What Does It Mean When Your Nails Are Really Hard?

Whether or not you are into manicures or nail polish, it is very important to pay attention to the nails. Painted nails do make the hands look gorgeous, but once the polish comes off, the nails are always trying to tell something. The texture and colour variations of the nails can indicate a lot about the condition of a person’s health. For example, constantly peeling nails can indicate poor food digestion, while yellowing of nails is a possible sign of fungal infection. Doctors use these minor deviations and imperfections to get an idea about an individual’s overall health and well-being.

Wondering what does it mean when your nails are really hard? Well, strong nails are healthy nails which are well cared for. To have rock-like hard nails which do not break easily, is a sign of good health. If you have really hard nails, it means that you are in good health.

If one wishes to have strong and hard nails, they need to:

A balanced diet is important for growing strong and healthy nails since eating right is the basis of overall good health. Fingernails are made of protein. So, having a diet rich in protein is important for maintaining strong, hard and healthy nails. Eggs, seeds, beans, oats, lean meats, and nuts are excellent sources of protein. Calcium is also vital for preventing nail brittleness and dryness. Thus, plenty of calcium rich foods like green leafy vegetables, dairy products, or sesame seeds should included in the daily diet. Even having calcium supplement every day can help to meet the daily calcium requirements. Vitamin B and vitamin C also help to strengthen the fingernail and prevent hang nails, respectively.

Constant exposure to water is harmful for the health of the nails. The more nails remain soaked in water, the drier and weaker they become over time. Keeping the nails dry and clean is important for preventing nail dryness, brittleness and the growth of bacteria and other organisms under the nail. Detergents in household cleansers and soap can adversely affect the nail health too. So, wearing rubber gloves can help to protect the nails against damage while performing the household chores. The strength of the nails can also be maintained by keeping them properly trimmed and filed at all times.

The best way to manicure the nails is to file them in one direction only. Sawing back and forth can result in nail splitting and weakening of the nails. Oval shaped nails are the strongest nails. The pointier the nails are, the more likely they are to break. Moisturizing the nails regularly is vital for keeping the fingernails strong, hard and healthy. A rich moisturizer should especially be applied on the nails, after washing the hands, in order to replace the natural oils that the water washed away. Proper care of the nail cuticle is important for promoting nail strength. Using a cuticle oil or nail polish is advisable, as this can provide a protective shield to the cuticles and nails and prevent them from getting damaged. One should always be watchful about the problems on the finger nails, and toe nails as well. To have healthy toenails, it is important to always wear well-fitted shoes, since ill-fitted shoes place excessive pressure on the toes and result in the formation of ingrown toenails. A doctor should be consulted if nail problems develop and do not resolve on their own, or if they are associated with other symptoms.

The nails should not be used as tools to pick, poke or pry things. The habit of nail biting or picking at the cuticles should be completely avoided as these behaviours can damage the nail bed and weaken the nail. Hang nails should never be pulled off as this can most often result in the ripping of living tissue, and weakening of the remaining nail structure.

If your nails are really hard and strong, it means that you are healthy and you most likely follow the above mentioned essential nail care practices. Keep up your healthy diet, exercise routine and nail care regime for attractive and healthy nails!

Also Read:

• Onychogryphosis or Ram’s Horn Nails: Causes, Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention
• Rubbing Nails Is An Effective Treatment For Hair Loss
• Ridges on Nails: What do the Vertical Lines on Nails Suggest?
• Home and Natural Remedies for Nail Pitting or Pitted Nails
• What Can Cause Nail Pitting or Pitted Nails?
• Peeling Finger Nails: What Causes Your Nails to Peel and How to fix it
• Why do Toenails Smell So Bad & How to Get Rid of Smelly Toenails?
• Koilonychia or Spoon Nails: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention