Common Nail Problems and Practical Steps to Help Maintain Healthy Nails
Having healthy nails is something that is mostly taken for granted. Most people don’t realize the effects of not paying enough attention to their nails. If you neglect your nails completely, you could have the way for various nail problems.
Some of These Problems Include:
Nail Fungus
A fungal infection on your nails begins as a white or yellow spot that can easily go unnoticed. If it is not addressed it could lead to discoloration and your nail could crumble at the edges. Getting medical attention for this is important especially if it gets too painful. However, if there’s no pain, you can easily address it from home. Invest in a nail fungus laser machine that will help restore your nail’s health.
Clubbing
This mostly happens when there’s low oxygen presence in your blood. Your nail curves around your fingertips and could result in swelling of the finger. This problem is associated with several underlying conditions. These conditions include;
- Liver diseases
- Pulmonary diseases
- AIDS
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Yellow Nail Syndrome
This condition affects both the toenails and fingernails. It happens when the nails get thicker and don’t grow as fast as they should. You find that the nail pulls away from the nail bed and could lack cuticles. This condition is associated with people who have lymphatic system problems and swelling on their lower part of the body.
These nail problems can be treated if you seek medical attention in time. However, if your nails are still healthy, you can avoid these nail problems. Prevention is always better than any cure right? Well, here are a few things you should do to keep your nails in great shape;
Keep Your Nails Clean
Cleaning your nails regularly is the first step towards achieving great nail health. Use water to clean them and dry them thoroughly this will prevent bacteria from growing under your nails.
As you clean your nails, avoid using sharp objects to remove the dirt under the nail. Sharp objects may separate the nail from the nail bed and leave a gap. They may also cause cuts that could provide the perfect breeding ground for fungal infections.
Trim Your Nails
Trimming your nails often will help keep them short and neat. This will also help you avoid accidental snagging or breaking your nail. Develop a nail care routine where you also file the nails to avoid sharp edges and lightly buff the surface. Buffing the surface reduces the appearance of ridges on your nail.
Use Gloves When Handling Water
Too much exposure to water may cause your nails to split. The soaps you use when washing utensils or clothes may also weaken your nails and severely dry out your hands. Wearing your gloves each time you handle water will go a long way to protecting both your nails and hands.
Be Cautious with Manicures and Pedicures
The best thing to do here is to minimize the number of times your nails are tampered with by an outside party. However, if you need to get your nails done, you’ll need to do your due diligence.
Take your time to find salons that are accredited and have great reviews from other clients. Also, try your best to stick to one nail technician who knows what they are doing. This will save you the headache of having to deal with any nail problems.
Moisturize Your Cuticles
It is common practice to push back the cuticles or even trim them. However, this could prove to be a potential infection risk. This is because when your cuticles are not where they are meant to be, then your nail bed is left exposed. You should try your best to avoid this and advise your nail technician not to tamper with your cuticle.
The best care you can give your cuticles is moisturizing them. This will promote their health and in turn protect your nails from any infection. However, if you notice any signs of infection like redness and swelling, you should consult with a doctor immediately. This will help you address the issue before it’s too late.
Consider Using a Supplement
Using a supplement is not a mandatory condition for having strong nails. Keeping up with a healthy diet that provides you with all the nutrients and vitamins is sufficient. However, if your nails are still too weak consider using biotin to supplement your vitamin B. Biotin helps keep your nails strong which will help promote health and growth if that’s your goal.
Apply a Protective layer or Polish
Applying a hardener on your nails does not interfere with the health of your nails. It might help keep your nails protected and promote strength. When it comes to nail polish, we all love to see nice-looking nails with a bit of color.
Using nail polish is allowed because it does not negatively affect your nails progress. However, you should try to space out the intervals in which you apply it. Give your nails some time before applying your next color of choice.
Conclusion
It is safe to say that the power to protect your nails from any infections rests upon you. It is quite easy to keep your nails healthy and strong without investing too much in fancy products. However, if you happen to get any nail problems and infections, be sure to consult a doctor.
