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 Nail Enemies - Misusing Your Nails
Author: Alien
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Aggressive handling
I can't think of anyone who actually
wants to ruin their nails. Yet in an attempt to keep our nails
looking groomed, many of us go overboard. We gouge dirt from
under the plate, stab at cuticles with a sharp implement (or
worse, cut cuticles away), file nails down to the quick, or pull
at ugly hansnails. In short, our good intentions can actually
damage our nails.
You may
pine for perfect-looking nails, or perhaps you couldn't care
less how your nails appear. Either way, listen up: The less you
do to nails - and the gentler you do it - the prettier they will
look, the healthier they will be, and the better able they will
be to protect your fingers and toes.
Don't manicure or pedicure your nails more than once
a week. Throw away anything with a sharp point - this includes
metal nail files and metal cuticle pushers. Instead of digging
at the dirt under your nails, use soap and a nail brush to keep
nails clean. Do not file your nails so short that you expose
the area where the nail bed and nail plate come together.
You mustn't be tempted to pull
at hangnails, because if you do you risk removing long strips
of healthy skin. Not only are these raw areas painful, they are
unsightly and vulnerable to infection. A better way to remove
hangnails is to clip them away with a pair of fingernail clippers. |
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Misusing your nails
Nails can do so many things: open soda cans, pry
off stickers, twist in small screws, dig into an orange's peel.
Of course, those of you who want strong, unbroken nails wouldn't
use your nails for any of these tasks. You know that - as convenient
as they are - nails should not be used as a household tool. Doing
so traumatizes nail's keratin, causing small or large fissures
that lead to breaking and splitting. Fortunately, you needn't
spend your days wearing kid gloves. For strong nails, simply
try adopting the following habits:
Dial
the telephone with the end of a pen or pencil.
Instead of using your nails to pry things open
or scrape things off, reach for a butter knife, bottle opener,
or a small screwdriver.
Use
a letter opener, not your fingernail, to open envelopes and packages.
"Start" an orange or
banana by cutting into its peel with a knife.
Nails and water
Ask
your favorite nail technician what nail enemy number one is,
and there's a good chance she'll say "water." Before
I explain why water is the bad guy, let me offer this anatomy
lesson: to create a strong barrier, nail cells must fit tightly
together. Without this tight fit, nails grow weak and are easily
bent, torn, chipped, split, peeled, or broken.
At the same time, the keratin that forms nail cells
behaves a bit like a sponge; when exposed to water, the keratin
soaks up the liquid, swelling to several times its size. It is
this swelling that disrupts the tight fit of nail cells. Try
to keep your contact with water to a minimum - you should even
consider taking shorter baths and showers!
It is estimated that 15 percent of Americans bite
their fingernails. If you're among them, consider one of the
"no-bite" products available from dermatologists and
pharmacies. These terrible­tasting liquids are painted on
the nails. Try to nibble and you're left with a bad taste in
your mouth.
Read more on Lipsense and senegence lipsense.
Webmaster Alien writes for http://www.family-health-information.com
. He also writes for http://www.online-family-doctor.com/
and http://www.onlinemedicare.org
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com
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