The Power of a Top Coat

Once your colored polish is applied, a top coat seals the deal. Its benefits are equally vital:

• Extends Wear Time: This is perhaps the most well-known benefit. A top coat protects your manicure from chips, scratches, and everyday wear and tear, significantly extending its life.
• Adds Shine and Gloss: Most top coats impart a beautiful, high-shine finish, making your manicure look professional and polished. There are also matte top coats for a trendy, velvety look.
• Quickens Drying Time: Many modern top coats are "quick-dry" formulas, helping your manicure set faster and reducing the risk of smudges.
• Protects from Fading: A top coat acts as a shield against UV rays and other environmental factors that can dull or fade your nail polish color over time.
• Smoothes and Evens: It can help to smooth out any minor imperfections or streaks from your color application, giving a flawless finish.

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Importance Of A Base Coat

A base coat acts as a protective barrier between your natural nail and the colored polish. Here's why it's a non-negotiable step:

Prevents Staining: Darker pigments, especially reds, blues, and blacks, can easily stain your natural nails. A good base coat creates a clear layer that prevents this discoloration.

Improves Adhesion: Base coats are formulated to create a slightly tacky surface, allowing the nail polish to adhere better. This means less chipping and longer wear.

Smooths the Nail Surface: If your nails have ridges or imperfections, a ridge-filling base coat can create a smooth canvas for your polish, ensuring an even application.

Strengthens Nails: Many base coats are infused with strengthening ingredients like keratin or vitamins, helping to protect weak or brittle nails from breakage.

Enhances Color Payoff: A neutral base can help the true color of your polish pop, especially with sheer or lighter shades.

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Why Are My Feet and Toes Peeling?

Constantly peeling skin on your feet and toes can be irritating, itchy, and embarrassing. Who wants to wear sandals in summer if your feet look like a snake molting its skin? Getting to the bottom of the matter can make your feet look and feel better.

1. Dry skin

Dry skin, or xerosis, can show up on your toes and feet. It starts as flaky skin and cracks, especially on your heels, the balls of your feet, and the outside of your big toe. You might feel a mild tightness or itching before the skin starts peeling away between your toes or on the soles of your feet — often in small, dry flakes. 

Fixing dry skin means washing in cooler water, using a moisturizer religiously, and gently exfoliating your feet a few times a week.

2. Fungal infection

If the peeling is mainly between your toes and is accompanied by a relentless itch and redness, it’s more likely you have a fungal infection like athlete’s foot. Fungal infections tend to emit a foul odor, and your feet may burn or sting.

The best treatment for fungal infections is the consistent application of antifungal creams, sprays, or powders, keeping your feet dry with frequent sock changes, and avoiding walking barefoot in damp common areas.

3. Eczema

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that can lead to symptoms on your feet and toes as well as other parts of your body, such as your elbows and knees. You can have a flare-up from allergens, stress, and even heat, causing dry, itchy patches, redness or irritation, and peeling or cracked skin.

Breathable socks and fragrance-free moisturizers can help calm eczema symptoms. Usually a doctor can recommend topical treatments if your eczema continues to cause foot issues.

4. Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that often affects your elbows or knees. It can also target your feet and hands, in which case it’s called palmoplantar psoriasis. Common signs include:

• Skin that comes off in big flakes or peels in sheets 
• Thick, red patches on your feet, toes, or ankles with silvery scales
• Pain, soreness, and cracked skin that may bleed when you walk

Treatment can include prescription creams, phototherapy, or oral medications. Psoriasis requires constant monitoring and management.

5. Sunburn

Last but not least, one of the most common causes of sudden peeling of the skin on your feet and toes during the summer can simply be sunburn. Many people forget the tops of their feet when applying sunscreen, and the result can be red, tender skin that’s warm to the touch, blisters, and peels for several days after the initial burn. Thankfully, this condition is short-lived. Use cool compresses and aloe vera gels to soothe and treat your skin, and stay out of the sun until it heals. Next time, remember your feet are sun-vulnerable, too, and don’t skip the SPF.

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Changes That Happen With Our Fingernails

The body undergoes multiple changes with age, including muscle loss and the development of certain health conditions. Fingernails also start to thicken or become more brittle. For yourself or a loved one, be aware of the following factors when it comes to your nails.

Age can cause your nails to harden, thicken and lose their glossy translucence, which results in a yellow, often dull appearance. As keratin breaks down, nails may also thin and become more fragile, increasing your risks for breakage and fungal infections.

Additionally, fingernail quality can indicate the presence of certain diseases. As such, you’re advised to have your nails examined regularly by a podiatrist. For basic nail care:

• Get your finger and toenails trimmed and shaped regularly. If you’re unable to yourself, have a professional or loved one do it for you.
• If your nails start to thicken, apply moisturizer to help make them easier to cut.
• Pay attention to ridges. Vertical ridges occur with age, but horizontal ridges and pitting can indicate certain health conditions, including a zinc deficiency, certain cardiovascular diseases, a thyroid issue or psoriasis.
• Pay attention to discoloration. Yellow or gray tones emerge with age but dark patches can indicate a fungal infection, bruising or melanoma.
• Also be aware of the shape. Certain curves can indicate an iron deficiency or heart, respiratory or kidney issues.

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What Exactly is a Callus?

There are many myths about calluses and corns, but understanding what they actually are is the first step toward effective treatment. Both corns and calluses are essentially the same condition—a buildup of thickened skin on the foot caused by increased pressure or friction in that particular area. When this thickened skin develops on the bottom or sides of the foot, it's typically called a callus. When the same condition occurs between toes or on top of the toes, it's referred to as a "corn."

Callus vs. Corn: Understanding the Difference

Calluses

• Located on bottom or sides of feet
• Larger, more spread out
• Usually less painful than corns
• Caused by weight-bearing pressure

Corns

• Found between or on top of toes
• Smaller, more concentrated
• Often more painful due to pressure
• Caused by toe friction and deformities

Calluses are caused by several common factors:

• Bunions - Causing pressure on the side of the foot
• Elongated foot bones - Creating pressure points on the bottom of the foot
• Hammertoes - Leading to corn formation on top of or between toes
• High heels or ill-fitting shoes - Common
• Biomechanical issues - Abnormal walking patterns or foot structure
• High activity levels - Hiking and outdoor activities

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Happy Easter!

 

Happy Holidays! Hope you had a blessed weekend! -UpKept Spa

536 Main Street

Vacaville, CA 95688

(Inside Jon Edwards Salon & Spa)

Tel: 707.208.7646

What Are the 7 Parts of the Nail?

The nail is composed of seven parts, each with its unique role in maintaining the strength and health of our nails.

Nail plate (body): The hard, keratinized structure that forms the visible part of the nail.

Nail folds (groove): The skin surrounding and supporting the nail on three sides.

Nail bed (sterile matrix): The pinkish tissue underneath the nail plate.

Germinal matrix: The base of the nail bed.

Hyponychium: The skin beneath the free edge of the nail.

Cuticle (eponychium): The thin layer of tissue covering the base of the nail plate.

Lunula: The half-moon-shaped area at the base of the nail, representing the visible part of the nail’s root.

Now that we know the seven parts of the nail, let’s dive deeper into their functions;

• The nail plate gives our nails their characteristic shape and appearance. It also helps protect the underlying tissues.
• The nail folds provide protection and support for the sides of the nail, keeping it in place.
• The nail bed nourishes the nail plate through a network of blood vessels and determines the shape and thickness of our nails.
• The germinal matrix produces new cells that contribute to nail growth and development.
• The hyponychium is a barrier protecting the sensitive nail bed from exposure to external elements.
• The cuticle prevents bacteria and other harmful substances from entering the body through the nail plate.
• The lunula is an important landmark for dermatologists, as changes in its appearance can indicate certain health conditions or nutritional deficiencies.

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