HEALTH Handy tips for healthy nails

Handy tips for healthy nails


Skin Specialist
Bernie Fahy

Our nails are basically a shield protecting the ends of our fingers and toes. Nails appear pink because of the blood vessels in the skin behind them. The edge is white due to the air beneath it.
The crescent or lunule lies at the root of the nail. Our nails consist of dead cells and grow up to 1.2mm per week. A lost nail can take seven months to grow back. Fingernails grow faster than toenails and all nails grow faster in summer than winter, as does our hair.

Poor nail health
Sometimes the nail may detach from its bed. This may occur due to trauma causing bruising under the nail. Also fungi activity may cause this and immediate professional help should be consulted. Complete shedding of the nail in such cases may result in cessation of growth at the site.
Brittleness, discolouration, ridges, fungal infections and in-growing toenails are all common indicators of poor nail health.
Brittle nails are often a result of old age or nutritional deficiencies. Certain skin conditions can cause unsightly ridges, including psoriasis. Alopecia can also result in pitted and ridged nails. Fungal infections can bring onset of discolouration and a crumbly texture to the nail.

Treatments
If your unfortunate enough to get a fungal infection, seek medical advice, as they can be difficult to eradicate. Anti-fungal powders maybe prescribed to address outbreak.
A natural treatment may involve tea tree oil, as it is an antiseptic with considerable strengths. A couple of drops applied to the affected area twice a day after bathing is recommended. Rosemary oil mixed with light carrier oil and applied to the base of the nail can encourage circulation and relieve symptoms.
Fungal infections maybe treated effectively by eating live natural yoghurt each day or alternatively taking an acidophilus supplement.
If feet perspire, a change of socks is an easy way to alleviate symptoms, as fungi thrive in warm, moist environments.

Diet
Nails benefit from a diet rich in essential fatty acids. Oily fish, such as mackerel, sardines and salmon can be beneficial. A daily intake of flaxseed oil or evening primrose can also help.
If your nails show white spots, zinc deficiency maybe to blame. Zinc can be found in the dark meat of poultry, liver, eggs and seafood. Cheese, beans and nuts also contain zinc.
Human nails are partly composed of keratin, while biotin is a B vitamin that can strengthen horses hooves – so no harm in trying that! Food sources that contain biotin include nettle tea and coincidentally horsetail. Remember though, always consult a professional before taking supplements.

Lifestyle
Beware of false nails. Although elegant and chic, the natural nail underneath can suffer: The space between the natural nail and the false nail is a natural breeding ground for fungus and could encourage a painful infection.
Rather than going down the false route, try improving the health and beauty of the nails that nature gave you. Encourage suppleness by moisturising with petroleum jelly before bedtime and enclosing hands in soft cotton gloves before sleeping. Protect your hand by wearing cotton lined rubber gloves when dealing with detergents in the home.
Use acetate-based polish removers as opposed to acetone or formaldehyde based products. Investing in a good quality manicure set will give you and your nails the right tools for the job. Healthy nails are essential for both men and women, and, like the shoes that we wear, a lot can be deduced about the owner.

Bernie Fahy works in Ballinrobe, Westport and Galway. She can be contacted at 086 2220125 or info@bernietheskinspecialist.com. For more information, visit www.bernietheskinspecialist.com.