What causes nail ridges? The dos and don’ts of nail care

Proper nail care – including safe manicure practices and regular hydration – plays a vital role in preventing damage and infections. Lucy Slight explains why it’s time to become savvy about the signs of nail distress and get schooled up on the dos and don’ts of nail care. Are you paying close attention to the state of your nails? Ridges, peeling, and flaking can be signs of underlying health conditions but can also be attributed to over-manipulation of the nails and exposure to chemicals.

So, how do you know what’s causing your specific issue, and when is it time to seek professional advice? What are the risks associated with manicures? In a recent interview with Dermatology Times , Miami-based board-certified dermatologist Dr Martin Zaiac stressed the importance of manicure safety, particularly in terms of using instruments to clean and prepare the nails. “I always tell my patients, no matter what, when they go to get a manicure – do not allow them to take instruments to scrape or clean underneath the nail,” he told the publication. “The safest thing to do is just to use a nail brush because it’s gentle, and whatever materials are underneath there can be removed gently with a nail brush versus aggressively with some type of instrument.



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