Brittle Nails

Brittle nails are often caused when the nails dry out. They are surprisingly porous and are almost one-fifth water and even a slight change in moisture content can cause problems. Fortunately, prevention and treatment are simple and straightforward.

If you are finding your nails are splitting, flaking or crumbling, it could be because they have dried out. Nails are very porous and can quickly lose their water-content in certain conditions. Healthy nails contain about 18% water, however they can lose flexibility and become brittle if this figure drops by just 2%. This can be a result of the nail growing too quickly or not fast enough, dry environments, detergents, nail polish remover, disease or diet.

 

Preventing your nails from splitting can be achieved by applying a base coat of nail polish before painting your nails can be a good idea, also wearing shoes that allow you to wiggle your toes. Keeping brittle nails trimmed can reduce how much damage they suffer. Use proper toenail scissors or clippers, taking care to cut straight across and not down into each corner. The best time to do this is after a bath or shower when your nails are soft.

To prevent water-loss from your nails, you could supplement them with products such as the Intensive Hand Cream sold at Nats Nails & Beauty. This is best done immediately after a bath or shower, when the nails should be soft. Nail polish can also help prevent your nails from drying out by forming a barrier between them and their surroundings.

Common Myths Aboot Foot Care

More and more women want to show off their feet in their designer shoes. But before you get carried away trying to get that pedicureor run barefoot through the park at a picnic. Tracey Vlahovic, D.P.M. who is an associate professor of podiatric medicine and orthopedics at Temple University's School of Podiatric Medicine in the USA, hopes to dispel some of the common myths that could actually do more harm than good to your feet.

Foot Care Myth: Flat shoes, flip-flops and even going out barefoot are perfectly fine for your feet.

Foot Care Fact: This is a common misconception, because we always hear about the problems with high heels," says Dr. Vlahovic. "But these three present their own types of problems." Specifically, flip-flops do not provide any support and can lead to conditions such as plantar fasciitis, or even ankle sprains and tendonitis. Flats look comfortable but can be painful to your feet by causing severe heel pain and blisters, crowding toes and worsening conditions such as hammertoes and bunions. Walking barefoot can lead to foot problems such as cuts, abrasions, bruises and a puncture wound from a foreign object, and make you vulnerable to skin issues or nail injuries.

Foot Care Diagnosis: Dr. Vlahovic says it's fine to wear flip-flops or flats, but only for a few hours at a time, and if you are planning on wearing them for any longer, she recommends stretching the Achilles tendon afterward. As for walking barefoot, it should only be done in the comfort of your own home, and even then, be mindful of small objects that could be caught in the carpet. But patients who are at risk such as diabetics and those with peripheral vascular disease should always wear protective foot gear in and out of the house.

Foot Care Myth: At-home scrubs and soaks for corns are safe and effective.

Foot Care Fact: A corn is a small buildup of skin with a hard core, caused by friction where the toe knuckle rubs against the shoe, often caused by a hammertoe. As a result, "at-home soaks or scrubs would just exfoliate, not 'remove' corns," says Dr. Vlahovic.

Foot Care Diagnosis: The only way to remove a corn permanently is to correct the hammertoe, so that it stops rubbing against the shoe. Another alternative would be to wear shoes with a wider toe box.

Foot Care Myth: You don't need to put sunscreen on your feet.

Foot Care Fact: "Skin cancer on the legs and feet actually has a high mortality rate due to people forgetting to do skin checks on that area. It's often caught too late," says Dr. Vlahovic. "This is due in large part to the fact that many people simply forget to apply or reapply sunscreen to the lower extremities." She adds that African and Asian American women can also be susceptible to skin cancer of the lower extremity, mainly because they feel they are immune to it due to their darker skin tones.

Nails Lincoln - Nail Care

Healthy nails and nail care are an important part of overall health. When nails are in good physical shape, they are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they make it easier to perform everyday tasks. However, not many people put a lot of thought into their nails, either finger or toe, until there appears to be something wrong.

Dermatologist Richard K. Scher, M.D., professor of clinical dermatology, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., discussed common nail problems and how best to keep them healthy.

"The nails can be the windows to a patient's overall health, and while the nail itself is dead tissue, the areas under the cuticle and beneath the nail are alive," stated Dr. Scher. "These areas are particularly vulnerable to infection and damage, which is why it is important to see a nail technician regularly for a manicure and pedicure."

Cosmetics

Keeping the nails healthy and neat looking has become an important grooming ritual for both men and women as the number of consumers that frequent nail salons and use nail cosmetics at home has increased.

"Nail cosmetics and salon services are generally quite safe, but there are potential problem areas associated with the use of nail cosmetics and salon services: infection, allergic reactions and mechanical damage to the nail," said Dr. Scher. "While these are fairly rare occurrences, they can be serious and consumers should take some simple measures to guard against these potential health concerns."

Contracting an infection is the most serious health risk related to nail cosmetics, particularly from manicure and pedicure tools and implements that have not been properly sterilized. Viral, bacterial and fungal infections may be transmitted to unsuspecting consumers from improperly sterilized implements. At Nats Nails & Beauty all manicure and pedicure are fully and properly sterilized

Most nail salons take sanitation very seriously and follow strict sanitation and disinfection guidelines, but consumers should not be afraid to ask how implements are cleaned. "Look at the salon with cleanliness in mind and ask yourself these questions: Are the stations clean? Does the nail technician wash her hands between clients? Are there dirty implements lying around? If the salon does not appear clean, then move on," recommended Dr. Scher, who also recommended that consumers bring their own tools and implements to be used at the salon in order to protect against infection.

Allergic reactions occur when a nail cosmetic ingredient sensitizes the skin which may results in itching, redness, blisters and pain every time the ingredient is used. Some of the more common ingredients that can create an allergic reaction are the acrylic materials found in a wide variety of nail products. Another potential allergen is tosylamid formaldehyde resin, an ingredient found in some nail polishes. If consumers experience itching or burning of the skin following a nail salon service or the application of nail cosmetics at home, Dr. Scher recommends removing the product as soon as possible and visiting a dermatologist to determine which ingredient is responsible for the allergic reaction.

For more information go to my foot care page here or nail care page here