Keeping nails strong and healthy requires a little extra effort, says nail technician Sarah Puglisevich. She tells Claire Caruana how little changes in our daily routine can go a long way and even help protect nails from various infections.

While many religiously file, polish and paint their nails to keep them looking good, there is more to keeping nails healthy than just putting coats of nail polish on them.

Sarah, a nail technician, says the little nail beds we often take for granted require quite a bit of attention if we are to keep them healthy, and while having perfectly polished nails adorned with designs is fun, this should not be the only effort we put into caring for both the fingernails as well as the toenails.

She says there is more than one ‘rule’ to keeping nails healthy. Most of these ‘rules’ are actually quite simple yet many people still struggle with sticking to them.

“Habits like biting nails are extremely common and what’s even worse is most of the time we are not even are that we’re doing it.

“Wearing gloves when using any cleaning products or doing housework is very important. The chemicals in such products can be quite harsh and can cause damage to both the hands and nails. By wearing gloves you are protecting both the hands and nails,” says Sarah.

Unfortunately, there is no one specific food that helps in maintaining healthy nails. Sarah points out that there are, however, a number of vitamins and minerals found in various foods which give nails an extra boost and one should try and incorporate these into their diet. Eating low-fat food is also beneficial, she says.

Cuticle oil is essential and should be used on a daily basis

Keratin is one such ingredient. Without the presence of keratin, which is a type of protein, the nails tend to become brittle and weak, and, as a result quite prone to breakage.

“Our nails are constantly undergoing a process that is called keratinisation where protein is woven into our nail plate. This is where keratin comes in. It is found in a number of foods such as meat, salmon, goat’s cheese, lentils and kidney beans.

“To further increase firmness and thickness of the nails, biotin – also known as vitamin B7 and vitamin H – should be incorporated into the diet. Biotin helps maintain strong nails and it can be found in yogurts, tomatoes, peanuts, almonds, eggs, and whole-wheat bread, among other food,” explains Sarah.

By looking at the nails, one may get quite a clear indication as to what is missing from one’s diet and what deficiencies one might have, she adds.

Sarah insists that monitoring the colour and texture of nails regularly is very important as both colour and texture may help with indicating certain deficiencies.

“Brittle nails which break easily and are not thick could mean there is an iron deficiency and so one should aim to eat more foods which have high levels of iron, such as lean red meat, spinach and broccoli.

“Increased white spots on the nails, and poor growth means one may need to add more zinc to the diet. Zinc helps growth and repair and is found in beef, pumpkin seeds, blackcurrants, dark chocolate, peanuts and turkey.”

Sarah is quick to add noting changes in colour and texture may also help with avoiding fungi − also known as Tinea Unguium and Onychomycosis − from developing under the nails, which is very common but might require medical treatment.

“Fungi start off as a yellow or white spot underneath the toenail or fingernail. This may cause nail discolouration, a crumbly edge, a thick nail plate and a dull nail. It is sometimes more common on the feet rather than fingernails as these are often exposed to darker, more moist environments while wearing shoes. Such conditions are perfect for nail fungi to live and grow.

“Nail fungus may also lead to separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, which is also known as onycholysis. One needs to treat this as soon as possible as it can then lead to infection.

“It is very important that if you suspect that you might have nail fungus, you speak to a doctor as soon as possible and not try treating fungus yourself.

Regular manicures and pedicures are often regarded as indulgences, yet Sarah insist these ensure the nails are in a healthy state.

“Manicures and pedicures will also help in preventing damage and on the whole improve the look and feel of the hands and feet.”

At home, the nails should be trimmed regularly as this will help with their growth.

Asked about what nail products should be included in one’s daily beauty regime, Sarah is quick to mention cuticle oil, which she says has a number of benefits and which should be used regularly.

“Cuticle oil is essential and should be used on a daily basis as this helps keep the cuticle area moisturised. It also helps protect against damage and improve the health and appearance of the cuticles and natural nail. It also aides growth of the new nail while also helping circulation.”

Using a good hand cream, which can be applied during the day and as well as at night, will also help keep the hands and nails moisturised.

Many often note a change in the health of their nails depending on the season and Sarah assures this is normal. The blood circulation varies during the different time of year and this has a direct impact on the nails.

“In the winter, the nails tend to take a little longer to grow as we usually have slower circulation.

“Very often we see that nails tend to become more brittle and are more prone to breakage.

“On the other hand, they tend to grow faster in the summer months due to the weather being much warmer which leads to an increased circulation.”