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Question

How can I keep my nails hydrated?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Whenever you moisturize your hands, you should also moisturize around your cuticle. The baby nail is under the cuticle, so the new nail coming in actually will absorb moisture from the cuticle if you moisturize right there.

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Question

I have flaky nails and top layer is flaking away. What can I do?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

You may have a nail infection called onychomycosis, which is fungal infection of the nail bed. See your family physician for oral therapy for this condition.

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Question

Can I use anything in place of cuticle oil?

Community Answer

Yes: Vaseline, coconut oil, olive oil, or baby oil would work.

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Question

Does olive oil help with your nail growth?

Community Answer

Yes. Not only does it help your nails grow and get strong, but it also moisturizes your cuticles.

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Question

How do I prevent my nails from breaking?

Community Answer

Try rubbing nail fresh healthy oil on to prevent bacteria and yellowness. You can also try a peel off base coat when you paint your nails for an easy take off.

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Question

My nails are weak, and I sometimes have multiple layers at the tips. How do I fix my nails and get them looking their best?

Community Answer

Gently buff the nails and apply a nail strengthener or a base coat to give the nails a protective layer to prevent further layers being visible. Taking vitamins can help encourage your nails to grow stronger.

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Question

I always have skin that peels on either side of my fingernails. How do I prevent that?

Community Answer

Get a manicure kit from the store. There should be a little tool to help take the peeling skin on the sides of your fingernails off.

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Question

How or what can I use to stop biting the skin off my fingernails?

Community Answer

Dip them in lemon juice or wrap them in tape.

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Question

I jammed my nail into a wall and it has come loose from the bed. Can I use nail glue to attach it back to the nail bed?

Community Answer

No, you should just regrow it. If you put nail glue on you will stop the recovery from the bed. Nail glue holds things in and kills healthy things such as vitamins that grow your hair, skin and nails.

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Question

How do I strengthen my nails?

Community Answer

Use nail oil before and after doing your nails or after taking a shower. Also, if you buff your nails, only do so to the tip of the nail.

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Question

For years I have used white pencil under my nails. I was always getting compliments on my nice nails. Now I cannot find the pencils. What should I do?

Community Answer

Use a white liquid eyeliner instead.

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Question

Can I do the same steps for my toes?

Community Answer

Absolutely, but you should keep in mind that your toes do not need to be taken care of as often as your finger nails.

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Question

I got my nails done at a salon, the top of one nail was burned with their buffing instrument, and ever since the nail has been split through. What can I do?

Community Answer

You should definitely complain to the nail salon! Buy nail strengthener (I use Nail Envy). Once the strengthener is dry, put a Band-Aid on the nail. Use cuticle cream on your cuticle to help the nail grow. Do this every day. When the nail grows longer, cut the split part off.

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Question

My nails are very thin and have like a tendency to break easily––what should I do?

Community Answer

Use jojoba oil and hand cream on your nails. You can also paint your nails often to keep an extra layer on them, to add strength. Otherwise, see your doctor as you may have a nutrient deficiency or a condition that needs medical diagnosis and treatment advice.

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Question

How do I make my nails equal?

Community Answer

Clip or file your nails to the desired length, then clean up the nail shavings.

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Question

I don't use nail polish but I have nail fungi, what can be done?

Community Answer

Take Vicks VapoRub and put it on your nails. Then put gloves on your hands and sleep in them overnight. Do this until the fungus is gone. It can take a year, so be patient. See your doctor if it worsens.

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Question

How do I make my nails round?

Community Answer

Just use a nail file and go around the edge of your nail in the same direction. Generally, this will round the top of your nail. A rounded tip is better than a pointed or square tip. It is healthier.

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Question

My nails are always dirty, even if I manicure. What should I do to make them neat and white?

Cecilia Flores

Top Answerer

If you paint them a lot, then your nails will be yellow from staining of the polish. They're not dirty, just stained. They only ways to get rid of them (without tinting them with a very sheer white polish) is to buff your nail or bleach/whiten them. Both options damage your nail badly. If you get your nails done or paint them a lot, then the polish should cover the stains anyway.

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Question

Do I apply Vaseline on my nails or around the sides of them?

Community Answer

While the sides are the target area, you can apply it to your nails as well.

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Question

What if I want to grow my nails longer, but they always break?

Community Answer

Mix jojoba oil with a little vitamin E gel and apply that on your cuticles and under your nails five times daily. Also, be careful with your nails if you know you might break one (i.e using a spoon to open your soda instead of your nails). Lastly, to keep your nails and hands moisturised, use a good moisturizer like CeraVe, Glaxal Base, or OPI's Avojuice if you prefer scented, three times a day on your hands and cuticles. Once they start getting long, file squoval until they get a little longer than your desired length (to keep them strong), then you can pick your desired shape.

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Question

I've bitten my nails for a little over a year and my skin and cuticles are all messed up. Is there a way to get them back to normal?

Community Answer

Yes! But first, you must stop biting. Check out some blogs for advice on that. Now, you must start applying jojoba oil mixed with a little bit of vitamin E gel under and around your nails. Do this five times a day. Also, use a lotion three times a day on your hands and on your nails. Bandage your cuticles at night and put on an antiseptic ointment beneath the bandage.

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Question

I keep biting my nails but I'm desperate to have long nails. How do I stop myself from wanting to bite them?

Community Answer

Pour vinegar on them or acetone. Also, apply jojoba oil on your cuticles and under your nails to keep them strong. For a few weeks, trim them short and neat so it will be harder to bite. Try your very hardest not to bite for 21 days to a month and you should have a new habit of not biting your nails.

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Question

Can I just use transparent nail polish?

Community Answer

Yes, it will give your nails a nice look. You can also use nude shades.

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Question

My nails always chip when I grow them. How do I prevent them from happening again?

Community Answer

Nails that are weak need two things: hydration and more biotin. You should take liquid biotin. Drink 64 oz. of water a day when taking liquid biotin to avoid breaking out. Oil your nails with jojoba oil 3-6 times a day, and follow up with aloe vera gel (the first ingredient must start with aloe) before you go to bed.

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Question

My nails don’t seem to grow. What do I do?

Becca

Community Answer

Nails grow at an average pace of 3mm a month. However, this can differ from person to person. Some tips to improve nail growth could be to try cuticle oils that can help nail growth or to take some nail supplements just remember to contact your doctor before taking medication to help your nails grow. You could also try press on or acrylic nails to add instant length to your nails while you wait for them to grow longer.

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Question

My nails have become yellow from the middle of the nail to the tip. What can I do to get rid of the yellow?

OakSocks

Community Answer

White vinegar will strip away stains on your nail and give them a nicer color. Mix one teaspoon to one tablespoon of white vinegar with one cup of water. Soak your nails for about eight minutes and then pat dry with a towel. Put a bit of lotion on your hands.

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Question

Does hand lotion/cream also work to moisturize your nails or is olive oil better?

Jessica T

Community Answer

Rubbing hand lotion onto your cuticles can help them stay in good condition. Hand lotion can also stop your hands from feeling greasy.

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Question

How can I keep clean my skin under big nails of my fingers?

Reese Han

Community Answer

Just wash your hands well, but if they get dirty, use a sharp tool like a toothpick or a thin hairpin, and gently scrape out any dirt. Also, do not dig in deep if you use a sharp tool. It can damage your skin and deepen the whites of your nails.

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Question

Are lateral indents in the thumb nails a sign of something? Sometimes they are very prominent, sometimes milder.

Lauren

Community Answer

No. If they are mostly minor, and don't happen all the time, you shouldn't be concerned. If they are very dented all the time and your nails are cared for fine, then you might want to call a doctor. Also, it happens a lot after fake nails are taken off.

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Question

On the surface my nails look fine and healthy but when you look at them from the underside they seem to have the start of twist to them. Should I be concerned?

Community Answer

Clip them. The best way to fix things is to start over. Clip your nails shorter. Let your nails grow out again and if this problem does not fix, then see your doctor.

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