Six Tips For Healthy Nails

Your fingernails play a pivotal role on your hand, as they protect your fingertips and surrounding tissues from injuries. However, daily activities put your nails through the wringer, making them vulnerable in the process. Simple activities such as washing the dishes and opening up cans of pop can wear away at your cuticles and leave your nails brittle and weak. Your nails go through a lot, which is why they need some true tlc. Below are six tips to help keep your nails beautiful, strong and healthy.

Tip #1: Keep nails dry and clean in order to prevent bacteria from building up under the nails, recommends the American Academy of Dermatology. Prolonged or repeated contacted with water can cause split fingernails, according to the Mayo Clinic. To avoid this from happening, the Mayo Clinic recommends wearing cotton-lined rubber gloves when washing dishes, cleaning or using harsh chemicals.

Tip #2: To prevent nail damage, don’t pull off hangnails. Pulling off hang nails might rip nail tissue along with the hangnail, warns the Mayo Clinic. To prevent hangnails from developing in the first place, keep hands and nails moisturized. The safest way to get rid of a hangnail is to clip it off with a nail clipper or clean, sterilized scissors, advises the Canadian Dermatology Association.

Tip #3: File with an emery board to keep your nails free of snags and well-shaped, suggests the American Academy of Dermatology. Our Natural Shine Nail Kit makes this necessary upkeep easy.

Tip #4: Don’t bite your nails! Why? Well, there are a few reasons. Firstly, you can transfer infectious bacteria between your mouth and fingers. Biting your nails can also damage the skin around your nails, which will allow infections to easily enter. Additionally, biting nails or removing cuticles can damage nails, notes The American Academy of Dermatology.

Tip #5: Use gentle nail care products. The Mayo Clinic also says that it is a good idea to limit your use of harsh nail polish removers. It is especially important to apply a cream to moisturize your nails after removing nail polish, says the American Academy of Dermatology, since many removers contain chemicals that dry the nails. Rub the cream into your fingernails and cuticles for added protection.

Tip #6: The surest way to beautiful nails is to consistently practice excellent nail hygiene. The Mayo Clinic recommends using clippers or sharp manicure scissors to trim your nails, and then to avoid ingrown nails, round the tips in a gentle curve.