Are your nails strong or brittle? Do they crack, chip or peel? If so, you need to learn basic nail care. Your nails are made of a hard protein called keratin. You can keep your nails healthy with a little tender, loving care. In order to protect your nails and keep them healthy you should avoid harsh chemicals. Be sure to wear gloves when cleaning with household cleaning products. Refrain from biting or picking at your nails.



Keep your hands and nails clean. You can avoid brittle nails by keeping them moisturized. You can do this by rubbing them with lotion. You can moisturize your nails by coating them with petroleum jelly at night before you go to sleep. Wear gloves while you sleep in order to prevent the petroleum jelly from staining your bedding or nightwear. Another method of moisturizing your nails is to soak your fingertips in olive oil for ten minutes once a week. Olive oil is absorbed into the skin and doesn't leave an excess greasy feeling like petroleum jelly so it is relatively easy to pat your skin and nails dry without the olive oil leaving a heavy residue.

If your nails are brittle try not to use nail polish remover more than once per week. Remember to keep your nails trimmed and push back the cuticles. Wear a clear polish to help strengthen your nails. Use hand cream on a regular basis to keep your hands soft and nails moisturized. File your nails evenly and in one direction with an emery board so that there are no rough edges to snag on clothing or other items. With regular care your nails can be strong and healthy.

When people look at your nails they can tell if you've had a manicure lately but when your physician looks at your nails he gets some insight into your overall health. For instance, if your nails have a bluish tint it can be an indication of a lack of oxygen. Ridges in the nails can indicate an iron deficiency. White spots on the nails may be a sign of anemia. If your physician examines your nails when you go in for a check up it is because the nails can provide insight into the state of your overall health.

Be kind to your nails and care for them properly and it will show in their appearance. Proper nail maintenance is relatively simple and spending a little extra time each week to care for them is worth the effort.