Three Simple Things for Great-Looking Nails

People sometimes tend to neglect their fingernails. Like your skin and hair, your nails can get damaged from being exposed to the environment. Dry air, the sun’s rays, dirt and bacteria can impair the health of your nails.

Here’s three simple tips to keep your nails healthy and strong:

1. Wear Gloves – Gardening and yard work can be a messy and dirty thing. You’re holding soil that contains potentially infectious bacteria. If that bacteria gets into your nailbeds, you could be looking at a fungal infection. Wearing gloves is also recommended for doing dishes as harsh detergents coupled with hot water can dry up your nails, leaving them void of nutrients.

2. Biotin – Biotin is a member of the Vitamin B family. It helps increase nail thickness and prevents it from breaking and splitting. One of the main symptoms of Vitamin B7 deficiency is brittle nails. Studies say that if you take this supplement on a daily basis, you will see improvement of your nail health within 6 to 8 weeks.

3. Moisturize your nails – If your nails are devoid of moisture, they start to get cracked and brittle. Putting oil around the cuticle helps keep the nail moisturized and will reduce the possibility of chipping, cracking and splitting. These moisturizers, like Lac-Hydrin, contain lactic acid, helping spread moisture around your nails.