Scratching the surface of nail care

If you think people don’t notice your hands, then you have another thing coming. When you meet someone new, what’s the first thing you do? Handshake. When you see a friend across the room, what do you do to get their attention? You holler, jump up and down, and wave your hand.

Our hands are an important and noticeable aspect of our bodies — and one that we should be taking good care of. Especially in the colder months, it’s a good idea to moisturize your hands at least once a day (usually before bed). If you’re looking to get REALLY soft mitts, consider applying moisturizer and then covering your hands for the night with cotton gloves or socks. Remove the next morning, rinse and enjoy your silky smooth paws.

Another important aspect of hand care is taking care of your nails. Not only are chipping, yellowing and/or peeling nails unseemly, they also might be an indicator of more serious underlying medical problems:

• Small dents in normally smooth nails could mean psoriasis;
• If your nail is spoon-shaped, as opposed to arching up in the middle, it could mean you have some serious iron deficiency;
• Nails that peel apart could be indications of a diet lacking in linoleic acid;
• Super brittle nails could mean an under-active thyroid (learn more about your thyroid from our Health Heroine) or that your diet needs some more iron; and
• When all of your nails turn a yellowish hue, it could be a sign of lung disease or diabetes (however, if you wear nail polish often, a slight yellowish tint is just stain from the polish and is no reason to panic).

It’s a good idea to pay attention to what your nails (both on your hands and feet) are telling you about your body. For more on nail health, click here. And getting regular manicures and pedicures should be part of any primping and grooming routine — for both men and women.

Click here to see what’s trending in nails.

Tags: beauty, groom, grooming, manicure, Nail care, pedicure, primp, primping, skin care

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