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Nail problems
Hangnails,Flaking nails,White flecks,Mending broken
nails,Discoloured nails,Brittle nails
Nail problems
Hangnails
Tears in the cuticle or in the skin at the sides of a nail are
called hangnails. They are usually due to dryness, which makes
the skin less supple and so more liable to crack. Regular use
of a hand or cuticle cream will counteract this. It is
also important to keep the cuticles loose so that they do not
adhere to the nail, and move forward with it as it grows as
this will cause them to stretch and eventually to tear.
Hangnails can be cut away with manicure scissors, but take care
not to cut the cuticle itself.
Flaking nails
Nails flake when the natural glue which binds the dead cell
layers together is weakened either by overlong immersion in
water or contact with harsh cleansers or detergents. Again,
wearing rubber gloves for household tasks should help. Paint-on
nail-strengtheners can also be good for reinforcing flaking
nails.
White flecks
It used to be thought that these were caused by a shortage of
calcium, but doctors no longer believe that they have anything
to do with diet. In fact, the most common cause is damage to
the nail, either from a minor accident or during a manicure.
(Occasionally, a fungus infection of the nail causes white
spots to appear. This requires medical attention.)
If you split or break a nail you can repair it with the help of
a nail mending kit. This consists of a bonding liquid and tiny,
thin paper tissues, which can be used to patch over splits or
breaks, or even temporarily reattach a nail tip which has
completely broken off. Follow the pack directions carefully and
afterwards paint over the nail to hide the repair. Also
available for mending broken nails are strong, fast-bonding
glues, which are used without re-inforcing tissues. You could
also disguise breaks by using either full false nails or false
tips.
Discoloured nails
Smoking can cause discolouration of the nails, and so can
contact with some chemicals. Certain illnesses may also make
them appear dark or greyish. However, the most common cause of
staining is nail polish, particularly deep-coloured polishes.
The problem can usually be prevented by using a base coat
first.
Use hand cream regularly to benefit your nails too
Brittle nails
The exact cause of this condition is not known, but it is
thought that the drying effects of household cleansers and
detergents, long immersion in water, and too-frequent use of
nail polish removers are contributing factors. There is also a
tendency for nails to become more brittle with age. Wearing
rubber gloves for household tasks should help; and regular use
of a hand or cuticle cream will help to relieve surface dryness
even though it cannot cure the problem.
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