Finger or toe nail pain may be caused by injury, infection or incorrect treatment. The nails on your hands and feet protect the tips and nerve endings on these parts of the body. When you feel nail pain, it isn’t the nail in particular that feels the pain as it is made up of a hard substance known as keratin, same as your hair. It is the nail bed, which is rich in blood cells and nerve endings, which hurt. Nail pain can be caused by many factors, what is common is that it can make you very uncomfortable and is the first sign that your nails need attention and care.

The nails on your hands grow faster than those on your toes. And thus, they require frequent grooming. The first thing to consider when you have nail pain is whether the nails are too short or too long. Cutting your nails too close to the nail bed may make them painful. If your nails are too long the nail bed may not be able to support it adequately and would hurt. The length of the finger nails must be in grooming range and should be trimmed accordingly. If you intend to have long nails, do ensure that they are well groomed. Once you trim your nails, use a nail file to smoothen out the sharp edges.

Your nail pain may be due to biting the nails or the edges of the nail bed. Such action puts stress of the nail bed and causes injury and pain to it. Using your nails as tools to peel and pry open things can also hurt. Injury to the nail bed can cause damage to it and lead to ingrowths. It is important that you consult a doctor if this happens.

Toe nail pain may be caused by injury, infection, and change in nail thickness and ingrowths. One of most common ways of injuring the foot is by wearing ill fitting footwear. It is important that you wear shoes that give your feet space to fit in comfortably. The nails on your feet should be trimmed and groomed well to avoid any nail pain and discomfort. Change in thickness of the nail may be indicative of nutritional deficiencies and make the nail brittle. Wearing nail polish on your toe nails for long periods of time may also make them brittle. You may wish to wear nail strengthening polish frequently and also go nail polish free on occasion.

Fungal infection is another cause of nail pain in the toes and should be treated efficiently. Ingrowths are caused by damage to the nail bed or the matrix. This causes the nail to grow into the nail bed. Infection and inflammation caused thereafter makes it more painful. Antibiotic treatment may be recommended in such a situation.

Learn to care for the nails on the hands and feet and also learn everything there is to know about grooming skin and hair at ‘The Esani Institute’. The institute is a Paul Mitchell Partner School and offers several courses in cosmetology and skin care.

Your nails protect the nerve endings on your fingers and toes. They have a protective as well as an aesthetic function. Well cared for and healthy nails show off your hands and feet to the fullest. But what if you have dry and bumpy nails? Before you understand how you can care for your nails, it is important to understand why your nails are dry and bumpy.

Nails are made of a protein known as keratin. Your hair is also made of the same protein. Your nails are a great indicator of your health and often indicate deficiencies in the body. The color of your nails is as important as its texture. Your nails may develop vertical ridges and appear bumpy. This is an indication of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the body. It is common for people who undergo a lot of physical and mental stress to develop bumpy nails. Some experts also believe that bumpy nails may indicate the tendency of the body to develop arthritis. Bumpy nails may also indicate an underlying thyroid disorder that needs medical attention.

It is important for you to eat a balanced and healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals. You need to include fresh vegetables, dairy products, fruits and whole cereals to your diet. Dry nails that tend to chip, crack and split easily and this too indicates diet deficiencies. Use a nail strengthening polish on your bumpy nails.

Dry nails may be caused by exposing your hands and nails to harsh chemicals. This may include frequent use of acetone on your nails. Brittle nails that chip, crack and split easily are a sign of dry nails. Dry nails may also be caused by nail biting. If you have dry nails they need some love and care to recover and look and feel better.

• Dry nails should not be exposed to harsh chemicals such as acetone. You can either choose to go nail polish free for a while or choose an acetone free nail polish remover. Also wear protective gloves when handling chemicals, washing dishes and when gardening.
• Pamper your nails and fingers by dipping them in some olive oil. Massage the oil gently onto your nail bed and cuticles. You may also wish to use nail oil with vitamin E.
• Avoid washing your hands with soap that tends to dry it out.
• Use a hand and nail cream to moisturize your hands. You can do so before you go to bed at night. Also apply the cream once in the morning to keep your hands and nails well moisturized through the day.
• If you are going to have a manicure, tell your aesthetician about your dry nails. He or she may give you special tips on caring for them.
• Stop nail biting.
• Use a nail strengthening nail polish. Such nail polish contains vitamins and minerals that nourish your dry nails.

The Esani Institute is a great place to start your education as an aesthetician and develop the essential skills. The institute offers many courses in cosmetology and skin care and is a Paul Mitchell Partner School.

Your nails speak volumes about your health, lifestyle and ability to deal with stress. Most people begin biting their nails at a very young age. And it is usually a sign of anxiety and nervousness. When kids and adults are worried about something they tend to bite their nails. Nail biters are known to chew their nails while they watch an exciting movie, wait anxiously for an event they have been looking forward to and as they prepare for an exam or project. What starts of as behavior to deal with stress quickly becomes a habit. And like most habits, unless you take proactive steps it won’t go away.

• If you find it difficult to stop biting your nails, then begin with just one nail. When you see your nail grow well, it will provide you an incentive to stop biting your other nails.
• Nail biting is an oral compulsive disorder. When you feel stressed out you may feel the need to chew something. Instead of biting your nails, keep a pack or two of chewing gum handy. If you want a healthier alternative, chew on carrot sticks!
• Keep your nails trimmed. If your nails aren’t long enough to be bitten off, hopefully you won’t bite them.
• Distract yourself by taking up a hobby such as knitting and origami. If you tend to bite your nails when you are watching television then knit while you watch your favorite shows.
• Nail biters tend to bite their nails more frequently when they are stressed out. Reduce the stress in your life by adopting relaxation techniques. Take a few deep breaths or a short walk around the office or home to avoid biting your nails.
• If you are unable to distract or stop yourself from biting your nails then use a nail paint that is created to deter nail bitters. The bitter taste of the nail paint is usually enough to stop most nail bitters. Apply the nail paint once in three to four days for a few weeks. At the end of this period you should be free of your habit.
• Women can choose to wear a pretty shade of nail paint that complements the hands. The risk of ruining the effect by biting nails should stop one.
• Treat yourself to something nice when you haven’t bitten your nails for a week or a fortnight. Set short term goals for yourself and soon you will find that you no longer feel the need to bite your nails. Treat yourself to a manicure as a reward for not biting your nails for a month.
• Speak to your partner or a friend about your habit. Garner their support in your efforts to stop it.

The Esani Institute is a Paul Mitchell Partner School and offers its students numerous courses in cosmetology and skin care. The institute provides its students in-depth knowledge and hands on experience too.