Your fingernails aren’t just for making your fingers look good; they protect your fingers and help improve dexterity!
Healthy nails are made up of the same protein (keratin) that is in your hair and skin. The part of your fingernail that is visible is called the nail plate; the nail bed is the skin underneath. Nails grow from the base of the nail bed, where the cuticle covers the nail plate. And that white, half-moon shape at the base of your fingernails? That’s called the lunula.
Nails grow very slowly. How slowly? About a tenth of a millimeter per day. It may take as long as six months for a lost fingernail to fully regenerate.
So how do you keep your nails healthy and happy? Here are some simple guidelines:
- Don’t abuse your nails. Try to avoid using them as tools for picking, poking, and prying.
- Protect your nails when using soap and water or chemical cleaners. Cotton lined rubber gloves offer the best protection.
- Don’t bite your nails. I’m guilty of this one. Chewing on your fingernails can damage the nail bed and lead to infection.
- Don’t pick at your cuticles. The cuticles protect new nail growth! Leaving the new cells vulnerable can lead to injury or infection.
- Keep your nails clean and trimmed. Use manicure scissors or clipper for trimming and an emery board to smooth rough edges. Don’t pull off hangnails; doing that almost always injures living tissue. Clip them off instead.
- Use a moisturizer! Nails need moisture just like your skin does. Try to apply lotion to your hands and nails after each time you wash your hands.
Some nail irregularities — like vertical ridges, white lines, or spots — are harmless and will grow out over time. Other discolorations can indicate health issues. Yellow or green discoloration in your fingernails can be a sign of swelling in your hands or a respiratory condition like chronic bronchitis. A persistent nail problem may be worth a doctor’s visit to get checked out.