Like a great new haircut or a terrific skin care regimen, healthy, well manicured nails are an integral part of a neat, pulled together appearance one that can work as an asset in both the social and the business world. Unfortunately, experts say both men and women fall prey to myths and old wives tales about how to care for nails. Another pitfall: many of us rely on the guidance of salons, some of which may not be doling out the best advice or treatments.
To help set the record sttraight and get you on the road to beautiful nails three top dermatologists offer these tips for achieving healthy, well groomed, elegant nails.
- Trim your nails regularly
Use manicure clippers and trim your nails straight across. It's easier to trim or file your nails after a bath or shower since your nails are soft and more gentle to clip - Don't cut or manipulate cuticles
Whether you have your nails professionally groomed or do them yourself, the No. 1 recommendation is leave your cuticles alone, says Dana Stern, MD, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
"The cuticle is teh natural to fungsu and bacteria and once you breach that, protection is lost," she says. This will not only make cuticles look worse red, swollen, and ragged but may also land you a nasty infection that harms the nail bed and leads to permanent nail damage. And while cutting cuticles holds the most potential for harm, pushing them back can cause problems as well. - Moisturize the nail bed and the cuticle
While there is little in the way of medical data showing that moisturizing the nail bed will helps nails grow, it can make cuticles look better and help protect nails from breaking due to a lack of moisture. "If your nails are prone to breakage, it could mean they need moisture and putting oil around the cuticle helps moisturize the entire nail, which will reduce the incidence of chipping, cracking, and splitting," says Margaret Ravits, MD, a dermatologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. - Use hand lotion
When using moisturizer, you soften your hands and your fingernails and cuticles become soft and stronger and make them healthier looking and makes your skin soft too. - Keep them hydrated
Rub a penny size amount of olive oil on your cuticle and the skin around your nails every night before you go to bed or when your nails are dry.
See also information about 5 Natural Beauty Tips
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