Many people dream of long, strong and healthy nails. But it is not always possible to grow such nails. After all, age, lifestyle and even gender influence the rate of nail growth. In some cases, you may need to change some habits and spend more time on care.
How nails grow
The growth of the nail is the responsibility of its matrix. This is the skin sac at the base of the nail. Its visible part is a white semicircle called the lunula. The matrix constantly produces the protein keratin, which is what nails are made of. When keratin cells clump together and move forward, the nail grows.
On average, nails grow back about three to four millimetres per month. That is, it takes 3-6 months for a new nail to grow from scratch. There is no way to speed up this process. At least, scientifically proven method has not yet been invented. But nails can be strengthened. Then they will break less and they will be able to grow back.
When nails grow slower
Nails grow slower in women and older people. Scientists also believe that heat and active lifestyle accelerate growth, while cold and sedentary – slow down. And, by the way, toenails grow slower on the feet than on the hands.
Sometimes nails grow very, very slowly and even stop growing altogether. This happens because of illness or injury. All because the body saves energy during stress. It tries not to spend it on less important tasks, such as nail growth. Nails also grow slower during chemotherapy. Cancer drugs attack all cells that divide rapidly. This includes tumour cells and healthy hair and nail cells.
Protect your nails from water and injury
Water can make your nails brittle, weak and too soft. That’s why it’s recommended to dry them well after showering or swimming. If you often take a bath, do not immerse your hands in water for a long time, keep them outside.
American dermatologist Samantha Ellis advises not to wash your hands 10 times a day and to wear vinyl gloves when cleaning and washing dishes. According to her, nails leak water 1,000 times more than skin and therefore need extra protection.
Water isn’t the only thing that can ruin nails. They’re vulnerable because they’re constantly being used for something, whether it’s opening soda cans or peeling off labels. If you want to grow strong nails, you should start treating them more carefully. At the very least, don’t use a can opener instead of a can opener.
Moisturise your hands
Frequent hand washing dries both skin and nails. This causes them to become brittle. When the skin around the matrix is too dry, nails grow worse. That’s why American dermatologist Andrea Suarez recommends dabbing your hands with moisturiser all day long. Ideally, you should find a product with sunscreen filters. This will both moisturise and protect your nails and skin from harmful UV rays.
Gently clean dirt from under your nails
In order to clean the space under your nails, you should not use hard manicure tools. Slipping them under the nail lifts it every time. This can provoke onycholysis – detachment of the nail plate from the nail bed. It is better to clean your nails with a small brush (you can even adapt a separate toothbrush for this purpose).
