Healthy Nails
For healthy fingernails, pamper them daily with a gentle buffing or a massage. This increases circulation to the nails, keeping them from cracking and peeling. Rubbing petroleum jelly, vitamin E or a cuticle cream into the cuticles at night will keep them moisturized and also promote nail strength. Wear gloves when washing dishes or cleaning to prevent nails from becoming brittle, and dont use nail polish remover that contains formaldehyde or acetone, both of which are drying.
Recently Answered
- Q How is nail care different for men than for women?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyWhether you’re a man or a woman, it’s important to keep your nails healthy and clean. Trim your nails regularly by cutting them straight across, and avoid cutting the cuticles, the ridge of tissue where the nail meets the skin. Men may... Full Answer
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- Q What do the shape and color of my toenails say about my health?
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Dr. James Ioli, PodiatryYour skin and toenails reveal a lot about your overall health and can provide the first sign of a systemic disease. For instance, nails that are rounded inward like spoons, rather than outward, may indicate a severe iron deficiency. Nails that... Full Answer
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- Q How can I treat yellow nails?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyIf you hide your hands because of unsightly yellow nails, combining two supplements may be the trick you need to show off those digits. Try taking 1,000 mg of vitamin E with 50 mg of zinc daily to get your nails white and healthy. Full Answer
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- Q What are the vertical ridges in my fingernails?
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Dr. Michael Roizen, Internal MedicineVertical ridges are a normal variation of the nail, and they tend to increase as we get older. In black women, these lines may get darker. Sometimes the long lines can be a sign of lichen planus, a disease that affects the skin, mouth and tongue. And... Full Answer
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- Q What is beau's line?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyBeau's lines are a problem that can affect the fingernails. Beau's lines are depressions, or indentations, that may occur across the nail. A person may develop Beau's lines if he or she has had a disease that interfered with the healthy growth of... Full Answer
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- Q What is clubbing?
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Clubbing is a condition in which the ends of the fingers and toes swell and the nails bulge outward. The nails wrap around the fingers or toes and look raised, curved, and shiny. Clubbing occurs more frequently in children born with heart defects and... Full Answer
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- Q Can your fingernails and toenails give clues about your health?
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Dr. Anthony Komaroff, Internal MedicineIn general, looking at the fingernails and toenails is not a reliable way to tell if you are healthy or not. But a careful examination of the nails can provide clues to certain diseases.Here are some examples: Fungal infection: Toenail fungal infections... Full Answer
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- Q What is a home remedy for thick toenails?
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Dr. James Ioli, PodiatryAs people grow older, toenails may become thicker, making them harder to cut. Here's a home remedy that works: apply a bit of Vicks VapoRub ointment (normally used for easing chest congestion) to your thick nails, massaging it on gently. Wipe off... Full Answer
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- Q What could cause horizontal ridges on my fingernails?
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You may be referring to Beau's lines, which are grooves that run horizontally across the nail plate. They usually develop when nail plate growth, which begins in the nail matrix (located under the cuticle), is temporarily disrupted. This can... Full Answer
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- Q Can biting my nails cause me to get sick often?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyBiting your nails isn't pretty, but could it cause you to get sick often? Watch the video to learn from Dr. Oz if biting your nails can cause you to get sick often. Full Answer
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