5 Mistakes to Avoid for Healthier Nails

Nails make a great first impression, and the nail care industry is constantly seeing a lot of revolutionary innovations. But the basics of simple nail care remain the same. Here are some common mistakes which may damage your nails.

1. A very harsh manicure: Manicures can really harm your nails, if the cuticle has been stripped off very harshly. A stripped or damaged cuticle opens up the nail bed to infection, and with chronic trauma, the nail growth slows down a lot. If the cuticle damage was very severe, this can even cause ridges on your nail. Take it easy, and be gentle on the cuticles!

2. Nail Biting: This is bad for your nails and for your teeth as well! Nail biting damages the nail in the long term, slowing down growth. And a wedged piece of nail tissue, can bring about tooth decay! This habit can also worsen hangnails, and cause pigmentation around the nail bed.

3. Frequent use of gel nail paint/ acrylic nail paints: These damage the nail plate and can cause brittle nails, chipped off edges and yellowing of the nail. Also the adhesive agents in acrylic nails, can be strong enough to lift the nail off the nail bed, leaving a space for fungal infections to then set in.

4. Cutting the nails too close at the edges: This can cause ingrowth in the long run. A very incurved cut at the edges of the nails, plus pressure from footwear, all lead to ingrown nails. These are called pincer nails, when the nail curves to pinch the flesh below, and can be very painful. Opt for a straight cut in the middle, with only a mild taper at the sides. Ideally, let the nail edges clear the toe completely, and do not cut it too close.

5. Nail Picking(Onychotillomania): Some people have the habit of picking at hangnails and nail folds. Over time, this causes damage to the growing part of the nail (called the lunula -which you see like a half moon at the base of your nail). This causes arrest of nail growth, ridging of nails, changes in the shape of the nails.

Diet plays a huge role in the health of keratin, which is the principal component of the skin, hair and nails. A good protein and micronutrient rich diet can make a big difference to brittle nails. CHOSEN®’s TOR™ Bright contains methylsulfonylmethane which is a proven booster of healthy keratin. Sulfur is an important part of healthy keratin, and MSM in TOR™ Bright, acts as a sulfur donor to repair keratin. OptiMSM® has been researched and found to have positive benefits on the nail in as early as 4 weeks, at a dosage of 3grams per day. We recommend that you take 2 scoops of TOR™ Bright for a month, then 1.5 -2 scoops per day for about 2-3 months, and switch down to lower doses for further maintenance.  OptiMSM® is the active ingredient in TOR™ Bright, and has been GRAS certified by the US FDA as a food additive.