LEVANTE LIFESTYLE

AN INTRODUCTION TO NAILS - HAND AND FEET

By Louise Murphy

Even in the early stages of a foetus growing in the womb, human nails begin to form. At around the 21st week the nail plate will be completely formed. This is why we should all look after our nails – after all, they will be with us for a very long time.

The main component of the natural nail is keratin, a protein made in the body and the same protein that is the main base of hair. As with the hair on your head, your nails need to be regularly trimmed and treated in order to maintain healthy growth. Living in a hot dry climate like Spain means your nails, as with your hair, need to be moisturised on a regular basis to prevent dryness and splitting.
The older we get, the slower our nails grow. They become more porous due to dehydration and thus they are more susceptible to staining, chipping and peeling of the nail plate layers.

A doctor can sometimes tell from a person’s natural nails whether they are unwell and suffering from certain illnesses.

Diet and nutrition play an important part in the health of nail growth. Medication can affect nail growth by either slowing it down or speeding it up. Certain types of medication and illness can also affect the nails, the most common symptom being ridges and dryness on the nail plate. Pregnancy can affect nail growth by causing an increase between the fourth and eighth months and a 20 per cent increase during the months either side of the birth.

Heat and climate can affect growth as nails grow more quickly in the summer than the winter. Bad or poor circulation can affect the blood supply to the nail bed and therefore affect nail growth. Disorders such as diabetes can sometimes cause problems as well.

Good grooming is essential to keep the hands and feet in good health and working order. We use our hands and feet more than any other part of our body and they are subject to wear and tear. They should be cared for and maintained with regular manicures and pedicures which will help keep the nails and cuticles moisturised and, in the case of pedicures, keep dry and hard skin at bay. We should never use our nails as tools and use gloves for gardening and housework, keep our hands and feet cleansed and moisturised and change our shoes regularly.

BENEFITS OF MANICURES AND PEDICURES

• The cuticle and nail wall will be freed from the nail plate, thus avoiding the formation of hang nails.
• Infections are prevented.
• Prevention of minor nail damage, such as splits, tears or fragile free edges.
• The outline of the nail is kept smooth to maintain an attractive cosmetic appearance.
• The skin on the hands and feet is kept healthy and supple and free from infection.

In order to maintain all of the above it is advisable to have regular manicure treatments, every 2-4 weeks and regular pedicure treatments once a month.

NAIL DISEASES AND DISORDERS
There are a multitude of nail diseases and disorders and a good nail technician should be aware of this. One of the most common disorders is fungal infections in the nails, on both hands and feet (onychomycosis). However toenails are more likely to become infected than fingernails.

This infection can make your nails thick and discoloured. Your nails may also be brittle or change their shape. You may even have pain in your toes or fingertips.

It may be hard to know where or how you got a fungal nail infection. A warm, wet place is a good place for a fungus to grow. If you often wear heavy work boots that make your feet warm and sweaty, a fungus can grow around your toenails. If you often walk barefoot in changing rooms, you can pick up a fungus from the warm, wet floors.

People whose hands are often wet (for example, dishwashers in restaurants and professional house cleaners) are more likely to get fungal fingernail infections.

The bad application of nail extensions can also cause fungal infections. They are usually caused by the nail extension being put on top of a nail that is not entirely dry and free from dust and dirt.
Sometimes several people in a family will get fungal infections in their nails at the same time. This can happen because their immune systems aren’t able to fight off the infection very well or because the infection is being passed when they use the same towels.

Several medicines can treat a fungal nail infection. Some of these are not safe for people who have liver problems or a history of congestive heart failure. Be sure to let your doctor know if you have one of these conditions. Your doctor will decide which medicine is right for you.

You might only need to take the medicine for six weeks. You might need to take it for 6 months, or longer. It depends on where the infection is and how bad it is.

Topical treatments, or creams and polish that you apply to the top of your nail, are also available. Topical medicines alone do not usually cure nail infections.

A good nail technician will know not to treat someone who has a nail infection as the bacteria can be passed to others by instruments used in manicure and pedicure. If you are diagnosed as having this type of infection by a nail technician, you should be advised to seek medical assistance to clear up the problem before proceeding with any treatments.