After all that love was in the air last week, how are we loving this week?
Three questions for you since you might now be in love . . .
1) Do I want to be in a serious relationship, right now or with him/her?
2) What am I expecting from this person or should I expect anything?
3) The words that are used to describe the relationship mean the same to both of you?
Just something to take a little look at.
Healthy, happy nails! Check out the healthy cuticles
Purple nails – When nails turn purple or blue, says Dr. Graf, it could be a symptom of Raynaud’s. The syndrome causes blood vessels in the fingers and toes to spasm, and while it’s usually just a benign inconvenience, Raynaud’s can also be an early symptom of more serious disorders. This can also be a sign of poor circulation.
Dark Spots – Those small, vertical plum lines you see running along your nails? They’re called splinter hemorrhages, and sometimes they can be chalked up to a run-of-the-mill injury. However, says Dr. Graf, it’s important to pay attention. “If you see dark, longitudinal lines, those are definitely things to get checked. They could be birthmarks, but if they go below the nail plate, they need to be evaluated for melanoma.” These tiny blood clots are also loosely associated with a host of other health issues, from lupus to heart inflammation, so schedule an appointment to rule out anything serious.
If a dark stripe or band suddenly appears at the cuticle or on in the nail plate, get it checked out.
If any of these apply to you, please see a licensed manicurist or podiatrist for advice.
There are some conditions that may be helped by visiting your pedicurist on a regular basis, not just when you have to or some special occasion.
Think About It: Does your outer appearance match who you are on the inside? You are the only one that can really see you.
Hands and feet colors or designs do not have to match.
Weak, brittle nails – “Ridges and weakness can be just dry nails,” Dr. Graf says. “The nail is made of keratin, so if you have rough and dry nails that break easily, that means they’re getting thinner.” Fortunately, treatment is easy: take 500 mcg of biotin daily. Do not buff your nails, instead smooth with light block or smoothing file, this too will cause thinning and splits if not done correctly. Polishing with nail strengthener (not hardener) will add to the overall appearance and health of your nails. With that said, weakened nails are sometimes a sign of nutritional deficiencies. “Selenium, biotin, and other minerals are very important,” she continues. “If you have weak nails, get a checkup to rule out anemia or thyroid issues.”
Yellow, green, or white nails – Nail polish can cause a slight yellowing of the nails, which is temporary and largely harmless. But if your nails are yellow, green, or white, that may be a sign of a serious health issue. “Yellow or green nails can be indicative of lymphatic obstruction in the fingers,” Dr. Graf says, adding that significant color changes could also be a sign of liver or kidney disease.
This condition can also be due to overlays that have lifted, been on too long and/or moisture and dirt has gotten between the overlay and natural nail causing fungus which will lead to discoloration. This can be dangerous to the future health of the nail and nailbed.
“Basically, if your nails look funky, you’ve got to get them checked out.”
The last of this three-part series will post next week. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Think About It: The more things change, the more they stay the same. —Alphonse Karr
Photo: Getty Images
They say, “The eyes are the window to the soul”. But as it turns out, the nails may give us a glimpse of our inside and overall health. “Fingernails should be a healthy, pinkish color,” says Dr. Jeannette Graf, a clinical and research dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. “But significant changes to the entire nail could represent something going on in the body.”
Of course, slight variations are normal and no reason for panic, but here’s a guide to what specific issues could mean.
Pitting – “Pitting of the nails could be psoriasis,” says Dr. Graf, adding that in some cases, it could be a symptom of a connective tissue disorder. If you see small depressions or irregular contours in your nail bed, it’s time to visit a dermatologist.
Clubbing – Surprisingly, the tips of your nails hold hints about your lungs. “Clubbing of the end of the fingers can be suggestive of pulmonary disease,” Dr. Graf explains. Colloquially known as Hippocratic fingers, this condition is easy to identify due to its “inflated” appearance. “If you look at the end of the nail and it’s thick and round, that’s clubbing,” Dr. Graf adds. Other signs of possible lung problems? Longitudinal, linear lesions in the nail bed or blood splinters.
Spoon-shaped nails – Koilonychia—indented or concave nails with ridges—could be a sign of iron-deficiency anemia, according to Dr. Graf. It may also suggest hemochromatosis, a liver disease caused by too much iron buildup. Uneven nails, she says, should also grab your attention: “In the absence of trauma or psoriasis, when the nail is uneven, it could also be a sign of thyroid problems.”
To be continued . . .
If you have any questions about your nails, skin or hair, please consult a dermatologist.
Think About It: Take time to write out your goals. Writing out your goals makes you more decisive.
Don’t let these be yours?!
Are you ready for those office parties and out of town guests? How are you looking? Skin? Hair? Nails? Heels?
These feet and heels are saying, ‘I’m tied and I’m redta go!’ Don’t put off your services(mani and pedi) til the last minute and act surprised when those feet turn out to be yours. No amount of lotion or vaseline will hide the much needed overhaul. Time is short and schedules are full. Your time is precious. So plan some time for your Holiday Glam. If not, wear enclosed shoes, please.
By appointment, you are next at Dew Drop Nails where . . . natural nail-care is the specialty.
Christmas colors!
These would have to be done after you’ve cooked all the goodies.
Hope is the expectation of favorable change.
With the recent onslaught against women and mothers, just a little something I wanted to put out there. I love Dr. Adrian Rogers and the following was taken from one of his writings.
‘ . . . the incredible impact godly mothers and grandmothers have on their families—and on our society!
“We are in difficulty today in America, like a ship lost at sea without a rudder or a compass, on a dark and stormy night. The anchor is gone. What is the anchor? It is motherhood, and there is a war against motherhood in America. The result: immorality, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, militant feminism, juvenile delinquency, [and] all of this can be traced back to the homicide of the home that comes by the neglect of motherhood.”
Godly mothers and grandmothers truly are the anchor of the next generation.’
Are the mothers of today leaving a legacy of godliness as most of our Mothers, Moms, and MudDears of yesteryear?
Just something to think about?
While doing a manicure, I often ask clients how did they break a nail. They ultimately say, they don’t know why or how their nails come to have a break, split or peel. ‘It just peel or split like that?’ Some are legitimate reasons: searching in a large purse, car door handle or just hit the nail and it breaks. Breaks are often better than bending. Believe me! We all know the nail doesn’t grow out broken. Broken nails are most likely due to some action or mishap by the client. Some are just heavy-handed or use their nails as tools: to open or peel something. Most often its the thumb nail.
Cuticle care is very important to nail health. If the cuticles are dry, cracked and tight, it could impede the nail growth. The cuticle is actually a protective sheath that grows over the root of the nail. This is where your nail’s new cells are developed — the new cells grow and then push out existing nail, which is what causes the dead, whitened parts of your nail to grow over time and require trimming. Washing the hands excessively can also cause dry brittle nails and dry tight cuticles. Insufficient hydration through your diet can also cause dryness.
The bottom line: healthy nails, have healthy cuticles
Think About It: For a woman, self-maintenance is a full-time job
What does it mean to have natural nails? Natural nails are those happy, healthy nails with free edges that are not split(vertically) or peeling(layers of the nail lifts). The most important part of healthy happy nails are the free edges without any problems. If the free edges are in good condition, polishes has a tendency to last longer. Polished nails only lasts on natural nails for three to four days at most.
The fact is that natural nails are not living tissue but do take on water, they expand. The polish does not expand with the natural nail, therefore, the polish chips or peels. Gel nails, Shellac(CND), gelcolor(OPI), etc. will react the same way as nail polishes on damaged, peeling, short and split natural nails.
Peeling Nail
Healthy, happy nails
Split Nail
Dew Drop Nails 