Nails Your Way

Most Common Causes of Nail Damage

Your nails are a good indicator of your overall health, and changes in the fingernails can reveal certain health problems. Medications used to treat conditions such as Psoriasis, thyroid, kidney and respiratory can result in weak or brittle nails.

Compulsive habits will hinder nail health. Nail biting is not just a bad habit-it actually causes long-term problems such as inflammation of the surrounding skin and chronic infections that can lead to malformation of the nail plate. Excessive long-term nail biting can cause permanent damage such as brittle, rough or ridged nails as well as scarred thickened cuticles. An all-natural herbal bite no more cream containing aloe, vitamins A, B, C & E is an excellent product used to stop the compulsive nail biting habit.

Removing artificial nail product by picking or prying will pull off layers of the natural nail plate resulting in rough, thin, brittle and often painful nail beds. Artificial nail products should be carefully soaked off with acetone and then gently buffed as it begins to melt and soften. It is also advisable to apply an all-natural clear strengthener polish containing aloe, calcium and garlic along with natural nail manicures for four to six weeks.

Nail fungus causes nails to become brittle, thick, and flaky and discolor to white, yellow, brown or black. Fungus is an infection caused by living organisms called dermatophytes. Early stages of nail fungus are white and yellow discoloration. As the fungus gets worse and the discoloration becomes brown or black the nails will begin to detach and fall off. Nail fungus can spread-from toe to toe, finger to finger, or person to person-and it rarely goes away by itself. Early stages of nail fungus can often be easily treated with a topical liquid containing thymol applied two times daily for three, six or twelve months.

The normal aging process can cause nails to become weak or damaged. Our nails change as we mature. If the immune system gets weaker, the feet get infected easier. Diseases such as arthritis, heart disease and diabetes affect the nails. Collagen is a structural protein that provides strength and flexibility to the skin, hair and nails. As we age, our body's ability to make collagen slows down. This loss can result in weak damaged nails.

Leaving nail polish on until it begins to peel can cause nail damage. Once nail polish begins to chip, it can peel away a superficial layer of the nail. Always remove nail polish after five days using non-acetone polish remover then reapply a base coat, fresh polish and topcoat.

Detergents, bleach, and cleaning chemicals can cause nail damage. Excessive hand washing or having hands in water too often causes the nails to become brittle, peel and break off easily. Always wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or cleaning.

You can get treatment for most common nail damage at salons staffed with a licensed onyxologist (nail damage specialist) that offers therapeutic manicures and pedicures.

Read Jeanne's Latest Monthly Article In Chapel Hill News & Views.

Nails Your Way
Jeanne Grace Curtis
5900 Orchard Road
Douglasville GA 30135-4726

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