Keep your nails healthy by checking causes damage, brittle and infected nails to avoid them. Wear gloves to prevent brittle nails and avoid using your nails for the heavy work to prevent injuries. Avoid putting your hands in hot water loaded with detergent, as this will strip them of moisture and cause brittle nails. Cotton gloves are best to protect nails from possible injury during dry work. Similarly, vinyl gloves prevent exposing your hands to moisture too often. To repel moisture and preventing nail infections, sprinkle a little baby powder in your gloves.
What are the common nail problems?
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Apart from ingrown nails, fungal infection affecting nails is probably the most common nail problem. You are more prone to nail fungus on your toenail and usually, the nail will turn thick, discoloured, and raised. Brittle nails are due to too much or too little moisture, or nutritional deficiencies. Certain skin diseases can affect the nails, including psoriasis, and cause thickening and pitting of the nails. Use an antifungal powder that absorbs moisture and prevents fungus on your feet. Also, try Tea Tree essential oil to prevent nail fungus.
Injuries are a major cause of nail problems.
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Separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, a condition called onycholysis can occur due to a nail injury, infection, or an allergic reaction to a nail cosmetic, or exposure to chemicals or even as a result of a disease like psoriasis. Consult your doctor as soon as possible if a nail turns black and blue, asthis happens after a nail injury.
You can beat brittle, flaking nails with your diet.
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If your nails are brittle, try including more essential fatty acids in your diet. These are found in fatty fish and flaxseed oil. If your nails have white spots, you may be deficient in zinc, so include more nuts, root vegetables, whole grains and meat in your diet.
Moisturizing is a great way to protect nails.
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True For dry, brittle nails, apply petroleum jelly or a thick cream into your nails. This will lock-in the moisture around and under your nails. If you do this at bedtime, slip a pair of thin cotton gloves or mittens on your hands, before you to sleep. Avoid nail polish removers as these contain acetone or formaldehyde. These chemicals dry out your nails
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