I was about to write about something completely different this week, then I noticed the date – just over four years to the day since I published my first article at Suite101.com.

What happy, innocent times those were! The ceaseless stat-checking, the thrill of my first page view, the unbridled joy when I earned my first cent!

I couldn’t let the occasion pass unmarked, and what better way than to reproduce that very first article here!* This was just the beginning of a whole series of pieces on nail health and care; I got so keen on the subject, I even considered collecting them together on a dedicated website, though like most of my Big Ideas, that went nowhere. Just like my career at Suite, really.

Cosmetic Cuticle and Nail Problems

Well maintained fingernails look good and help you feel great, but as extensions of the skin they are easily damaged. Nails are made of keratin, one of the body’s strongest tissues, but they are surprisingly vulnerable to careless treatment.

Cuticle Care Helps Prevent Nail Damage

Many nail problems begin in the cuticle – not surprising, as this where new nail growth appears. White spots are a common nuisance. They are usually caused by minor damage to the nail, including too much prodding and poking of the cuticles. Avoid pushing back the cuticles when giving yourself a manicure and the spots should disappear, though it can take six months for new nail to grow from base to tip.

Hangnails, ridges and pits can also result from rough use of manicure tools. Remove hangnails with sharp cuticle scissors (never bite them off), then regularly massage in a cuticle moisturizer to help prevent them in future. Ridges and pits can occur when growth at the cuticle is interrupted. They will grow out in time, though they can have other causes that you might want to see your doctor about (see below).

Nail Polish and Acrylic Nails Can be the Problem, Not the Cure

You might decide to apply nail colour or false nails to hide cosmetic flaws, but these can cause problems of their own. Prolonged use of coloured nail polish can cause yellow staining, though this can be avoided by applying a clear base coat.

More seriously, constant use of nail polish can interfere with the natural evaporation of moisture through the nails, and this can create the ideal conditions for nail fungus to grow. Peeling, thickening and even loss of the nail can follow, so it is important to see your doctor if any discoloration spreads over the surface of a nail. Acrylic nails can have the same effect. If you use artificial nails, always remove them carefully to avoid damaging the nail plate.

Tips for Nail Manicure

A few simple rules can help you achieve beautiful nails without problems. Always make sure your manicure tools are clean before you start. Keep your nails short and follow the natural curve of the fingertip when filing them; long, pointed nails are more likely to break. Never try to clean under the nail with metal tools – this can cause the nail to separate from its bed, which can lead to infection.

Above all, be gentle. The saying is “hard as nails”, but those nails are delicate structures that need proper care and attention to look their best.

Never Ignore Signs of Fungal Nail Disease or Other Disorders

People often think of nails as “lifeless”, but their colour, shape and condition can reflect various health problems.

• Fungal nail disease is common. It spreads from person to person and can cause discoloration, crumbling and thickening of the nail, but is easily treatable with tablets prescribed by the doctor.
• Pitting, thickening and lifting of the nail can be a sign of eczema, or the inflammatory skin condition psoriasis.
• A form of malignant melanoma can develop within the nail, causing dark streaks, pain and bleeding.
• Changes in the shape or colour of the nails can indicate problems with the circulation, the lungs or even the liver.

Most nail problems are harmless and easily treated by attention to hygiene and proper nail care. If you are worried about any problem, however, do not hesitate to see your doctor for advice.

For Beautiful Hands, be Kind to Your Nails

You may think your nails are in urgent need of attention when you spot a cosmetic problem such as peeling or a hangnail, but this is not always the case. A gentle manicure, done with care and using the proper tools, always gives better results than hasty prodding and poking.★

*I originally wrote this article as an exercise for a writing course (another endeavour that fizzled out), so this is its third incarnation. People say you should never throw away anything you write, though maybe that’s not always true…

Nails and nails by Gracey
Red fingernails by J. Durham

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