Beauty Health Tip, Skin Care, Nail, Nail Care, Stop Nail Biting, Nail Art Picture, Nail Brush, Cotton Gloves, Brittle Nail, Glue Nail, Ingrown Nail Toe, Trim Nail, Acrylic Manicure, Treatment Fungal Nail Infection, Nail Cuticle, Hang Nail, Short Nail, Nail Health

Nail care The first thing we can all do in having good-looking hands is to keep them clean by washing regularly. It’s amazing how many people (guys especially, but some women and girls too) walk around with grubby non *manicured* finger nails. Nail brush Get a nail brush and put it by the sink, so it’s convenient whenever you wash your hands. An added plus of a nail brushing your fingers is the way it feels: those soft bristles and the luxurious soapy lather take your hands on a daily very mini spa vacation. Always follow up with a nice hand cream or lotion to keep your hands *moisturized.*
Stop nail biting
Beautiful hands and nail care start with basics, and not having raggy, bleeding cuticles is a primary step in having presentable hands. Granted, one of the hardest habits to break is to stop fingernail biting, but it’s also one of the more disfiguring things that can happen to a hand. We all know someone who bites their nails to the quick, then starts on those ragged cuticles. Nail-biting usually starts in early childhood as a toddler with some people never outgrowing it, while others only revert to nail-biting in times of stress.
Cotton gloves Finally, for nail-biters and non-nail-biters alike, hand cream right before bed is a great way to keep your skin smooth. When things are looking rough (or if you’re a biter who’s trying to quit), you can get some wonderfully thin cotton gloves, slather on a hand cream glove up until morning. The cotton will keep the hand cream off the pillows and on your hands where it belongs. And for a real spa-treatment, get some little cotton socks and give your feet the same experience.
Acrylic manicure
And for a little something extra try a nice bright nail polish for your next *manicure.* But buyer beware of the "fake" acrylic *manicure.* Glue nail Your own natural nails are better than using fake "glue on" nails. If your manicurist doesn't properly clean tier tools, acrylic nail application can cause the dreaded nail fungus that has to be specially treated for months at a time. My advice save the acrylic french *manicure* for a special event or occasion like attending the Boston symphony in a black sleek gown.
Dry Brittle Nails
Brittle nails effect as many as 20% of the population and are more common in women than in men. Cause of brittle nails Age also increases the propensity of brittle nails and longitudinal ridges that are raised lines from the lunula (the half moon area at the beginning of the nail) to the edge at the end of the nail. Nail fragility can also be associated with various dermatoses such as eczema, lichen planus, psoriasis and deficiencies in vitamins A, C and B6.
Brittle nails are also induced from dehydration (loss of water from the nail plate). Repetitive hydration and dehydration from applying and removing fingernail polishes, the application of acrylic nails and many jobs (dental assisting, dental hygiene, dish washing, etc.) where one's hands are washed often all contribute to brittle nails.
Treatment of Brittle Nails:
1. Avoid trauma, household and work chores where the nails are exposed to repetitive wet/dry cycles. The wearing of vinyl gloves over cotton liners should be used to avoid direct contact with water. 2. The use of creams to hydrate the nail and the surrounding cuticles will improve the nails. 3. The use of nail hardeners also been shown to be helpful in hardening nails that split at the end or are brittle. 4. Biotin, a B vitamin, when taken for 3-4 months has also been shown to strengthen nails. 5. Brittle nails can also be caused from a fungal infection caused by candida or a dermatophyte infection.

Nail toe
When you cut your toenails, leave them a little longer at the corners. This can help prevent ingrown toenails, which are caused by the nail cutting into the skin.

You may like the look of many common beauty products for nails, but some have the potential to cause problems. Nail hardeners contain chemicals that can damage nails, and nail polish waterproofs your nails, causing the skin underneath to stay wet longer and be more susceptible to infection. Artificial nails also contribute to the development of fungal infections.

Trim nail
Don't poke around in the space between your nail and the nail bed. It's easy to enlarge the space between them, making the area more prone to infection. Keeping your nails trimmed neatly and washing your hands thoroughly is all you need to do to keep your nails healthy and looking their best.

Nail cuticle
Your nail cuticles are there to protect you from infection. Don't start clipping or picking them. Leave them alone and your fingers and nails will naturally look great.

Nail infection
Check with your doctor if you notice nail discoloration or changes in nail texture and growth. Other warning signs are nails that crumble or break easily and nails that grow irregularly. Leaving infected nails untreated could allow the infection to spread to healthy nails and other parts of you skin.
Sleep is essential for healthy, radiant skin. When you're sleeping, your body finally has the time to repair itself. If you don't get enough sleep, your skin will begin to appear dull and dry, and your nails will become brittle.

Fungal nail infection
Fungal infections are among the most persistent and widespread skin conditions. They include athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm and many nail and scalp infections. If you find yourself with an infection, see your doctor about the treatment option that's best for you.4. When fungus infects the nails, they become thickened, broken and discolored. Fungal infection can be easily treated- griseofulvin is given for milder infection and ketoconazole for more severe types-but let your doctor treat you.

Treatment fungal nail infection
If you do get your hands wet, remember to rinse them well and dry them carefully after the work is done. Then apply ample amounts of a moisturizing cream.

You must also take certain other precautions:
A. Use a pencil to operate the dial;
B. Use a tin-opener to open tins;
C. Use gardening gloves;
D. Avoid contact with strong chemicals;
E. Use moisturizers liberally.

Wear Polish-It works as a barrier for your nails and use acetone-free nail polish remover.

File in one direction only-Filing back and forth is bad because this frays and weakens the nails. File your nails in one direction only for the best results.

Short nail

Manicure after a bath. It is best to do your manicure after a bath because your nails are soft.

Dry brittle nail:

If your nails are deformed, the first care to do is to visit your dermatologist-a number of nail problems are temporary and improve as the new nail appears and only a very few are permanent. The appearance of your nails can also be improved considerably by the use of cosmetics-for instance, ordinary nail enamel can camouflage a number of nail defects. A broken or split nail can be mended using what are called nail-mending fluids. To do this, a piece of thin tissue is placed over the crack or break in the nail. The nail mending fluid is then applied. When the product dries and sets, the nail can be painted with the nail enamel.

Hang nail: Hang nail are tears in the skin of the nail folds and the cuticle. The cuticle and the nail folds have a tendency to stick to the nail plate as it grows forward; the stretched cuticle may eventually tear. Sometimes the skin of the nail folds also cracks, particularly if it is dry.

Cause hang nail
Nervous nail biting habits, chewing nails, and picking the cuticle all encourage the development of hangnails.

Hang nail cure
A. Keep the cuticles soft by massaging in creams and regularly loosening it from the nail-plate.

B. Clip off existing hangnails.

C. Avoid pulling off slivers as this can be very painful and can even cause infection of the nail folds.
D. Have a hangnail? It's easy for that annoying bit of torn skin around your nail to catch on something and become painful. To remove a hangnail without causing further injury, soak your hand in water for a few minutes to soften the skin and then clip the hangnail as short as possible.

In grown nail toe:
If the toenail is not cut properly, it penetrates into the nail-fold as it grows, causing redness, swelling and pain.
A. Don't cut them too short;
B. Don't ever cut down the side of the nail;
C. Always follow the shape of the toe; }
D. Once the pain has started, try to push the nail-fold away from the sharp edge of the skin.

The causes that affects on nail health
Lack of vitamin A and calcium causes dryness and brittleness.
Lack of protein, folic acid and vitamin C causes hang nails.
White bands across the nails are caused by protein deficiency.
A lack of sufficient hydrochloric acid can cause splitting nails.
Insufficient intake or vitamin B12 can lead to excessive dryness, very rounded and curved ends and darkening of nails.
Insufficient zinc can cause development of white spots on the nails.
Cuts and cracks in the nails may indicate a need for more liquids.
Red skin around your cuticles can be caused by poor metabolism of essential fatty acids.

Tips for improving the health of your nails:
Eat a diet composed of 50% fruit and raw vegetables in order to supply necessary vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Eat foods rich in sulfur and silicon

aarti@basicsofbeauty.com