Author: Moin Nex

Climate has significant impact on your skin. Excess cold may disrupt normal blood circulation in your body resulting in pale or blue fingernails. Pink nails are a sign of healthy and well circulated nails. As mentioned above low blood circulation may turn your pinkish nails to pale blue, another reason according to experts is low levels of hemoglobin in blood.

To know the exact cause of blue fingernails, rub your fingers repeatedly to improve blood circulation. If you don’t see any positive sign then it can be cyanosis, a chronic disease.

Consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Like minor injuries on nail bed or cuticles you can’t ignore blue fingernails. It may increase exponentially and cause serious trouble. First thing it spoils your appearance, whenever you meet a person first thing you do is shake hand and blue fingernails may raise insecurity in your colleague. People intentionally isolate which will shatter your confidence level. This social isolation is a serious problem than the disease itself.

Asthma, Adult respiratory distress syndrome, cardiac tamponade and Raynaud’s disease are other diseases associated with cyanosis.

Infectious bacteria invade dry cuticles and trigger fungal infection underneath nail plate. Fingernail manicure hydrates your dry cuticles and restrains harmful bacteria.

Cuticles are part of your skin that protects nail matrix like a barrier. Just like your skin, cuticles deserve your utmost attention. Besides manicure and pedicure, you must push cuticles when necessary. Though wooden cuticle pushers are soft and inexpensive, metal cuticle pushers last for longer time.

Utmost care must be taken if not you may end up damaging cuticles. Below is the step by step guide on using cuticle pusher.

Different Ways to Use a Cuticle Pusher

1. Initially decide to get a wooden or steel cuticle pusher. For sensitive cuticles experts recommend wooden cuticle pusher.
2. Before pushing cuticles, prepare your nails by moisturizing them. If you try pushing without hydrating them, the cuticle pusher will tear your skin. Use cuticle remover or any essential oil to hydrate the cuticles.
3. After moisturizing, soak your fingernails in lukewarm water for few minutes to soften them.
4. Pat dry using soft cloth.
5. When the skin is still damp, use wooden or steel cuticle pusher to push cuticles. Use round shaped part of the cuticle pusher and gently push the cuticles towards the nail base.
6. To push the cuticles at the corner of fingernails use sharp end of the cuticle pusher.

 Tips

• Apply jojoba oil or coconut oil to hydrate dry cuticles.
• Start the process only when the cuticles are completely moisturized.
• Place your hand on firm surface while pushing cuticles.
• Take an expert advice or ask them to help you out for few days.

Would you prefer pricey spas over this home available cuticle pusher? Please share your views in comments.

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Nails are made of kertain, the protein which is also composed in skin and hair. Unlike toenails, fingernails grow faster and are surrounded by nail plate, nail bed, cuticle and nail fold. Experts claim that nails can give you health warnings of serious diseases.

Apart from this, fingernails can be affected by fungus leading to yellow, ridged and weak nails. Wonder what causes dents in fingernails? Though dents are common, causes of fingernail dents are various. Fingernails, which play a vital role in your beautiful appearance, will be ruined with dents and grooves.

Also read: How to get rid of thick skin under toenails

Causes of Dents in Fingernails

As mentioned earlier, fingernails & toenails abnormality is a sign of your health problem. Often they’re caused by fungal infection, external trauma or poor diet. Let’s now dwell into possible reasons of nail dents.

Vitamin Deficiency

Experts claim that deficiency in vitamin B-12 is the main reason that may possibly cause dents on nails. Poor nutritional diet is the main reason for this deficiency says health experts.

Not just dents, deficiency in vitamin B-12 will result in brittle and discolored nails. Study carried out in 2012 quotes that the fingernails may change to blue, blackish-pigment with dark streaks. Another study carried out in 2007 states that taking B-12 supplement may not improve your nail condition if you already have enough vitamin B-12.

However, experts suggest consuming vitamin rich diet like milk, egg, beef, salmon and chicken breast. Apart from this, restrain biting nails and practice hygiene.

Nail Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition with dry itchy patches on elbows, knees and on scalp. This skin disorder can be spread to nails known as nail psoriasis resulting in irregular and pitting nails. Causes of psoriasis are still unknown, but scientific data states that hereditary may be reason behind these patches.

Unfortunately there is no permanent solution for psoriasis. However, you can decrease its effect by following doctor prescribed creams.

Trauma or Injury

A sudden accidental injury may leave a dent on your fingernails or toenails. Extreme biting of nails may also cause dent on fingernails.

Reiter Syndrome

It’s a chronic inflammatory form of arthritis with inflammation of eyes, genitals, urinary and gastrointestinal system. These symptoms may also cause dent on fingernails. Reach your doctor for diagnosis and treatment, which may involve drugs and steroid creams.

Alopecia Areata

In alopecia areata your immune system attacks your hair follicles resulting in hair fall in small patches at different parts. Allergies, autoimmune disease, hereditary and extensive hair loss may result in permanent hair loss in alopecia areata. Using prescribed topical steroids, UV rays and other immunotherapy can treat this condition.

These were few causes of dent in fingernails and toenails. Apart from this, you’re advised to practice good hygiene, take nutritional diet, avoid injuries and groom your nails regularly.

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