There are so many things that can help you to know the health status of a person and the physical appearance of the nails is one of them.
That’s why it is important to know how healthy nails look like and when it’s time to seek a doctor’s intervention.
Having or even maintaining good healthy nails can be a challenge particularly if you are not a nail specialist. But the good news is that everybody can have healthy nails if they are committed to doing so.
To learn more about nails and what you can do to keep them neat and healthy, read on.
What are the signs of healthy nails?
Whether you religiously take care of your nails, knowing if they are actually healthy is important. These are the things that will help you determine if the path you have taken is helping your nails or not.
Without further ado, here are the signs to show you have healthy nails.
1. They are pink or mauve
Healthy nails generally appear to be pinkish or mauve in colour. That colour you see on top of your nails is a reflection of the tissues underneath.
If you apply pressure on the nail, the colour should disappear and re-appear after you release the pressure.
It is the same as the capillary nail refill test that doctors use to tell if a patient is well hydrated and the blood flow to the tissue is good.
2. They look strong
If your nails are breaking too easily, you need to consult a clinician or a dermatologist to rule out the possibility of a condition known as Onycholysis.
If your nails are brittle and you are not wetting them too often, iron deficiency in your body is also a possible cause. Basically, if your nails seem sturdy, then higher chances are they are healthy.
3. No sign of puffy nail fold
If the skin around your nails appears to be puffy and reddish, then your nail fold is inflamed. This may be as a result of various issues such as connective tissue disorder or nail infection but the main cause is usually lupus.
Be sure to consult your doctor so that you are treated because a manicure is not enough to treat puffy reddish nail fold.
4. Nails and cuticles are moisturized
A good indicator that your nails are healthy is if the hands and the area around your nails are clean and well moisturized.
Don’t relax though; continue to moisturize your cuticles every day. Apply petroleum jelly or any thick moisturizer on your cuticles every day particularly at night.
Be more careful during the cold season when you are more prone to cracked dry hands…
Continue reading the article and learn more about nails on Daisy Linden’s blog.