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Take care of your nails! ...
You may like the look of beauty products designed to enhance or embellish the nails, but some have the potential to cause long-term problems. Nail hardeners contain chemicals that can damage nails, and the waterproofing effect of nail polish causes moisture to be trapped underneath, making them more susceptible to infection. Artificial or sculptured nails also contribute to the development of infections by creating a warm moist environment where fungus and mold can grow. Basically, any artificial treatment applied to the surface of the nail with frequency will increase moisture retention and create conditions that encourage these organisms to proliferate. A nail fungal infection can start as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. If left untreated, the infection spreads deeper into your nail, resulting in discoloration, thickening and/or development of crumbling edges. Advanced infections can be resistant to medical therapy.
Nail growth ...
Fingernails take approximately 4 to 6 months to regrow completely, whereas toenails require 12 to 18 months. Nails are made up of a protein called keratin - the same structural protein that makes skin and hair. The growth rate for nails is a combined function of health, age and genetics. Maintaining a healthy diet can actually promote nail growth. Dietary deficiencies or illness will impede growth or cause malformation, discoloration and change in texture. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes a well balanced diet will help you to preserve the essential functions that your nails provide. Nails not only help us to pick up and handle things, but they also protect and support the tissues of the fingers and toes.
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