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Nail care
Anatomy, brittle and peeling nails, ridges, oils, diet and when to see a doctor.
Nail care
Biotin for nails: what the studies found, and what they did not
Does biotin help nails? Three small trials from 1989 to 1993 reported firmer nails at 2.5 mg a day. None had a placebo, and high doses distort blood tests.
Breathable nail polish: what it is, what it changes and what it does not
Breathable nail polish has a film that lets water vapour and oxygen through. It changes little for nail health and is a different claim from wudu-friendly.
Brittle nails: why they snap, and the routine that helps
Brittle nails usually come from water, detergents, remover and age; low iron and thyroid problems are the causes to rule out. The oil-and-glove routine.
Cuticle oil: what it does, which oils matter, and how often to use it
Cuticle oil keeps the skin around the nail sealed and the plate flexible so it bends before it snaps. Jojoba, almond, vitamin E; twice a day; over polish.
Do nails need a break from polish?
Nails do not need to breathe: the plate is dead keratin fed by blood, not air. A break helps with remover damage, staining and gel thinning, not oxygen.
Hand cream and your nails: what works, and why
The best hand cream for nails pairs a humectant (glycerin, urea) with an occlusive (petrolatum), applied after every wash and under cotton gloves at night.
Healthy nails: the care guide
A nail care guide built on dermatology: how nails grow, what dries them out, a weekly routine, what ridges, spots and peeling mean, and when to see a GP.
Nail anatomy: the seven parts of a nail and what each one does
Nail anatomy explained: the plate, matrix, lunula, nail bed, eponychium, cuticle and hyponychium, how fast nails grow, and why the matrix matters most.
Nail care in winter: how to keep nails from splitting when the air dries out
Winter nail care comes down to water: cold air and heating pull it out of the plate. Oil twice a day, cream after washing, gloves outside and at the sink.
Nail changes that need a doctor: the warning signs, and what a GP or dermatologist will check
See a doctor about a nail if you see a new dark streak, a nail lifting from its bed, pits, thickening, pain or a red swollen nail fold. The warning signs.
Nails and diet: what to eat for stronger nails
Food for strong nails: protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins from a mixed diet. Spoon-shaped or grooved nails can signal a deficiency that needs a blood test.
Nails, water and housework: why wet hands break nails and chip polish, and what to do about it
Water swells the nail plate and detergents strip its oils, so nails split and polish chips after housework. Gloves, full drying and oil after every wash.
Peeling nails: why it happens and what helps
Peeling nails (onychoschizia) happen when the keratin layers at the tip separate, usually from water, two-way filing and remover. Causes and a 6-week plan.
Ridges on nails: the vertical kind, the horizontal kind, and what each one means
Vertical ridges on nails come with age and dryness; horizontal Beau's lines follow illness or injury. How to buff safely, fill ridges and when to see a GP.
White spots on nails: what they mean, and why calcium is the wrong suspect
White spots on nails are usually leukonychia from a small knock to the nail matrix, not low calcium. They grow out in 6 to 9 months; a few need a GP.
Yellow nails after polish: pigment stains, the base coat that blocks them, and the yellow that is not a stain
Yellow nails after polish are stains from red, orange and dark pigments. A base coat blocks most of it and stains fade in two weeks. When yellow is fungus.