapy to be beneficial on its own or as a complement to medication when the above measures aren’t working.

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Problem: Deep grooves from side to side of nails (Beau’s Lines)
Solution: Unlike vertical lines, horizontal lines can be quite serious. There are a few reasons why some people get them which could be from a metabolic, inflammatory or traumatic result. Commonly it’s caused by a reaction to a chemotherapy drug. It may also be caused by an illness of the body, such as diabetes, certain drugs or even malnutrition. If you’re concerned see your dermatologist or physician. In the meantime, you should follow the similar treatment of brittle nails;

Trim brittle nails after a bath.
If possible, prepare a 15-minute hand-soak oil bath.
Apply a moisturiser on nails each time you wash your hands.
Moisturise cuticles and nails at bedtime and cover them with cotton gloves.
Don’t use nail polish remover more than twice a month, touch up the polish.
Avoid removers with acetone which dries nails.

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Problem: Ingrown nails; when the sides or corners of the nail curl down and dig into the skin, causing swelling, pain and redness
Solution: The major causes are shoes that don’t fit well and improperly trimmed nails. Shoes that are too tight press the sides of the nail and make it curl into the skin. Nails that are peeled off at the edge or trimmed down at the corners are also more likely to become ingrown.

You should cut your nails straight across. The top of the nail should make a straight line.
When the problem is mild, you may only need to soak your foot in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes and place part of a dry cotton ball under the corner of the nail.
If the problem is getting worse - increasing pain, swelling and drainage of the area - minor surgery might be needed to remove that part of the nail.

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General Nail Care Tips
Protect your nails by wearing cotton-lined rubber gloves when using soap and water for prolonged periods or when using harsh chemicals.
Perform routine nail maintenance. Trim fingernails and clean under the nails regularly. Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers and an emery board to smooth nail edges.
Moisturise your nails frequently and be sure to apply a moisturiser after removing fingernail polish.
Don’t have your cuticles removed — it can lead to nail infection!
If you have professional manicures, make sure your nail technician properly sterilises all tools used during your manicure. Using unsterilised tools may transmit viral infections, such as hepatitis B or warts - yikes!
Clean and dry feet resist disease.
Shoes, socks, or hosiery should be changed more than once daily. Avoid wearing excessively tight hosiery, which promote moisture.
Disinfect instruments used to cut nails.
>Don’t apply polish to nails suspected of infection - those that are red, discoloured, or swollen, for example.
And don’t cut your nails inside the house, most people hate that- heheee!! (I’m guilty of it…)

It’s easy to neglect your nails, but a little basic nail care can go a looooong way to keeping your nails in healthy condition. Keeping your nails clean, dry and trimmed can help you avoid most problems, but when you do notice some major differences in their appearance, it’s best to have a professional check them out. Gosh, after all this ‘nail talk’ I feel like a manicure and pedicure! Snip-snip!

Big love,

Ivyology on May 3rd, 2008 | File Under Beauty | -