Nail Hygiene (2024)

FAQs

Nail Hygiene? ›

As part of good hand hygiene, it's important to carefully clean and trim our fingernails which can harbor bacteria and contribute to the development of some infections like pinworms etc. As longer fingernails harbor more dirt and bacteria than shorter ones due to their length and also promotes the spread of illness.

As part of good hand hygiene, it's important to carefully clean and trim our fingernails which can harbor bacteria and contribute to the development of some infections like pinworms etc. As longer fingernails harbor more dirt and bacteria than shorter ones due to their length and also promotes the spread of illness.

Just as cleaning fingernails can improve hand health, cleaning toenails can help with foot health. While there may be less potential for pathogens to travel from the toenails to other body parts, it is still important to practice proper hygiene and regularly clean them to prevent infections from occurring.

Vaseline is effective because it's able to trap in moisture, preventing the nails from drying out further and eventually breaking off. Applying a thin layer of Vaseline onto the nail bed can replace lost oils, rehydrate the nail plate and strengthen weak spots.

Your fingernails consist of a protein called keratin. Keratin debris and skin cells accumulate underneath the fingernail and turn a grayish color when they come in contact with dirt and oil. It is also common for remnants of personal care products such as lotions, makeup, and soaps to accumulate under the nails.

The speed of growth depends on age, the season of the year, physical activity, blood flow, hormones, illnesses as well as other factors. It's advisable to trim your nails according to how fast they grow but on average every four weeks for adults and every two weeks for children.

The bottom line. Ridges in the fingernails are usually signs of aging. Slight vertical ridges commonly develop in older adults. In some cases, ridges may be a sign of health problems like vitamin deficiencies or diabetes. Deep horizontal ridges, called Beau's lines, may indicate a serious condition.

Toenail Care for the Elderly

When trimming, check the area around the nail for signs of an ingrown nail, hangnail or fungus. Proper toenail trimming procedure: Cut nails after a shower or bath, or use a foot soak to soften toenails. Sanitize nail clippers by boiling or cleaning with rubbing alcohol.

Why should you cut your toenails square? ›

This can cause the edges of the nails to grow into your skin and result in an ingrown toenail. However, by trimming your toenails straight across, you can keep the corners of your nail elevated above your skin, making it much harder to get an ingrown nail.

How Long Should Toenails Be? Ideally you should leave 1-2 millimetres of nail when you clip them. Nails grow at around 2mm per month so cutting them every 4 – 8 weeks is ideal.

Common causes of nail problems include injury, infection and skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Some conditions need professional treatment from a doctor or a dermatologist. People with diabetes or compromised immune systems have a higher risk of fungal nail infections.

A basic manicure, with the right polishes, is the healthiest for your nails. When we say the 'right polishes' we mean the best nail growth polish or breathable nail polish. The harsh chemicals in many polishes often degrade our nails. Using an organic polish that contains vitamins, is the best way to avoid damage.