What are healthy nails? Healthy nails are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they’re also an indication of health and wellness in the body. Check out these seven points below to learn more about what your nails can tell you about your overall health.
1) Healthy nails are strong and flexible
Healthy nails have smooth surfaces and tips, with no ridges, bumps or dents. They’re strong and flexible enough to resist cracking, breaking or peeling. Healthy nails don’t bend too much when you grab something (between 3-15 degrees) or peel off easily when you remove your nail polish. Your nails are a window into your overall health: The condition of your nails can indicate a number of issues in other parts of your body. For example, white spots on fingernails may be a sign of lung disease; yellowing on toenails could indicate liver problems; vertical ridges on fingernails might be an early sign of diabetes; and horizontal ridges could mean that you are deficient in certain vitamins.
2) The colour doesn’t indicate the health
The color of your nails may be for another reason unrelated to your health. For example, yellow nails can be caused by smoking and excessive nail polish use, which might seem like two things that could increase risk for other diseases but doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong with your body. To check if something is wrong with your health using your nails, it’s best to take a photo of them for easy comparison in future checks.
3) There are natural ways to strengthen nails
Many people believe that there’s nothing they can do to strengthen their nails other than buy a pricey polish or spend a ton of money at a salon. However, that’s not entirely true! There are natural ways to strengthen your nails, you just have to know what ingredients to look for in products such as; B vitamins which help with strong nail growth. Biotin, or vitamin B7, helps strengthen nails, skin, and hair. People who eat a lot of animal protein tend to be deficient in biotin, which is why it’s often recommended that vegans supplement with biotin. A vegan diet is also naturally low in vitamin C (citrus fruits, bell peppers) and calcium (dairy), both of which aid nail growth.
4) Get rid of cuticles the no-cut way for healthier nails
It’s important to note that getting rid of cuticles can actually do more harm than good. If you must remove your cuticles, try no-cut cuticle care techniques instead. It will ensure your nails are properly hydrated while also encouraging stronger and healthier nails with natural methods. There are a variety of oils out there that help get rid of dry skin, not to mention aloe vera gel and other natural solutions!
5) Trim nails only if they get too long
Don’t trim your nails in between nail appointments. Instead, find a designated time to get your nails trimmed. We recommend getting your nials trimmed once every other week. If you forget, no worries! Just get it done when you can. But don’t forget! Trimming your nails yourself is also one of the best ways to ensure you are getting an even and professional-looking length from nail-to-nail when they don't seem so even.
6) Check out what’s under your nail
Frequently cleaning under your nails can help prevent infections and conditions that affect the nail. When taking a shower, use your fingernail to dig out any dirt or grime that has accumulated under your nails. The best way to do so is to hold your hands above the water and scrub them together—this will remove anything hiding under the surface of your nails and will also give you a head start on exfoliating those hands!
7) Remove hangnails as soon as you notice them
The longer you wait to remove hangnails, the more likely they are to bleed or become infected. Snip them as soon as you notice them (try a pair of clean, sharp manicure scissors). Use a dab of rubbing alcohol to disinfect any visible nicks. Use neosporin once a day until its healed properly.
Importance of nail health
Everyone deserves a healthy and vibrant set of nails, but it’s easy to take for granted that your nails are just going to look good. From time to time, it’s important to check and make sure that your nail health is up to par. They may not seem like they could mean much to our overall health, but they’re one of many indications of how healthy our bodies are feeling. An unhealthy set of nails could be a sign of an issue elsewhere in your body, and knowing what you should look out for is key!
Are your nails healthy? Let us know in the comment section.
Want to learn more about your nail health? Book a virtual nail consultation! #CBVirutalNailConsultation
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