Brittle, cracked and discolored fingernails don't make a good first impression and can be downright embarrassing. Although certain medical conditions can result in unhealthy nails, the appearance of your fingernails isn't just a matter of luck and good genes. You can take precautions to ensure that you avoid infections and keep your nails healthy and strong.
Keep Your Nails Clean and Dry
Nail infections can leave your fingernails and toenails discolored or result in redness and swelling around the nails and cuticles. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one way to avoid nail infections is to keep your nails clean and dry. Wear latex gloves when doing dishes and dry your hands and feet thoroughly after a shower. Areas underneath your nails that remain damp provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, so take care to keep these areas clean and dry at all times.
Stay Healthy
You may have heard that plenty of calcium contributes to healthy nails. While this is certainly true, your body's level of zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, protein and vitamin B complex also influence the health and appearance of your fingernails and toenails. Eating a well-balanced and healthy diet will promote your body's overall health and improve the condition of your nails. Taking a daily multivitamin ensures you get enough of the vitamins and minerals you need and promotes nail health.
Moisturize Your Nails
Just like your skin may require lotion after a bath or shower, your nails require additional moisture as well to remain supple and healthy. Rub lotion into your nails and cuticles whenever you apply it to other parts of your body. It's especially important to moisturize your nails after using nail polish remover. Nail polish remover contains harsh chemicals that may dry out your nails.
Think Twice About Acrylics
Although acrylic nails give you the appearance of strong, healthy nails, they may come with hidden dangers. ABC News reports that some nail salons use a substance known as methyl methacrylate to attach acrylic nails to your real fingernails. The substance known as "MMA" is highly toxic and may result in severe reactions among consumers. Unfortunately, a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about the dangers of MMA has done little to stop its use in nail salons around the country. Not all nail salons use MMA, but avoiding acrylics altogether can prevent damage to your fingernails from this toxic chemical.
Polish Infrequently
According to the National Institutes of Health, long-term exposure to nail polish can result in brittle nails that flake and peel. Nail polish remover, however, can dry out your fingernails and toenails and should not be used more than twice a month. While polishing your fingernails and toenails helps improve their appearance, you should take care not to polish your nails too frequently as leaving polish on your nails for extended periods of time is unhealthy, but so is removing the polish regularly with nail polish remover.
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