Assessing Nail Health

Posted by admin on January 27, 2009 under AHA, nails | Be the First to Comment

Are they Nail Worthy for both Spring Plantings and Parties?

It too often seems that the prettiest, healthiest nails accent the hands of others – rarely our own. How do they prevent the inevitable breaking, chipping and splitting?

Fingernails that remain cracked, broken, and peeling at the tips – catching and tearing more easily on panty hose and those favorite sweaters – are nails starved for health.

This is an ongoing battle for many but there are some things that can be done to improve the odds of a long, lovely set of nails.

Brittle nails affect over 20 percent of the women in the U.S. While the cause of brittle nails is unknown, it is thought that a loss of water content or moisture in the nails plays a major role. And the dry air of the winter months may aggravate this condition.

Brittle nails are also more common in those who frequently wash their hands and use soaps and detergents – as well as those with under active thyroids.

Also, frequently removing nail polish with nail polish remover strips away the moisture in the nails. However, leaving the nail polish on the nails slows the loss of moisture.

To improve the nails, keep hands away from water, minimize exposure of the nails to soaps and detergents, and wear gloves when washing dishes or gardening. Moisturize the cuticles with a moisturizer that contains alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA). Avoid acrylic nails and frequent use of nail polish removes. A vitamin called biotin can also be taken to make the nails grow faster.