The nails are a natural finger cover that performs protective and defensive functions. They prevent the occurrence of mechanical injuries in everyday manual work. The nails are made by the cuticle and their main ingredient is creatine.
How are nails built?
The nails consist of two parts: the dorsal plate and the plantar plate. The first includes the nail root, which is deeply embedded in the finger tissue, and the nail itself. At the base of the nail, a nipple is often present – a whitish crescent-shaped area of skin with reduced amounts of collagen.
Nails grow out of the so-called matrix, and the rate of their growth is about 0,15 mm per day – in the case of fingernails. Toenails grow about two times slower. Nails are the evolutionary counterpart to claws found in predatory animals and to hooves in ungulates.
Zobacz: Natural collagen – a protein that ensures smooth and taut skin
Nails exposed to damage
The natural and healthy color of the nails is slightly pink, with no visible local discoloration. The condition of the nails depends on many different factors related to the daily habits of each of us.
First of all, a list of behaviors that negatively affect the aesthetics of nails should be mentioned. These are:
- a tendency to bite your nails or the skin around them,
- direct contact of nails with chemicals, detergents or other substances,
- lack of care for the nail plate,
- inadequate nail care – overly interfering with its matrix, excessive removal of the surrounding epidermis or inadequate filing of the nail plate,
- excessive nail care or too frequent nail treatments (hybrid nails, excessive use of nail gel),
- smoking cigarettes and taking other drugs that affect the condition of the skin and nails,
- inadequate diet,
- exposure to harmful weather conditions – especially to UV rays,
- excessive attention to the aesthetics of the nails (e.g. excessive gelation of the nail plate).
If you want to improve the aesthetics of your nails, you should first consider the possible impact of the above factors on their condition. Properly selected diet and forms of care can satisfactorily improve the condition of the nails. Sometimes it is recommended to take appropriate dietary supplements or specific preparations that affect the functioning and properties of collagen in the human body.
How to strengthen nails?
On the market of medical and cosmetic products, you can find numerous preparations for the care and regeneration of nails. There are preparations in the form of creams, rubbing oils, gels and varnishes. Most of them contain natural nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, which have a beneficial effect on the aesthetics of the nails.
In the case of nails damaged for a long time or with a tendency to recurring damage, it is recommended to use a nail regenerating serum. Most often, the serum is available in a liquid form, in a tube with a brush, which makes it easier to spread it over the surface of the nails. The effect of the serum is focused on the elimination of such undesirable features of the nail as brittleness, brittleness, tendency to split ends, excessive dryness and discoloration. The composition of the nail serum includes:
- lemon oil,
- grape seed oil,
- macadamia oil,
- almond oil,
- vitamin A,
- vitamin E.
Medonet Market offers advanced Oncoria One nail serum.
In addition, for the sake of nail aesthetics, it is recommended to introduce appropriate changes in eating habits. First of all, you should pay attention to the presence of such nutrients as magnesium, silicon, zinc and iron in your daily diet. Vitamins will also be important – from group B, vitamins A, E, C and biotin.
In order to strengthen the nails from the inside, it is also recommended to take appropriate supplements intended for care. In their composition – apart from the substances mentioned above – they should include:
- horsetail extract,
- L-cysteina,
- iodine,
- beta-karoten.
You can reach for supplements such as biotin for hair, skin and nails or field horsetail 440 mg.
Home remedies for nails
The most effective home remedies for beautiful nails include:
- Nail bath in warm water with the addition of olive oil and fresh lemon juice. It is recommended to perform this procedure for 10 minutes, 1-2 times a week.
- Homemade serum for nails. To make it, mix almond, grapefruit, lemon and rosemary oils. The serum is applied directly to the nail plate.
- Nail massage. It is recommended to be used in conjunction with an olive oil bath.