Normal healthy fingernails grow about one-tenth of a millimeter per day. Meanwhile, toenails grow about one-half or one-third times the rate of fingernail growth. Age and disease will decrease blood flow to the hands and feet that may slow nail growth. In countries with four seasons, nails usually grow faster in summer than in winter.
Healthy nails are usually smooth, slippery and there are no cracks or white spots. They will look uniform and did not appear any color changes. Changes in color and shape of the nails can reflect a person's health in general, such as:
* Nails that split, peeling, or brittle usually occurs when your hands are frequently exposed to water, soap and other chemicals.
* Change the color of the nail, for example:
- Small white sign (leukonychia) that often appear after minor injuries. These signs may last for weeks or months and usually disappear.
- The black color that appears after a nail injury. Black or purple-black is caused by blood under the nail and will disappear along with the injury heal.
- Change the color black, brown, or purple under the nail that is not experiencing an injury can be caused by melanoma.
* Changes in shape or texture of nails, which may occur for various reasons. Nail changes, such as the formation of ridges is a normal state with increasing age. Nails are thick, brittle, or dark is more common in older people who have poor blood circulation.
* Ingrown nails (ingrown nail) is often caused by shoes that are too small, improper nail cutting, or ancestry. Nails can grow into the surrounding skin and cause pain, swelling, and infection.
* Infection and allergic reactions.
* Fungal infections of the nails. The shape varies depending on the type of fungus that infects the nail or the location of the infection.
In addition, the problem of the nails can also be caused by:
* Injury to the nail.
* The habit of nail biting, which can cause red and sore fingertips and bleeding of the cuticle. Nail biting also increases the chances of bacterial infection around the nail and in the mouth.
* Side effects of drugs, such as chemotherapy and antimalarial medicines.
* Skin diseases such as psoriasis or eczema.
* The growth of the skin, such as warts, cysts, or moles.
* Other diseases, such as Addison's disease, peripheral arterial disease, or HIV infection.
Caring for your own nails
Caring for nails requires a lot of effort in order to get a good nail. It does not mean to be expensive to do the treatment at the salon, nail care can also be done at home. To be healthy, nails should be kept moisture and hydration. Habit of using cuticle oil and nail cream amplifier can help nail growth. Meanwhile, solutions and household appliances can damage nails. Here are tips on how to care for their own nails at home to get healthy nails:
* Apply cream on hand throughout the day. And massage the cream into the nails and cuticles.
* Wear gloves when working in the garden or when the weather turns cold.
* Wear cotton-lined rubber gloves or disposable plastic gloves to protect hands from exposure to water, detergents, and other chemicals.
* Cut nails after a bath every week, when the nails softer. Pay attention to not cut the nail too short and use a sharp clippers for cutting nails. Smooth and manicured nails less likely to be damaged.
* Cut your toenails after a bath every month. Nail clippers with a straight shape and leave the nails a little longer at the corner of the nail so that the tip of a sharp nails do not hurt the entrance into the skin.
* Take extra care when cutting baby's nails.
* Avoid cutting cuticles, small cuts are in addition to the nail can cause infection.
* Do not bite your nails.
* If you wear nail polish, clear nail polish a day or two days each week, so that nails can "breathe".
* Use a nail polish remover type of non-acetone. Types of acetone nail polish remover removes nail polish quickly, but will dry cuticles. While non-acetone takes more time to remove nail polish, but it will not make your nails and cuticles become dry.
* Add the coconut oil or castor oil while massaging your nails to give sheen to the nails.
* Before doing manicure, dip the nail into a cup of warm water with one teaspoon of lemon juice.
* Insert the tip of the finger into the lemon half and rotate the finger back and forth to clean your nails and cuticles.
To prevent fungal nail infections, can be done following these tips:
* Keep your feet clean and dry. Dry feet tend to be rarely infected. Sowing powder on the feet can be done if needed.
* Wear clean socks and dry. Change socks daily or more frequently if it has been wet.
* Wear open shoes that allow air to circulate around the foot.
* Wear shower sandals when using the swimming pool, spa, and public restrooms.
In addition to care from the outside, healthy nails are also obtained by treatment of the body. Drink plenty of fluids in the form of juice and water good for health of the nail because it will help provide good nutrition and hydration on the body and nails. Consuming foods rich in calcium such as almonds, yogurt, milk, etc. are also good for your nails. In addition, drinking carrot juice is also beneficial for the health of your nails because carrot juice is a source of phosphorus and calcium that help strengthen nails. For those of you who have the problem of dry and brittle nails should increase your intake of foods such as broccoli, apricots, carrots, cheese and other foods rich in vitamin A.
So, still lazy and find it expensive in your nails? Apply nail polish now and get your judgment!
