Fungus Fix: How to Treat Nail Fungus

While many people spend hours in the nail salon getting artificial fingernails put on and painted there are more people out there who neglect their nails in a most atrocious manner.

Next time you are standing in line at the supermarket, check out the fingernails on all the people ahead of you while they unload their carts. You may be quite surprised to see the large number of really bad looking fingernails on both men and women.

One of the reasons that nail care seems to be a non existent part of many lives is that it just appears to be too complex to tackle on your own. The tools involved are intimidating and how to even know if you need such tools?

Anyone get their own nail care under control with just a little bit of knowledge however. Keeping it simple and straightforward is a good idea, especially in the beginning and after the basics are mastered they can move on to trickier feats if they decide they want to.

The first thing about your fingernails is that they need trimming. Nails continue to grow throughout our lives and even the loveliest filed and painted nails will soon be out of shape without trimming.

So, if you have short nails a basic, sharp nail clipper will do the best job. Do not trim them right down to the quick. This can be very painful and it also makes it hard to use your fingernails to pick up coins for about a week! Once your nails are trimmed you may want to run a nail file over them to make sure the edges are all smooth.

If you have long natural nails, you can either use a nail clipper to take a little off all around and then file them smooth or you can simply opt to take a little length off with the file alone.

The next matter in your new nail regimen is to check out your cuticles. Many people have a lot of hangnails and ragged skin growth on the bottom and sides of their nails. If this is something that you deal with you will want to purchase a cuticle knife at the pharmacy.

This is a tool with a curved v shaped knife in the end of it. You carefully go over the ragged skin areas surrounding your nails and shave off the excess skin. This will give you an instant appearance boost. Be very careful not to dig because you may cut too deep and draw blood.

If you have dry skin and especially if you have the ragged cuticles, you may want to consider putting on a cuticle cream or a thick hand cream to try to soften the skin there. A moisturizing cream rubbed into your cuticles before bed is a good way to start changing how your cuticles look during the day.

Your diet and overall health is another part of your nail care. Make sure you get a healthy balanced diet and that you are getting enough calcium for your fingernails (as well as your bones and hair). A healthy diet plays a part in the health of all our body parts and your fingernails are no exception to that rule.

Having beautiful nails does not always mean regular trips to the salon for artificial ones although that can be a great treat. Your own fingernails can look a lot better with just some simple care and attention and maybe a new tool or two.

Who knows, once you get your fingernails looking better you may even feel confident enough to take those nails into the salon for the first time and pamper yourself with a professional manicure!

Applying the nail care tips below will help you maintain your fingernails in prime condition.

As our fingernails are so noticeable and convey a message about us to everyone we meet, it is essential we take just a little time and educate ourselves on how to care for them well.

What follows is a list of nail care tips divided into do’s and don’ts:

Nail Care Tips: The DO’S

DO drink plenty of water each day. It’s good for your general health and a well hydrated body contributes to healthy nails. Cracked nails may indicate the need for greater fluid intake.

DO apply varnish remover before applying nail polish. This removes any grease on the surface of the nail and gives extra life to the nail polish, so make sure you do this regardless of whether there is old polish on your nails or not.

DO take vitamin supplements unless your doctor advises otherwise due to other health considerations. Vitamins A, C, E, and B12 are especially important. Additionally, calcium, zinc, iron, protein, and folic acid will help avoid white marks appearing on the nails and prevent nails from becoming brittle. Research the foods you need to provide you with these essential vitamins and supplements.

DO use a good quality buffer preferably once a week, no more than twice a week. Be sure not to buff too vigorously and not for too long to avoid damaging the nail. Just a brief gentle buff before applying nail polish can help prevent the polish from peeling due to a rough or uneven surface on the nail.

DO use a soft nail file rather than an emery board. Emery boards can be too rough and damage the nail easily unless used with great care. Better to use a soft cushion nail file and wash it regularly for repeated use. It almost goes without saying, metal nail files are a definite NO NO!

DO wear protective gloves when doing any work that requires the hands to be submerged in water or come in contact with chemicals. Preferably use gloves with a cotton lining so they remain dry inside. Fungus loves a moist environment.

DO give attention to the cuticles regularly, using a moisturizing cream often to avoid the cuticles from drying out. Overgrown and ungroomed cuticles can adversely affect nail growth.

Nail Care Tips: The DON’TS

DON’T file backwards and forwards as this can cause splits in the nails which become even worse if water penetrates after hand washing. Rather use a gentle one way stroking action with the file along with a little patience.

DON’T file the corners of the nail as this can weaken them and make them more susceptible to breaking. File straight across in a way that produces a soft, oval shape. Pointed nails break easily.

DON’T file nails when they are wet. Make sure they are completely dry.

DON’T use varnish remover and reapply nail polish more than once or twice a week. Preferably select a varnish remover that contains moisturizers to avoid the nails drying out.

DON’T use your nails to scratch hard surfaces, pick at an object, remove staples, or serve as a digging tool. Just take a minute to get a proper tool for the job and avoid sacrificing your nails!

DON’T over manicure the cuticles as this can damage them causing them to thicken and overgrow.

DON’T ever cut the cuticles or use metal or sharp objects to push them back. Purchase the proper tool for the job, an Orange Stick. Hold it at an angle and gently push the cuticles back without damaging them. Using a cuticle remover first will help make the job easier and avoid damaging this sensitive skin.

After a nail care session, conduct a little test. To see how smooth your nails really are run them down an old pair of tights or pantyhose. Any snags will help you locate the nail that needs further attention.

The nail care tips listed above require some time and effort and perhaps initially a small investment to obtain the necessary professional tools. However, once you have them and get into a nail care routine, the benefits will make it all worthwhile.

You will feel confident and flash your nails with pride.

The right hand cream and nail care treatment can make your hands look 10 years younger! Our hands often give away our age and despite the hard work they do, so many of us forget to look after our hands with a good hand cream and regular nail treatment.

Our tips for beautiful hands, nail care and nail treatment:

1. Protect your hands from the sun. Hands often develop sunspots, wrinkles, skin discolorations and brown spots due to frequent exposure to the harsh ultraviolet rays from the sun. Before you step out, protect your hands with sunscreen, especially when driving in the car! To absorb vitamin d limit your sun exposure to early mornings.

2. Wear gloves for protection with washing dishes and cleaning with harsh detergents, bleach and other chemicals. Some ingredients can instantly burn your skin or cause skin rashes, while others can severely dry out your skin and make your nails brittle. Even better, use gentle cleaning agents and wear gloves!

3. Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin and stimulate circulation. Lack of hand treatment with exfoliation contributes to rough skin and prevents optimal absorption of your hand cream.

4. Be mindful of soap. Use a gentle, natural soap that moisturises and cares for your hands and nails.

5. Nail treatment. Be mindful of your nails! Beautiful hands include well kept and clean nails. Regular nail treatment is recommended. Massage your cuticles with a natural nail cream and they will be moisturised and repaired, resulting in strong, healthy nails and cuticles. Torn cuticles can be painful and are a sign of desperately needed moisture. Use a natural nail care treatment that won’t further de-hydrate your cuticles. One nail problem that requires immediate nail care with anti fungal solution is nail fungus, which can cause nail discolouration and make your nails brittle.

6. Use a preferably natural hand cream and nail care that is non greasy. The best natural hand cream and nail care creams are designed to make the skin on your hands strong, smooth and soft and not dry them out. Apply morning and night and after hand washing, which contributes to dry skin. Apply using small circular motions on hands, cuticles and nails.

Do your hands and nails need more love, care and protection? Do your nails and cuticles need strengthening and protecting? Organic aloe vera natural hand cream and nail care treatment is the solution! This hand cream and nail care in one, is non greasy formula that helps prevent the signs of premature aging and offers protection from the drying and damaging effects of our environment, not to forget regular hand washing.

Organic aloe vera based hand cream and nail care treatment visibly improves your skin’s texture and smoothness and leaves your hands and nails feeling and looking firm and supple. Massage your cuticles and they will be moisturised and repaired, resulting in strong, healthy nails.

Clean nails that have been polished and taken care of can certainly add to the beauty of your shapely hands and add to your overall personality. Nail polishes help you in enhancing the beauty of your nails and hands. This is a fact that women have been aware of for centuries.

Choosing the right nail polish can go a long way in ensuring that your nails get the best beauty enhancement. The very first step in choosing the right nail polish is to take basic care of your nails. So first of all let’s look at a few tips that will help you take special care of your nails.

Nail care
Taking good care of your nails involves getting proper nourishment; avoiding excessive contact with damaging material and taking due care while working. Household chores can be damaging to your nails because many of the solvents and cleaners that are used are not meant for your skin or nails. It is a good practice to wear gloves while you are doing household chores, particularly when you are handling suspect material.

Choosing the color
Cherry red, pink, coral – these are some of the colors in which you get your nail polish. You can even get them in green or yellow, and look good in them if you know how to use them. How do you choose the color of your nail polish? You should choose a shade such that it will enhance your beauty. That would depend on your complexion. Fair complexion will go well with almost any color, darker colors being more effective in striking a contrast. If you are dark skinned, lighter shades should suit you better. Shades such as red and rich brown would also suit darker skins.

You can also choose between glossy or matte shades. The polish that you choose should match your general appearance, your clothes and jewelry and other makeup. To make you task easier, some companies offer makeup kits that contain matching items covering all the makeup items that you will need.

For formal or semi formal occasions and first meetings, light colors and basic neutrals are best. If your toenails are exposed, you can choose matching nail polish for your toes and fingernails.

Ultimately, though, choosing the color of your nail polish is a very personal decision that you have to make, depending on what your personal preferences are and what kind of a personality you project.

Other considerations
Quick drying nail polishes are available that will dry quickly, but they may also tend to chip off easily. Strong and longer lasting nail polishes are also available. Depending on your need and environment you can choose one of these. Strong chip resistant nail polish should be preferable for daily wear, as you will not need to touch these up frequently. You can also get strong chip resistant and quick drying nail polishes.

While choosing your nail polish you should also consider your general health and allergies. If you have sensitive skin, you should choose hypoallergenic and unscented nail polishes.

Applying nail polish
There are some basic facts that you can keep in mind while applying nail polish. First of all, remove all traces of the existing polish from your nails. Apply a base coat first. After this, apply two coats of the nail enamel. Apply the polish in a few large strokes rather than several small strokes.