When was the last time you thought about the health of your nails? In fact, healthy nails are not only attractive, but they are also important to overall health.
Nails can even be a window into underlying serious disease. Proper nail care helps keep your hard-working hands and feet looking and feeling their best by decreasing infection risk and breakage. As temperatures start to rise and RSVP season kicks into high gear, it’s time to show your nails some love.
According to Dr. Dana Stern, a board-certified dermatologist and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, the most common mistakes people make when it comes to caring for their nails are choosing the wrong products and using the wrong tools.
“We need to think about nail care in the same way we think about skin care and pay more attention to products we’re using and how we focus on not just the look of our nails but the underlying health,” says Dr Dana.
Dr. Dana, the only dermatologist who devotes her entire practice to nail diagnosis, treatment, and surgery, is a go-to dermatologist for patients seeking advice on how to treat nail conditions and gel damage, as well as the best ways to keep their nails healthy and beautiful. Some common nail complaints she hears from patients are dryness, weakness, ridges, and aging related nail issues. She also hears her patients talk about dry, brittle nails from all the hand washing and use of hand sanitizer.
Dr. Dana shares her top three tips to improve the look and health of your nails:
First, when you’re choosing products, be mindful of the ingredients and steer clear of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and an ingredient that is in many nail strengthener formulas. Just as you wouldn’t want to use a product with harsh substances on your face or body, the same goes for products you put on your nails.
Second, stop using abrasive emery board nail files. These files can be damaging, as they cause microscopic tears at the tips of the nails. Instead, look for glass or crystal files that will give your nails a smooth edge and won’t cause snags or tears.
Lastly, always wear gloves when doing wet work around the house or garden, such as washing dishes. Nails are like little sponges, and over-saturation will weaken the nail, making it prone to breakage.
To promote nail health and help consumers take care of their nails at home, Dr Dana developed the Nail Renewal System, which uses plant-based science to combat brittle, ridged, weak and over-processed nails. Hailed by celebrities as a nail miracle, the system produces healthy, lustrous nails within minutes of the first treatment.
“Skin care products have progressed in line with scientific advancements, so why haven’t nail care products? It is time for a nail care brand that does more than merely mask the issues — that revolutionizes the way people care for their nails,” says Dr. Dana.
“In the same way that exfoliation improves the health of your skin, the Nail Renewal System is designed to remove damaged, superficial nail cells and promote hydration to improve the health of your nails,” she explains. “I like to call it a buff with benefits.” The Nail Renewal system is the first nail treatment with glycolic acid for essential exfoliation, and the product is free of formaldehyde, parabens, artificial fragrance, dyes and other toxic ingredients often found in nail care products.
The biggest myth Dr. Dana hears in her practice? “Nails do not need time to breathe in between colour applications — they don’t have lungs.” Actually, nails receive oxygen from increased blood flow resulting from exercise. So cardio is not only good for your heart, but also for your nails.
Need more incentive to show your neglected nails some love? A nail trend that’s sweeping the fashion runways and featured in magazines is “#TheNakedManicure.” In the same vein as the “no makeup” makeup look, it features shiny, clear nails you can show off with confidence without the pitfalls associated with polish and time and money spent at the salon.
