What Causes Unhealthy Nails?

What Causes Unhealthy Nails?

According to Dana Stern, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and nail specialist, unhealthy nails can be caused by using harmful ingredients, like formaldehyde. "Nail strengtheners that contain formaldehyde can cause the nail to become paradoxically brittle and can lead to onycholysis, aka separation," she says. 

Additionally, excessive exposure to acetone can significantly dehydrate the nail leading to fragility, peeling, splits, and breakage. "Avoid products that tout themselves as treatments, but require polish remover to remove them," warns Dr. Stern. "These are often glorified clear polishes and may make nail damage worse."

Other causes of unhealthy nails include damage caused by injuries, such as aggressively buffing the nails or removing cuticles. Genetic predispositions can also play a role in nail health. "There is a genetic component to brittle nails and a direct correlation with aging," says Dr. Stern. Nails derive their nutrients and oxygen from the bloodstream. However, if you're predisposed to poor peripheral circulation, Dr. Stern says your nails may not be able to get the nutrients they need to be healthy.

The overuse of artificial products like nail polish, gel, or acrylic, on nails make nails brittle and dehydrated, says Michelle Saunders, a celebrity nail artist. The process of getting and removing these nail enhancements can also remove layers of your natural nails.

Signs of Unhealthy Nails

"Visible signs that your nails are not healthy include ridges in your nails, nails that easily break, and discoloration," says Syreeta Aaron, a professional nail artist and LeChat Nails educator. According to the American Association of Dermatology (AAD), yellow discoloration can be a result of nail polish or smoking. However, yellow nails that are thick and stopped growing may be due to lung disease or rheumatoid arthritis in severe cases.

If you notice green-ish black discoloration, this may be a sign of a bacterial infection. However, a dark black streak on the nail can be a sign of skin cancer. The AAD recommends booking an appointment with a dermatologist at the sight of any discoloration on the nails to fully understand the cause and the right treatment.

Other visible signs of unhealthy nails include grooves, pitting, and nail clubbing. Deep grooves are divots in the nail bed, and nail pitting looks like someone stuck a toothpick in your nails. Nail clubbing is the appearance of curved nails that can also make the fingertips larger and sometimes suggest issues in the lungs. Grooves in the nails aren't typically a cause for concern, but can be a sign that something slowed (or stopped) your nails from growing for a while, says AAD. That said, nail pitting is common in people with psoriasis, which can also cause nail splitting (another sign of unhealthy nails).

"Nails that are becoming thicker or thinner are also signs of them not being healthy," says Aaron. When the nails become so thin, they can begin to dip in the middle and appear spoon-shaped, which might be due to an iron deficiency.

Remedies for Unhealthy Nails

"​​Healthy nails have a natural sheen to them, and they are flexible," says Saunders. They also have an even nail plate, a pink nail bed with a clean white tip, and intact cuticles, adds Dr. Stern. If your nails don't check off these boxes, it's best to see a dermatologist for a professional opinion and next steps.

To maintain healthy nails, Dr. Stern recommends taking a break from over-processed products like gels, acrylics, and polish. If you can't, make sure you're being gentle when removing nail enhancements and searching for products that have skin-benefiting ingredients. "Look for nail treatments that have scientific validity and are formulated with natural ingredients," says Dr. Stern.

Additionally, moisturizing your nails with cuticle oil can go a long way. "Nails love oil and conditioner," says Saunders. "Remember, nails are made of keratin protein, so you want to treat nails as gently as you treat hair and condition often." Aaron also recommends staying on top of your daily supplements, such as vitamin C, biotin, zinc, iron, and magnesium, to ensure your nails are getting the necessary nutrients to remain healthy and strong. Source

8 Simple Nail Care Tips to Banish Dry, Brittle Nails for Good

The best route to stronger, longer nails is mostly through simple lifestyle habits, not pricy nail tools. But getting healthy nails also means kicking some bad habits, such as using your nails as a built-in pocket knife. For doable, helpful nail tips, we talked to the experts about the everyday dos and don'ts of nail care. Follow these steps, and you'll have stronger, longer nails before you know it;

1.) Moisturize your nails

Moisturizing is a well-known secret to healthy skin, but it's often overlooked in nail care. While dry, brittle nails can be the result of many factors, they're ultimately a cry for moisture, so consider proper moisture the foundation of your nail care routine. When applying hand lotion, give your nails a little extra attention. There are plenty of moisturizing nail products on the market, but applying moisturizer is really only half the battle—there's more to strong nails than a fancy cream or serum.

2.) Leave Your Cuticles Alone

It's common practice to cut, push back, or try to get rid of cuticles altogether, but cuticles are not the enemy. In fact, the cuticle is "the nail's natural protective seal," according to Dana Stern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, and nail expert. Messing with your cuticles can do far more harm than good—even if a nail technician is the one doing the handiwork. Dr. Stern says a compromised cuticle can leave the nails vulnerable and at risk of infection. Michele Green, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist, agrees that poorly kept cuticles can have a domino effect. "When your cuticles get dry or injured it can injure the nail bed and affect the way your nails grow out," Dr. Green says. She recommends moisturizing the cuticles with cream or cuticle oil (like Deborah Lippmann's Cuticle Oil) to help protect and strengthen your nails.

3.) Avoid Contact With Water

Don't stop washing your hands or shower with gloves on, but do pay attention to ways you can reduce the time your nails spend in contact with water because excessive water contact can weaken nail structure. (Wet hair is especially vulnerable, and the same caution-when-wet approach you take to handling wet locks can apply to nail care, too.) For example, consider wearing gloves while doing the dishes or other wet work.

Do you know how soft and bendy nails get after a long bath? Consider this: "The nail is like a sponge. It is 1,000 times more absorptive of water than the skin, for example, and so water can easily diffuse into the nail," Dr. Stern says. Excessive water exposure can put significant strain on delicate nail cells (called onychocytes), which can lead to brittleness, peeling, and breakage, she says. This is also why soaking nails before a manicure is a bad practice. Not only does this make your nails more vulnerable to infection, according to Dr. Green, but it also doesn't allow nail polish to adhere as well or last as long.

4.) Be Gentle

The best nail care is gentle care, according to Susan C. Taylor, MD, board-certified dermatologist, and expert in treating skin of color. For starters, Dr. Taylor advocates against invasively digging under your nails. "Sometimes people take the pointy end of a nail file and they dig underneath their nails to get the dirt out," she says. "You don't want to do that, because it can separate the nail plate from the underlying bed, and then you can develop a bacterial fungal infection."

For similar reasons, you should resist the urge to use your nails as replacement tools—no matter how convenient it may be. (There are plenty of other creative ways to open a can of soda.) And if you do indulge in an acrylic or gel manicure—which you should only do sparingly—correct removal is important. Look for a good gel nail polish kit for at-home manicures that include all the necessary tools to properly treat your nails. "When you peel [acrylic or gel nails] off, you're really peeling layers of the nail, the nail plate, and that's going to weaken your nails—so that's a no-no," Dr. Taylor says.

5.) Treat Your Nails Like You Treat Your Hair

It's the new golden rule. Hair and nails are both composed of keratin proteins, so it makes sense that many of the same rules for treatment apply. Dr. Stern says both hair and nails can become dehydrated and damaged from over-processing. Frequent polish removal, gels, and acrylics do to nails what dyes, chemicals, and heat application do to hair. Just as hydration can help repair hair issues such as frizz and split ends, it can help improve dry and brittle nails. There's no nail care equivalent to second-day hair, but operating as though there are hard and fast rules for how to wash, care for, and use your nails can help keep them in the same good shape as your hair.

It bears repeating: Hydration is the foundation. "Just as you would condition your hair with a leave-in or rich conditioner, I would condition your cuticles as well to promote healthy, growing nails," Dr. Green says.

6.) Watch the Weather

Winter can be a rough time for skin, hair, and nails alike. Not only can cool, dry weather cause nails to get extra brittle, but Dr. Stern says the extreme swings in temperature from going outdoors to indoors can cause additional damage. The shift from a heated home or office to the chilly open air can cause nail cells to contract and expand repetitively, resulting in a weakening between the cells, leading to breakage, she says. It's smart to always wear gloves in the winter and, you guessed it, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize to protect both the skin of your hands and your nails.

7.) Rethink Your Products

• Nail files: Instead of those old-as-time emery boards, which Dr. Stern says "create microscopic tears in the nail that lead to splits and peeling," opt for a glass or crystal nail file (like OPI's Crystal Nail File).
• Nail polish remover: In the best-case scenario, you would avoid nail polish remover altogether. But since most of us aren't going to entirely give up the joy of a nice manicure, it's better to instead use non-acetone removers (like ella+mila Soy Nail Polish Remover) that contain hydrating oils and ingredients.
• Nail brush: Instead of digging under your nails with tools such as a filer, which Dr. Taylor warns against, use a gentle nail brush (like the Luxxii Fine Handle Grip Nail Brush) to clean out the dirt. Or, for a resourceful alternative, use an extra toothbrush you have lying around.
• Nail growth products: Go ahead and pass on these. "So many of the so-called nail treatment or nail growth products on the market are in reality clear nail polishes with marketing additives that have no scientific validity," Dr. Stern says.

8.) Be Patient With Nail Growth

If you're a chronic nail-biter, you know the victory of finally growing your nails out past your fingertips. Healthy habits plus patience pay off in nail care. But the primary focus should be on figuring out how to strengthen your nails, not solving the puzzle of how to grow nails fast. Stronger nails can lead to longer nails if you practice good nail care, but it all takes time. If you battle brittle nails and constant breakage, it's smart to keep your nails clipped short until they regain strength; then they'll have the foundation they need to grow longer.

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Foot Care for Seniors: 10 Important Tips

Proper foot care is essential for older adults because it can help prevent injuries, falls and complications from chronic diseases like diabetes. 

1.) Be good to your soles. As you age, the muscle tissue in your feet can thin and your nerves may not work effectively. This can lead to loss of feeling in your feet (neuropathy). Use a long-handled mirror – it will extend your reach several inches – to see what you may not feel. Examine the soles of your feet and in-between your toes every day for cuts, blisters, sores or any areas of skin breakdown from moisture. This is especially important if you have diabetes.

2.) Choose the right footwear. Wearing the right footwear can help you keep your balance, prevent falls and reduce the risk of blisters and other injuries. Never purchase shoes that rub or slide around on your heel as you walk – this is a common way to develop blisters that can become more serious sores. Also avoid shoes that are too tight, slick on the bottom, have high heels or pointy toes. If you have diabetes or neuropathy, talk with your doctor about prescription orthotics (supports or devices worn in your shoes). You may be eligible for custom orthotics partially covered by Medicare.

3.) Get the right fit. Here are a few suggestions:

• Prop up your feet on a stool or couch when sitting down
• Wiggle your toes when you sit for long periods of time
• Stretch daily
• Give yourself regular foot massages

4.) Barefoot isn’t better. When going outdoors, always wear shoes (preferably closed-toe shoes) to prevent cuts, scrapes and falls. It’s also best to wear shoes as much as possible while indoors to protect your feet.

5.) Keep your toenails in tip-top shape. Trimming your toenails correctly (straight across and no shorter than the tip of your toe) is key for preventing ingrown toenails. If you have diabetes or trouble reaching your feet, see a podiatrist (a physician who specializes in foot care), not a nail salon technician, for regular medical pedicures and nail trimming.

6.) Get the blood flowing. As you age, you may have decreased blood circulation to your feet. To promote healthy circulation:

• Prop up your feet on a stool or couch when sitting down
• Wiggle your toes when you sit for long periods of time
• Stretch daily
• Give yourself regular foot massages
• And, if you smoke, now’s the time to quit. Smoking can affect good circulation in the body.

7.) Keep your feet dry … Change your socks regularly and make sure your feet aren’t damp from sweat or a shower before putting on your shoes.

8.) … But not too dry. Keep your feet moisturized to prevent cracking, itching and calluses. Stick with gentle soap and apply cream or lotion daily after your shower or bath.

9.) Fight fungal infections. Prevent athlete’s foot by wearing shoes that fit properly, changing your socks or stockings daily (or whenever they become damp) and applying foot powder each day. If you experience itching or burning, see your podiatrist for treatment.

10.) Visit your podiatrist regularly for foot checks. Your podiatrist can catch problems like bone spurs, hammertoe, neuromas, bunions, warts, ingrown toenails or wounds before they cause more serious problems.

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7 Pedicure Safety Tips for People With Diabetes

The forecast calls for sunny weather. You want to slip into sandals or open toe-shoes, but your feet have to look their best. A pedicure is an option. But if you have type 2 diabetes, a pedicure comes with some risks. One is the risk of infection from a poorly sterilized pedicure tool or a cut. Infection can raise your blood sugar levels, interfere with proper healing and put you at risk of more serious complications like ulcers and even amputation.

So before scheduling a visit to the nail salon, check with your physician to make sure it’s okay to get a pedicure.“People with poorly-controlled diabetes can develop foot problems, such as decreased circulation or nerve damage, which can lead to serious complications,” says Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD, a clinical endocrinologist and vice president of Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute.

“Poor circulation can make your feet less able to fight infection. Nerve damage can cause loss of feeling, so if you injure your foot, you may not know it,” says Dr. Tsimikas said. “This makes cuts and nicks in the nail salon something you really want to avoid if you have diabetes.” If given the green light for a pedicure, stick to a few basic precautions that can significantly reduce your risk of infection and lead to a safer, more pleasant experience.

Follow these tips if you have type 2 diabetes and are considering getting a pedicure;

1. Know when to skip a pedicure

If you currently have any infections, cuts, or open sores on your legs, feet, or toenails, avoid the salon and the many risks. This applies also if you have neuropathy, which is a type of nerve damage that can occur with diabetes. Instead, contact your physician for a referral to a podiatrist or other specialist who is medically trained to care for your feet.

2. Avoid shaving your legs for a day or two before your pedicure

Shaving can leave tiny nicks in your skin and increase the risk of infection. If you have neuropathy, it can lead to a loss of sensation to the affected areas. Without the ability to feel pain, people with diabetic neuropathy can allow small cuts or blisters on their feet to fester into larger sores or ulcers which can become infected.

3. Find a salon that is clean and practices impeccable sanitation

Tell the manager you have diabetes and inquire about their sterilization procedures. Reputable salons will work with you and show you how they operate. Foot baths should be cleaned and disinfected between customers. Clippers and other tools should be washed and sanitized in a disinfecting solution or a surgical autoclave, which uses pressurized steam to sterilize instruments.

4. Bring your own nail kit

Play it safe and bring your own pedicure tools if possible.

5. Mention you have diabetes before the pedicure begins

Ask the technician to avoid doing anything that can scratch or injure the skin. Speak up if you don’t like what the technician is doing.

6. Bring up protective practices

Ask the technician not to cut your nails too short, as this can encourage ingrown toenails and lead to infection. Make sure toenail edges are not sharp; they should be rounded off with a file.

7. Skip any services that can injure the skin

Never allow the technician to cut your cuticles or use any sharp instruments on your skin or under your toenails. Instead, after your feet have been soaking for a few minutes and the skin around your toes is soft, cuticles can be gently pushed back with an orange stick, which is the thin stick, typically made of orange wood that is used for manicuring. After your pedicure is finished, keep an eye on your feet and legs for any signs of redness or infection. If you notice anything unusual, call your doctor right away. Source

Why Sockless Loafers and Fungal Foot Infections Go Hand in Hand

Calling all trendy men: stop wearing your loafers without socks, or you’re at major risk for fungal foot infections! And even if you don’t develop an infection, your feet will start to stink if you wear those trendsetting loafers without socks. Unfortunately, the look, originally made popular by stars such as Ryan Gosling and Jude Law, came back in style recently. And with its return came a dramatic rise in bad foot odor and cases of athlete’s foot.

Sockless Loafers and Fungal Foot Infections

When fungal foot infections rise, so do the sales of over-the-counter athlete’s foot treatments. And, according to pharmacist Omar El-Gohary, people are also coming to see him for help  minimizing foot odor when wearing shoes without socks. But his answer is clear: you need those socks to keep the stink (and infections) away. Says El-Gohary. “People should use cotton [socks] over nylon, and make sure these are changed daily to avoid a build-up of bacteria.”

Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is a very contagious form of fungus, which can infect persons usually resulting in itching, burning, dry, and flaking feet. Treatment is often difficult, because of its contagious and reoccurring nature. Tinea pedis is the fungus which causes athletes foot, and is found to survive in moist humid areas.

Common places found:

-shower floors

-public changing areas -locker rooms

-Gyms

-bathrooms

-public swimming pools

-socks and shoes

-dormitory style houses

What is Tinea Pedi?

Is the same fungus which causes ringworm, and is known to be spread by direct contact of the infected body part. Or infection can spread by touching other objects and body parts which have been exposed to the fungus. Tinea Pedi is mostly found on the feet, because it is the ideal place for it to thrive on.

Treatment & Prevention

Because of the reoccurring nature of tinea fungus and athlete’s foot, the best way to treat this condition is with prevention. By taking the necessary precautions such as:

-Wear flips-flops or sandals in locker rooms and public showers.

-Use powders t keep your feet dry

-Keep your feet exposed to light and cool air

-treating athletes foot with special creams/sprays

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How "Red Nail Theory" Can Help Unlock Your Inner Confidence

Red nail theory revamps the idea of the timeless red manicure into a vehicle for instant attention—perhaps even of the romantic variety. If you’ve ever experienced the self-assuredness that comes when you incorporate red into your makeup or wardrobe, you’ve already done a bit of case testing. 

Red Nail Theory Origins

Red nail theory cropped up in early 2022 when public relations expert and creator Robyn Delmonte noticed the effect and took to TikTok to coin it. “I know guys are attracted to red nails, and I’ll tell you why,” Delmonte asserts, gesticulating with her cherry-red manicure. “Every time I have red nails [...] a guy comments on it.” She postulates that the positive association comes from ‘90s beauty norms and the fact that many of the era’s female caretakers rocked the red. 

Eiseman agrees with the hypothesis. “Much of color association starts in childhood,” she explains. “It is a logical conclusion that men would be attracted to red nail polish as a reminder of the colors their mothers wore on their nails at a significant time when they were strongly connected and dependent.”

Since then, the trend has taken on a life of its own, with TikTokers painting nails in the most fiery shades while discussing the theory and reporting results. 

Does Red Nail Theory Actually Work?

“Associations with red can be culturally significant, thereby evoking specific emotions and perceptions,” says Dr. Yusim. “Red is often associated with love, romance, and passion in many cultures.” She adds that red is the color of blood, which calls to mind vitality and energy—and that all of these associations can, indeed, subconsciously influence how individuals perceive someone wearing red nail polish.

“I think that the red nail theory is a real thing because psychologically, we associate red with passion, love, and power,” says Hanna. “While it’s not necessarily scientifically proven that red nails are attractive, it often makes you appear more confident and alluring.”

The shade holds an equally powerful position when it occurs naturally, further proving the theory’s broader point. “Red is mother nature’s signal color—think of hummingbirds and their attraction to red,” says Eiseman. “It is a dynamic color that is impossible to ignore.”

Benefits and Limitations

Regardless of the truth of the theory, red nail polish offers a quick confidence boost. “Wearing red nail polish can be seen as a form of confident self-expression, showing that one is not afraid to stand out and be noticed,” says Dr. Yusim. “Confidence can contribute to attractiveness: when individuals feel confident and comfortable in their own skin, it can make them more appealing to others.”

That said, there’s absolutely no guarantee that the red-nail reaction is a universal one—and that initial attention can only get us so far. “Individual preferences of what is attractive versus not vary widely, and it's important to remember that personal qualities and interactions play a significant role in attracting others, rather than solely relying on the color of nail polish,” says Dr. Yusim. 

Controversies and Criticisms

A 2008 study published in the Journal of Personality & Social Psychology found that red, relative to other achromatic and chromatic colors, led men to view women as more attractive and sexually desirable—and that men were unaware of the effect. But while wearing red on your nails may succeed in getting a human being’s attention, this likely has more to do with the bold nature of the color (and that association’s effects on both parties) and less to do with said human’s mom or other past matriarchal figures. 

“Ultimately, feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin, expressing yourself authentically, and cultivating positive personal qualities are likely to have a more significant impact on attracting others than the specific color of nail polish you choose,” says Dr. Yusim. She adds that an individual’s associations with colors—as well as their experience with past caretakers, again the crux of the original theory—varies widely and cannot be counted on as universal. Source

Have you exfoliated lately?

Social media has a way of making the ho-hum seem fresh and novel. Case in point: exfoliation, the process of removing dead cells from the skin's outer layer. Anyone scrolling through TikTok lately might be convinced this longtime skin care approach can transform something old — let's say our aging epidermis — into like-new skin. But a Harvard dermatologist says that's asking too much.

"I don't think exfoliation is going to fix anybody's wrinkles," says Rachel Reynolds, MD, interim chair of dermatology at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. While exfoliation offers definite benefits, it can also irritate and inflame the skin if you don't do it carefully, or use tools or chemicals your skin doesn't tolerate.

How is exfoliation done?

There are two main ways to exfoliate: mechanical and chemical. Each boasts specific advantages.

• Mechanical (or physical) exfoliation uses a tool such as a brush or loofah sponge, or a scrub containing abrasive particles, to physically remove dead skin cells. "Mechanical exfoliation can improve skin luster by taking off a dead layer of skin that can make it look dull," Dr. Reynolds says. "And it can help unclog pores a bit, which can reduce some types of acne."
• Chemical exfoliation uses chemicals — often alpha and beta hydroxy acids or salicylic acid — to liquify dead skin cells. "Chemical exfoliants work on a more micro-level to help dissolve excess skin cells and reduce uneven pigmentation sitting at the surface of the skin," she explains. "They also restore skin glow, improve acne, and give the skin a little more shine."

Do we need to exfoliate our skin?

No. "Nothing happens if you don't exfoliate — you just walk around with bumpy or slightly dry skin, which is inconsequential except for cosmetic reasons," Dr. Reynolds says.

"No one has to exfoliate, but it can be helpful to exfoliate the arms and legs," she adds. "As we age, these areas get more dry than other parts of the body, and people notice they build up a lot more flaking skin and an almost fish-scale appearance."

That phenomenon may or may not be a sign of keratosis pilaris, a common but harmless skin condition characterized by rough, bumpy "chicken skin" on the upper arms and thighs. Physical exfoliators are a good first choice because keratosis pilaris covers areas that have tougher skin than the face, she says. But it's fine to use a cleanser or lotion containing a chemical exfoliant instead. Either type can improve skin texture and the skin's appearance.

Can exfoliation harm our skin?

Yes. Both physical and chemical exfoliation techniques can do more harm than good, depending on several factors. Sensitive skin is more likely to become irritated or inflamed by any exfoliant. And overdoing it — whether by rubbing too hard or using a product with higher concentrations of acid — can trigger irritant contact dermatitis, which can look red, angry, and chapped.

"Physical exfoliation that's done too harshly can also aggravate inflammatory acne, making it worse," Dr. Reynolds says. "Also, exfoliating can make you more prone to sunburn."

What are the safest ways to exfoliate?

Dr. Reynolds recommends chemical exfoliants over physical versions. "Sometimes the abrasives in those apricot scrubs, for example, can go too far, aggravating the skin and creating inflammation," she says.

She offers these additional tips to exfoliate safely:

• If you haven't exfoliated before, start with a simple washcloth to determine how well your skin responds to mild attempts at physical exfoliation.
• Then try gentler chemical exfoliants, such as lower concentrations of hydroxy acids or salicylic acid. Work your way up to stronger concentrations only if needed.
• If you're hoping to eradicate stubborn skin problems such as melasma (brown facial patches) or comedonal acne (small, skin-colored bumps often on the forehead or chin), consider undergoing a chemical peel at a dermatologist's office.
• Don't exfoliate every day. "At most, do it two or three times a week," Dr. Reynolds says. "Your skin needs to repair itself in between exfoliation episodes."

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Chinese Master: "Your Big Toe Tells a lot About Your Health"

 

 

In this video MASTER MU YUCHUN shows us a massage technique that can help improve our health and increase the circulation of blood. He talks about the importance of caring for your feet at all ages. It all starts with the movement and massaging of the big toe. This is based on information we know from Chinese medicine. 

Valentine's Day Nail Art Designs

 

 

Here is a Valentine's Day nail art design compilation with six different beginner friendly tutorials for cute Valentine's Day manicures!