The Many Ways You Ruin Your Nails!

You are probably obsessed with the latest nail polish colors from your favorite brand and would like to own them all right now! You would follow nail art trends and spend an inordinate amount of time and your hard-earned money getting manicures to maintain your nails, but chances are you’re still breaking your own nail!

Get a scoop on all the ways you handle your, well, hands, and find ways to undo the damage! Read more.

1. Remove nail polish

Picking nail polish is incredibly harmful to your nails. Dermatologists say the nails are made up of cells called onycholysis. When you pick polish off, you’re actually lifting those cells and removing that top layer. Proof that you’ve done wrong? The resulting white spots and bumps are evidence of the stripped cells.

The solution– Carry pre-moistened packs of nail polish remover in your purse for quick removal when you feel the urge to pick or peel. And to avoid the problem in the first place, maintain your manicure for as long as possible with a top-quality top coat.

2. Over-polish (and remove)

While it’s not nearly as harmful as prying nail polish off with your own fingernails, going to town with nail polish remover isn’t good either. Removing polish with a formula containing acetone is very drying. Prolonged exposure can proportionally increase nail dryness and cause more damage.

The solution– Limit your exposure to nail polish remover by brushing less often. If you are someone who repaints her nails every day to match her outfit and mood, stop immediately and consider taking a time out. If you see that your nails need a break, then you need to go on a nail polish vacation. Nails have the amazing ability to repair themselves. Simply taking a two to three week break is extremely helpful.

3. Using the wrong nail polish

In addition to the potential health risks associated with overexposure to the chemicals in those polishes, there is also a downside to your nails from exposure to at least one of them. Formaldehyde in nail polish is certainly potentially destructive to the nail plate. But whatever that does is reduce the flexibility of the nail and over time the nail can become brittle.

The solution– While most experts agree that short-term, occasional exposure to these chemicals at the levels found in nail polish is unlikely to be seriously hazardous to your health, switching to formulas without formaldehyde will keep your nails flexible and healthy.

4. Gel manicures

While there is no doubt that they are super durable, long-lasting and convenient, experts differ on gel manicures. The nail technicians who use gels swear that they are 100% safe, while many dermatologists disagree. The nail problems abound with gels. There have been studies and definitive evidence that gel manicures make nails thinner.

There are many variables [with how technicians remove gels], so there may be mechanical damage. Some salons use a sandpaper-like disc; others scrape vigorously with an orange stick. That is the removal of that top layer of nail cells, the onycholysis!

The solution– You should apply cuticle oil every day no matter what.

5. Messing with your cuticles

Cuticles can be a sensitive subject. While some manicurists cut them because they may be considered unsightly, the experts recommend leaving them intact. It is essentially a shield that protects your entire nail and prevents moisture, yeast, bacteria and fungus from entering there. It’s there for a reason and your nails can look absolutely gorgeous without removing your cuticles.

The solution– Gently push back your cuticles with a washcloth after they soften in the shower. Moisten them! If your cuticles are too dry, they can develop tiny microcracks that reduce their ability to protect.

6. Keeping Your Nails Long

Other than that recent (and short) long and pointy salon moment, short nails are (thankfully) in. Not only are longer nails more likely to snag, crack and break, but they are also more prone to infection. The larger the surface, the more subungual (that is, under your nails) dirt can get trapped underneath. It is definitely more hygienic to have shorter nails.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: Turn your hand over so that you are facing your palm. Ideally, you should just be able to see the tip of the nail – that’s a healthy length.

7. Biting your nails

Gnawing your fingernails isn’t just gross to look at. It leaves them ragged, uneven and possibly even infected. Common biting can cause bacterial and fungal infections in the nails, such as paronychia, which affects the skin on the sides of the nail. In extreme cases, people with cold sores can transmit the herpes simplex virus to their fingertips, in what is called a criminal infection.

While the only solution is to stop biting, it is admittedly easier said than done. Experts recommend keeping the nails short (you need to bite less) and well-groomed as a deterrent. And, for the love of God, don’t yank your hangnails. The best way to trim a hangnail is at the base with clean cuticle nippers.

8. Not Eating a Balanced Diet

Here’s another reason to forgo that juice cleanse: a poor diet can undermine your nails. Iron-rich protein really is the key to hair and nails. And there’s also compelling evidence that biotin, a B vitamin often recommended for fuller hair, helps strengthen brittle nails. Cold water fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines; nuts such as almonds, peanuts and walnuts; Eggs; and avocado are all rich in biotin. You can also increase your intake with biotin supplements, which you can get over the counter at drugstores and health food stores.

Don’t forget to drink plenty of water.

9. Cleaning without gloves

A case where a clean freak can damage your nails? Using household cleaners without wearing gloves exposes your nails to harsh chemicals that can dry them out and strip them. Products containing bleach are especially harmful. Even prolonged exposure to water can weaken the nails. All you need to do is put on those gloves!

10. Skip SPF

Our hands age the fastest because we neglect them the most. This means wrinkles, crispiness and discoloration. Eventually you get age spots.

The solution- Treat your hands in the morning with the same sun protection as for your face. And both experts recommend taking wearable hand cream with SPF with you wherever you go for touch-ups.

I hope these tips help you keep your nails healthy and healthy!