A Dozen Tips for More Beautiful Nails

[hazel]

Like a great new haircut or a terrific skincare regimen, healthy, well-manicured nails are an integral part of a neat, pulled-together appearanceâ€"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 adviceâ€"or treatments.

To help set the record straightâ€"and get you on the road to beautiful nailsâ€"three top dermatologists offer these 12 tips for achieving healthy, well-groomed, elegant nails.



1. Don't cut or manipulate cuticles.

Whether you have your nails professionally groomed or do them yourself, the number one recommendation is to leave your cuticles alone, says Dana Stern, MD, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

"The cuticle is the natural barrier to fungus and bacteriaâ€"and once you breach that, protection is lost," she says. This will not only make cuticles look worseâ€"red, swollen, and raggedâ€"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.

2. Use nail hardeners sparinglyâ€"or not at all.

"The take-home message here is that a lot of them do more damage than good," says Stern. She reminds us that these products are not studied clinically, so most claims are not backed up by science. Unless nails are exceptionally weak and fragile, she says, most people don't benefit from a nail hardener.

Healthy nails are flexible nails, she says, so to keep yours from breaking, avoid anything that makes them more brittle.

3. Moisturize the nail bed and the cuticle.

While there is little in the way of medical data showing that moisturizing the nail bed will help 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 moistureâ€"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.

4. Take biotin supplements.

In several studies, researchers found that supplements of biotin (a member of the vitamin B family) increased nail thickness and prevented splitting and breaking. In a respected German study that evaluated 45 people with severe nail problems, 2.5 milligrams of biotin daily for several months benefited everyoneâ€"with 91 percent of the 45 citing significant improvement. NYU dermatologist Sumayah Jamal, MD, says to get the effect, it's vital that you take the prescription strength, therapeutic level of 2.5 milligrams daily.

Some nail products also contain silicon and the supplement MSM, two other nutrients associated with nail health.

The one supplement that won't work: Gelatin. Experts say eating or soaking in it won't do a thing to increase nail strengthâ€"and a liquid soak may actually waterlog and eventually weaken nails. Stern adds there is little scientific evidence that supplements or nail products containing calcium, yeast, or fluoride have any significant impact on nail health either.

5. Limit professional manicures.

While it's hard to beat the pampering luxury of a pedicure or manicure, a study just completed by Stern and colleagues at Mt. Sinai showed those who indulged regularly were the most likely to suffer from dry, brittle nails. The doctors theorize that exposure to more chemicals and harsher ingredients may be one reason. Jamal adds that women who get manicures frequently suffer from chronic nail bed infections, evidenced by puffy, reddened areas around the base of the nail. "When you look at your finger sideways the area around your nail bed should be flat. If it's puffy, that's evidence of a chronic infection," says Jamal.

One way to reduce problems, say the experts, is to take your own tools to the manicure. This, says Jamal, will definitely cut down on the risk of infections and help ensure a healthier experience.

6. Avoid acetone-based polish removers.

"The one product that all dermatologists agree you should avoid if you have brittle nails is acetone nail polish remover. It has been documented time and again that it strips the nails, causing them to become brittleâ€"which is something we found in our study as well," says Stern.

7. Avoid rough emery boards.

Those old-fashioned orange emery boards are too harsh for nails, causing small fissures and cracks that lead to breakage and tears, says Ravits. Instead, she says, file nails with a smooth, fine file and don't saw back and forth. Instead, Ravits says, file in one direction only, and do it slowly and evenly to reduce risk of breakage.

8. Don't overdo hand washing and limit contact with cleaning chemicals.

As healthy as it can be to wash your hands frequently, overdo it and you'll wreak havoc with your nails, says Stern. If you are in a profession where frequent hand washing is mandatory, she advises to use moisturizer as often as possible and rub a little extra around the cuticles several times a day.

When doing housework or laundry, Jamal says, minimize contact with harsh chemicals, including dishwashing liquid, by wearing rubber gloves whenever possible.

9. Change shampoos.

While most women know when a shampoo doesn't agree with their hair, many don't realize it may not agree with their nailsâ€"even if their hair looks great. This, say experts, is particularly true of detergent shampoos, or those for oily hair, which are designed to strip lipids and other natural oils from the scalp. "If your nails are very dry and you are using any soap product that strips the oils, there is the potential to dry the nails," says Stern.

10. Choose nail tips over full extensions.

All our experts told WebMD that, in general, nail extensions are bad news for nails, frequently leading to fungal or even bacterial infectionsâ€"and, says Stern, sometimes to permanent damage. If you must wear nail extensions, she says, opt for just tips. While they can still cause problems, the potential for damage is less since the surface area covered is smaller.

11. Remember toenails count, too!

Everything that applies to your fingernails applies to your toenails, which experts say may be even more prone to problems due to careless pedicures. "Because feet are more often inside shoesâ€"a dark, moist environmentâ€"fungus can grow more easily," says Ravits. If you get regular pedicures, experts say take your own instruments and never let the tech dig under the nail or around the cuticle. Moreover, Ravits says cutting toenails at an angleâ€" instead of straight acrossâ€"increases the risk of ingrown toenails, which can be painful and sometimes develop into an infection.

12. Watch your nails for signs of health problems.

Most of the time, nail problems can be traced to environmental assaultsâ€"exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals, use of drying nail products, or just general physical abuse, such as typing or excessive use of fingertips.

That said, the American Academy of Dermatology advises that the condition of your nails can sometimes reflect a problem in your overall health. Here's what they say to look out for:

    * White nailsâ€"liver condition
    * Half pink/half white nailsâ€"kidney disease
    * Yellowing and thickening of the nail, slowed growth rateâ€"lung disease
    * Pale nail bedsâ€"anemia
    * Yellow-tinged nails with a slight blush at the baseâ€"diabetes


In 2005, a group of doctors in Ireland found that the earliest signs of the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis might be detected in the nails. In a study conducted at the University of Limerick, researchers discovered something called disulphide bondâ€"present in both nails and bonesâ€"was lower in people with osteoporosis.

Of course, if you suspect health problems, discuss any findings or concerns with your doctor.

source: oprah.com/beauty

[pioneer]

A research study I once read  says that the health of one's nails is a good indication of one's overall health status. My nails have never tasted any chemical of all sorts. My nails are so transparent that I can see the map of my blood.

[hazel]

I thought it's the map of Bohol.

[Happy]

hahaha

kalimot man diay ko panghinguku oi 

[Mari]

im not really fond of going to salons for manicure, i clean them and cut it really short kay lisud sa computer keys. pero kay gilaay man ko diri, kalingawan tawn nako, mao ni nahitabo sa ako mga kuko...

[C2H4]

Miss Mari,

nindot kaayo ang design, artistic jud ka Miss Mari...

Ganahan kaayo ko mag tan-aw anang mga french tips, pretty kaayo...

pero never pa ko nakatilaw ana kay kanunay mubo akong nails...

[Mari]

pirmi jud ni tuptup pagkaputol ako nails C2 kay naa ra baya ko sa computer. hasulan ko sa taas. pero karon diri sa Bohol, i feel so bored so way lain nabisyuhan, ang ako kuko. wa man koy gamit pareho kang ms da binsi, nail polish sa lamang. samtang nagtan aw sa cable tv, dia nagkalingay og nail art.

[C2H4]

Miss Mari,

nganong bored man ka diha sa Bohol?

Asa man diay imong palalabs?

[Mari]

nay di man lang ang palalabs reason oy. bag o pa man lang gud ko diri so wa pa makaestablish. then wala sad suroyan sa duol. maayo tag tua ra ko duol sa beach kay magkalingaw kog photography. diri sa syudad wa man koy mahimo, mall - balay ra jud. i get so bored so easy ms C2

[C2H4]

I saw some pics of you nga ga paint ka.

Maybe you should do more paintings (like Miss Belle)...paintings of life in Tagbi.

I'd love to see that.

[Mari]

i used to do that before pero nawa na sad sa gana. im into photography and jewelries nasad

[ms da binsi]

Miss Mari,

nindot kaayo ang design, artistic jud ka Miss Mari...

Ganahan kaayo ko mag tan-aw anang mga french tips, pretty kaayo...

pero never pa ko nakatilaw ana kay kanunay mubo akong nails...

Wa pod ko ana C2 kay sigi ra ko pang hunaw. laba ug trapo sa kusina ug banyo. hahhahha

ningsulay ko anang  patapot nga kuko palit nako sa walgreens..

tangtang dayun pagka hapon kay sigi man basa2x ug tubig

[C2H4]

Wa pod ko ana C2 kay sigi ra ko pang hunaw. laba ug trapo sa kusina ug banyo. hahhahha

ningsulay ko anang  patapot nga kuko palit nako sa walgreens..

tangtang dayun pagka hapon kay sigi man basa2x ug tubig

Limpyada jud ka Miss Belle,

Wala jud na germs imong house, for sure.

[ms da binsi]

ningbalhin na sa akong kamot C2...


ambot ngano...

[C2H4]

are you a germophobe, miss belle?

I'm a germ lover...hahahaha

[ms da binsi]

no dili man...


pantasya man gud nako morag hotel among balay...

mao gyud na akong pantasya kanunay C2...

[C2H4]

HaaaYyy,

mao pud na akong pantasya Miss Belle...

pero kutob ra na sa pantasya gyud siguro

[ms da binsi]

kana gud  towels everyday ilis....

white...

hahhha shu-ang naman tingali ko ani....

[C2H4]

Ahahaha!

Murag to the next level na nang imo, Miss Belle.

Kada adlaw gyud ilis sa towels.

[ms da binsi]

hahhahahha

mao lagi, bisan pa gyud na sa una...

i ws born very poor pero naa na gyud na sa akong alimpatakan since gamay pa ko, nga ill do it someday....

[C2H4]

Kalami siguro mo stay sa imong house Miss Belle...

and when I leave, I'll take your towels with me.

Kay murag hotel gud...

[ms da binsi]

ahhhahah you can....

pakapinan pa ka ug shampoo hahhahhahhahha


ug sabon hhahahhahhahha


ayaw lang ang robe kay mahal 2x gamay hahhhahha

[C2H4]

apili ug tsinelas ha

[ms da binsi]

apil gyud naa pay ngalan initial nimo hahhahhah

[C2H4]

Hahaha!

Nindota gud.

Sobra pa's 5 star, wala ra ang Hilton Hotels.

[ms da binsi]

hhahhahahahhahah


sus ug nadato pa lang ko...


ambooot laaaang!!!

[C2H4]

HaaaYyy,

kanus-a pa ta makadaug sa lotto ani oi

[ms da binsi]

mao gyud...


mag out of town gani mo palit gyud...

kasagaran raba anang ning daug kay nag out of town...


i dont know tinuod bana....

[C2H4]

Ambot lang pud kaha, Miss Belle.

[Mari]

HaaaYyy,

kanus-a pa ta makadaug sa lotto ani oi

murag nakadaug naman mo sa lotto mga donya sa inyong mga life karon with matching love of your life. paapila pud kog puyo sa inyo ms belle. weakness jud nako ang toilet. murag di nako mogawas ana

[ms da binsi]

hahhahhahha

ining ari nimo Mari... you are very welcome...


hay maghinay2x na dagway ko ug advertise ninyo diri...

hala mora man ko ug pimp ani. hahhahhahha

[Mari]

hahhahhahha

ining ari nimo Mari... you are very welcome...


hay maghinay2x na dagway ko ug advertise ninyo diri...

hala mora man ko ug pimp ani. hahhahhahha

di na kinahanglan advertise ms belle, ang imo ra banyo ako suroyon og ang imo mga painting, pakapinan sad kotex sa imong mga kuko

[ms da binsi]

hahahhhaqhahha

[Mari]

hahhahhahha

ining ari nimo Mari... you are very welcome...


hay maghinay2x na dagway ko ug advertise ninyo diri...

hala mora man ko ug pimp ani. hahhahhahha

di jud nako kalimtan og hapit and maple

[C2H4]

Miss Mari,

talk of maples remind me that nice song from Gavin deGraw,

Chariot is the title, I think

[Mari]

Miss Mari,

talk of maples remind me that nice song from Gavin deGraw,

Chariot is the title, I think

naghandum bitaw kog maple and oak leaves

[hazel]

Miss Mari,

talk of maples remind me that nice song from Gavin deGraw,

Chariot is the title, I think

Oh chariot your golden waves
are walking down upon this face
Oh chariot I'm singing out loud
To guide me
Give me your...
Strength