Your fingernails are made up of several layers of hardened protein known as keratin. When functioning optimally, the protein grows at a steady rate to protect your fingertips. However, lack of proper nutrients, improper care for the nails or certain medical conditions can cause your nails to grow more slowly than they otherwise would. If your nails are healthy, they should be free of ridges or deep groves and should be pinkish in color. If you have symptoms that make the nails look different, taking steps to improve nail growth can also improve nail appearance.
Step 1
Take a supplement that contains 2.5mg of biotin daily, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Biotin is a form of vitamin B that is responsible for nail growth. Taking this supplement encourages nail growth and makes the nails thicker.
Step 2
Keep nails short and neat. You may wish to file the nails daily or every other day to prevent rough edges that can result in a hangnail, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The best way to maintain your nails is cut straight across with the edges slightly rounded.
Step 3
Eat a healthy diet high in lean proteins, according to The Daily Glow. Protein is the building block for your nails and thus is required for growth. Choose from sources such as fish, skinless chicken and soybeans. You also want to ensure your diet contains plenty of vegetables high in vitamins B and A, such as spinach.
Step 4
Drink a vitamin D-fortified glass of milk each day. Drinking milk or eating another food that contains vitamin D helps make the nails strong and encourages growth, according to The Daily Glow.
Step 5
Apply a nail hardener to your nails, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although you should shy away from hardeners that contain formaldehyde or toluene sulfonamide, nail hardeners can help strengthen the nail enough for it to resist breakage, thereby improving growth.
Tips and Warnings
- See your physician if you are concerned your fingernail problems are due to an underlying medical condition. If you have practiced conservative treatments to encourage nail growth, yet experience no success, slow nail growth can be an indicator of another health condition, such as a disorder of the kidney or thyroid.
- Picking or biting your nails can introduce bacteria to the skin that can slow nail growth and cause infection. Refrain from these two bad habits in order to ensure proper nail growth, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Things You'll Need
- Biotin supplement
- Fingernail file
- Vitamin-D fortified milk
- Nail hardener
Member Comments