When one gives a glance at their finger and toenails, they surely might either observe clean, sharp and sustained growing nails (a pleasant view), or might be the other way around, leading to them noticing discoloured, ingrown and rusty nails that might almost look like an infection to some. An individual’s nails indicate their health and well-being, while it’s a pretty small vital aspect of physical appearance. Individuals who care about their fingernails often visit a salon and are fond of an acrylic nail kit.

The region at the bottom of the nail under the cuticle is where the nails, made up of layered sections of keratin rich in protein, develop. Clean fingernails have no cracks or holes and are clean. Their colour and structure are consistent, and there are no patches or degradation.

Vertical grooves that stretch from the cuticles to the top of the fingernail can form on nails. Straight ridges grow particularly noticeable as one becomes older. White lines or patches might appear on fingernails as a result of injury, but these will fade as the nail grows out.

Because of these reasons, one should know when to really visit an expert or a doctor. The following are some scenarios when one should consult a doctor:

Discolouration: there could be a change in the colour of a nail or all the nails to a more yellowish or sometimes dark tone like black or grey

Curled up nails: Nails are meant to be spiky and straight; however, if one notices changes in their finger or toenails being curled up and unnoticeable, the chances are that it could be hard once the nail grows out.

Ingrown skin or nails: as weird and new as it may sound to some, it might be a lot more painful to a lot of people who happen to have it. It results in a sharp stinging pain when one touches an object/ surface or is faced with direct pressure. Ingrown skin or nails are common to a lot, and generally, they don’t tend to face stinging pain thanks to pedicures and manicures. However, those with severe conditions should always visit an expert and handle the issue with professional advice and equipment.

Bleeding and pus: Below and besides the nail, the skin could indicate a sign directly related to one’s health. It is always best to treat it by cleaning and disinfecting the area with water or a disinfectant safe for sensitive areas to prevent the pus and dirt from forming a crusty layer. Moreover, individuals need to be aware of these injuries and situations as it could become an issue if one catches an infection.

Swollen areas: Swollen nails are pretty unappealing and always have a meaning behind them. While it may be different for a lot of individuals and their medical history, it is safer to not take chances and visit a doctor for an accurate and precise answer to this problem.

No growth of nails: While there are all sorts of situations, one nail not growing out can be quite a concern to people and usually indicates a deficiency in a certain vitamin or mineral in one’s body. The correct deficiency can be found out through an expert and their observation of the individual’s body and health.

Things to be Done For Healthy Nails

Keep nails as dry and clean as possible:

As cliche as it may sound, the key to healthy nails is keeping them away from water as far as possible, as water makes the hand’s skin and nails quite weak. This affects fingernails, causing them to split from the skin and making them very unhealthy in appearance. People who tend to wash a lot of sweaty clothes and vessels could probably relate to the fact that their nails might have gotten dry and brittle over time too. When one does happen to come in contact with water, it is important for them to wipe their hands in a clean absorbent cotton cloth rather than their pants (that could’ve been exposed to more dirt).

Get frequent pedicures and manicures:

Getting frequent manicures and pedicures can eliminate the chances of ingrown skin, as the pointy clippers are used to chop the dead skin out, leaving a way for the nails to grow out long and strong. A manicure or pedicure followed by an acrylic nail kit will keep the nails healthy as well as stylish.

Hand cream or moisturiser is a nail’s best friend:

“A hand cream a day keeps unpleasant nails away”. While this quote can come into the minds of a lot of young ladies out there reading this, hand creams aren’t just to make one’s hands soft and smell good. It’s more useful towards protecting sensitive skin cells, including the cuticles and nail base. It is pretty simple and easy for one to use a hand cream/ moisturiser. All one has to do is massage a gentle amount of it on the cuticles and side skin.

Use a protective coated gel:

There usually are acetone-free gel coatings to protect the nails and cuticles of an individual from breaking off. These coatings require just a single coat while being completely transparent and shiny as well. An acrylic nail kit may work the same to protect the cuticles and nails too. It may also help an individual keep their nail length desirable while their actual nails are growing to their desired size.