Have you ever wondered if you can take steps take better care of your nails, or if you could make your nails stronger and grow faster?
Dr. Susan Bushelman, a dermatologist with Dermatology Associates of Northern Kentucky, has a few tips to help keep your nails healthy. But first, here are some facts about nail growth you may not know:
- Fingernails grow faster than toenails, especially on your dominant hand
- On average, fingernails grow 3.5 mm per month, while toenails grow an average of 1.6 mm per month
- Nail growth rates depend on age, health status, time of year, activity level and heredity
- Women’s nails grow more slowly than men’s, except possibly during pregnancy
- Nails grow more rapidly in summer than in winter
- Nail growth is affected by disease, nutrition, medications, trauma, chronic illness, fever and the aging process
Now that you’re up to speed on nail growth, here are eight ways you can keep your nails healthy and strong:
- Keep your nails clean and dry to prevent bacteria from collecting underneath them.
- Cut your fingernails and toenails straight across and rounded slightly in the center. This keeps your nails strong and helps avoid ingrown nails.
- Wear proper-fitting shoes and alternate shoes on a regular basis. Tight shoes can cause ingrown toenails.
- Do not bite your fingernails. You can transfer infectious organisms between your fingers and mouth. Also, nail biting can damage the skin around your fingers, allowing infections to enter.
- Apply a cream to moisturize your nails, especially after removing nail polish because most polish removers contain chemicals that dry the nails.
- If you’re going to wear a bright red or orange polish, you can prevent discoloration by applying an extra layer of base coat. If your nails become yellowed and discolored from the polish, don’t reapply the same color and the nail should return to normal color after a few weeks.
- Don’t let a nail technician cut or push back your cuticle. It could allow an infection to develop.
- Don’t wear artificial nails to cover up a nail problem because they could make the problem worse. Women who are prone to fungal infections or have brittle nails shouldn’t wear artificial nails. Women who have healthy nails can wear artificial nails, as long as they’re not worn continuously.
Once nails are damaged, they can’t be repaired, so take care of your nails to keep them looking their best.
