Healthy, good-looking nails aren’t just important during sunbathing season. Taking proper care of your fingernails and toenails also helps prevent health problems. Find out in this health tip how to take good care of them.
Whether you use scissors or clippers to trim your nails, you learn to take care of them at an early age. In the summer, between the sun loungers and the diving board at the local pool, you'll see flashes of colour from sun worshippers who have painted their fingernails and toenails. But nail care involves much more than just embellishing your nails with a bit of varnish. That’s why both men and women should pay attention to their nails.
Why is nail care important?
In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, well-maintained nails also help protect the tips of your fingers and toes. Dirt, germs and bacteria can accumulate under your nails. A thorough nail care routine helps prevent nail problems and painful inflammation. Nails often become drier and more brittle as we age. Care products such as oils and creams keep them flexible and stop them from splitting.
Anatomy of your nails
Fingernails and toenails are composed of several layers of hard epidermis cells, and are between 0.05 and 0.75 millimetres thick. Each nail consists of multiple irregularly overlaid cells making up what is known as the horny layer. The main component is keratin, which gives nails their strength. Nails protect the delicate tips of the fingers, and make it easier to grasp objects.
The right way to keep your fingernails and toenails short
Our nails generally grow at a rate of about 0.5 to 1.2 millimetres a week. That’s why we have to trim them regularly.
Cutting and filing
- Always trim your nails when they are dry, as otherwise there is a risk that they will tear when you clip or cut them.
- Never cut the nail all the way back. Leave about a millimetre and remove the rest using a nail file.
- Always file in the direction of growth to prevent cracks.
- Avoid metal files, which can quickly heat up and damage the nail. It’s best to use wooden or glass files.
Cuticle care
Never remove excess skin at the side of the nail or on the lunula (half-moon at the base of your nail) by cutting or tearing it off, as you’ll run a high risk of injury and infection. Soak the cuticles beforehand in a hand bath or with oil, and use special skin tweezers or rosewood sticks. Disinfect the skin before and after to prevent infections.
Preventing and treating ingrown nails
Ingrown nails are usually the result of incorrect cutting or filing. But in many cases people only notice the problem once their inflamed nail starts to hurt badly. Treatment depends on the inflammation and pain you’re experiencing. If the problem is minor, you can consult your pharmacist. If you’re in more severe pain, you’ll have to go to the doctor or podiatrist. In the worst case, you may even need surgery to remove the ingrown nail.
