Keep your Nails in Good Health

Since the weather cools down, it's easy for nails and cuticles to get dry, which may cause splitting and breaking. Its recommended to give nails and cuticles a swift hydrating treatment while in the shower to keep them in perfect condition.

Start by applying a cuticle oil, face oil or even a soft paraffin like Vaseline on nails and cuticles before going for a shower.

Once in the shower, massage the oil or the jelly to the nails and cuticles, being more gentle when massaging the cuticles. The steam will assist the product penetrate in to dry nails and cuticles and keep them in tip-top shape.

After massaging, exfoliate hands, nails and cuticles with a gentle scrub (don't use any such thing too rough on the cuticles)

Bypass the scrub and apply an oatmeal - milk mask in or following your shower to exfoliate and soothe dry skin, for those who have a little more time. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes

Tips
It smells amazing and leaves skin amazingly soft and hydrated.

For beauties on a budget, purchase sweet almond, apricot kernel, avocado, grapeseed or jojoba oil in volume in a health food store or pick up a bottle of Trader Joe's E Vitamin Oil.

It mixes walnut and grape seed powders with natural papaya and pineapple enzymes to loosen and remove flaky, dead skin cells as it soothes irritation - prone skin with licorice root and organic lavender. Organic flax, borage and rose-hip oils, which are rich in omega fatty acids, help restore skin's moisture balance.

For much more extreme exfoliation that's still gentle and gives a lovely wetness boost, attempt Liz Earle Naturally Active Gentle Face Exfoliator ($24).

DIY OatmealMilk Mask Recipe
To create a oatmeal mask, heat one cup of regular oatmeal and a half cup of regular milk on the stove. Stir until cooked, add sugar to thicken the mixture, and after that let cool a bit.   The oatmeal soothes dry, itchy skin; and the milk exfoliates to help do away with dead and dry skin cells.

For more nail information check out this site: http://nailsandmorenails.webs.com/

Common Nail Problems

Nails are an amazing and interesting section of the body. They are like small mirrors of the overall well-being of the human body. Healthy nails are sleek, shiny, and clear pink. Typical issues in your body can show in poor nail growth or the nail as problems.

Nail problems that are affected by general health problems.

Yellow nail symptoms - A yellowish yellowing of the nails caused by respiratory illnesses (bronchitis), lymphedima (the swelling of the palms), or any situation which causes the increase of the nails to decrease. With yellow nail syndrome the nails thicken, new growth decelerates, they remove in the nail bed and also may lack a cuticle.

Nail pitting - Small depressions in the nail which are generally the outcome from nail injuries. Nail pitting is the most common in people with psoriasis, persistent dermatitis of the hands, or alopecia areata (an autoimmune disorder which causes baldness). Nail pitting may induce the nail to topple and damage the cuticle.

Nail Clubbing - If the point of the hands enlarge along with your claws curve around your fingertips. Nail clubbing is usually associated with low-oxygen levels in your bloodstream (which is a sign of lung disease), inflammatory bowel disease, cvd, or liver disease.

Spoon nails (koilonychias) - soft nails that look scooped out. Spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anaemia.

Terry's claws - With Terry's nails, your claws look opaque, but the points get a dark band. It can be a signal of something more serious such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, liver infection, and malnutrition; although blamed on ageing.

Beau's Lines - An indention that run across your nails. They can appear if the growth underneath the cuticle is injured or a critical illness like uncontrolled diabetes, circulatory disorder, high temperature, scarlet fever, pneumonia, or malnutrition.

Nail divides from nail bed (onycholysis) - Whenever your fingernails become loose and separate from your nail bed. Resulting from an injury or illness, thyroid disorder, psoriasis, or reactions from nail hardeners or acrylic nails.

To maintain healthy nails you should

One. Maintain the nail area clear and dry
2. Don't bite or pick at your claws
Three. Apply moisture, through creams or ointments containing urea or lactic acid, to the nails and cuticles daily.
4. File your nails in one course rounding the points slightly
5. Don't remove your cuticle or clear also heavy beneath your nails
6. Don't dig out ingrown toenails
7. Avoid acetone and chemicals
8. Eat a balanced diet

To ensure and keep healthy nails have them examined by your physician during the next check-up.