Ask anyone that works in a position of hiring new employees and ask them if fingernail hygiene is important. While they may not openly admit that it is a requirement for the job position, the way your fingernails look like plays an unsaid, important role. The way your fingernails looks often times tells a lot about a person.
People with dirty fingernails give off the impression they may not be clean or dont shower that often. Chewed up and bitten fingernails says to the world that you have an anxious personality and tense. This is why it is so important to take care of your fingernails.
Some of the leading cosmetic experts have seen all there is to see when it comes to fingernails. Theyve seen the good, the bad, and the really ugly and are now ready to give you some helpful advice. Here is there list of problems and preventions to assist you with keeping your fingernails healthy and clean:
Splitting, peeling, or brittle nails are common problems that develop when your hands are frequently exposed to water, strong soaps, and other chemicals. You can easily prevent some of these problems by using lotion and avoiding repeatedly putting your hands in water.
Color changes.
Little white marks often appear after minor injuries. They may last for weeks or months and usually go away on their own.
It is common for a nail to turn black after an injury. The black or purple-black color is caused by blood under the nail and will go away as the injury heals.
Black, brown, or purple discoloration under a nail that has not been injured may be caused by melanoma.
Changes in the shape or texture of nails may occur for a variety of reasons. Some nail changes, such as the formation of ridges, are normal with aging. Thick, brittle, or dark nails are more common in older adults who have poor circulation.
Ingrown nails are often caused by improper trimming, tight shoes, or heredity. Your nails grow into the surrounding skin, causing pain, swelling, and infection.
Once your nail separates from its nail bed, for whatever reason, it will not reattach. Nails grow back slowly. It takes about 6 months for fingernails and up to 18 months for toenails to grow back attached to the nail bed.
Infection and allergic reactions are common problems caused by artificial nails.
Fungal nail infections can vary in appearance depending on the type of fungus infecting the nail or the location of the infection. It is not unusual for fungal nail infections to follow athlete's foot infections.
To prevent common nail problems:
Apply hand cream frequently throughout the day. Be sure to massage the cream into the nail and cuticle.
Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves or disposable plastic gloves to protect your hands from overexposure to water, detergents, and other chemicals.
Trim your fingernails weekly and toenails monthly, after bathing when they are softer. Do not trim the nail too short.
Use an emery board and sharp manicure scissors or clippers to trim your fingernails. Nails that are well-cared for are less likely to become damaged.
Cut them straight across and leave the nails a little longer at the corners so that the sharp ends don't cut into your skin.
Avoid trimming your cuticles. Even a minor cut alongside your nail can cause infection.
NEVER bite or pick at your nails.
To prevent a fungal nail infection:
o Keep your feet clean and dry. Dry feet are less likely to become infected. Apply powder to your feet when needed.
o Wear clean, dry socks. Change your socks once a day or more frequently in we conditions.
o Always wear roomy shoes that allow air to circulate around your feet.
o Try to wear shower sandals when you use public pools, spas, and showers.
To prevent problems with artificial nails:
o Test for a reaction to the artificial nail by having just one nail applied. Wait several days to see whether redness, itching, pain, or rash around or under the nail.
o Do not apply an artificial nail if the nail or the skin around the nail looks irritated or infected.
o If an artificial nail does separate from the nail bed, dip your fingertip into rubbing alcohol before reattaching. This will clean the space between the nails.
o Do not wear artificial nails for longer than 3 months at a time. Give your natural nails a month to rest before reapplying artificial nails.
By: Angie L