Use a Cuticle Cream or Oil Remark notes that one of the easiest ways to repair damaged nails is to apply a cuticle oil followed by a hand cream. "Cuticle oils deliver vitamins and nourishment and the cream will lock moisture. Moisture loss is a common symptom of gel nail damage," Remark says.
To repair nails that are damaged because of acrylics or gel polish, you should start by using a product which strengthens and hydrates the nail structure, providing it with the components which it needs, like keratin and silicon.
Use a Strengthening Base Coat
“I recommend cuticle oil, hand cream, a strengthening base coat, and a keratin nail treatment,” says Graves. “These will keep the cuticles and nails hydrated while also helping to protect and strengthen the nails during the regrowth process.”
If you lose your nail, it will take about 7 to 10 days for the nail bed to heal. A new fingernail will take about 4 to 6 months to grow to replace the lost nail. Toenails take about 12 months to grow back. The new nail will probably have grooves or ridges and be somewhat misshapen.
Fingernails and toenails can be damaged by injuries. Even a minor injury to the finger or toe may cause changes in the nail. Severe damage to the nail bed (the soft tissue underneath the nail plate that attaches the nail to the finger), particularly from a crush injury, often results in permanent nail deformity.
While you might be tempted to apply a fresh coat of paint, all of our experts strongly advise against it. Commit to going bare and giving your hands some TLC. “I know people don't like to hear it, but the more time off from gels and acrylics, the better the health of your nails,” says Choi.
"It helps your cuticles, keeps your hands and nails hydrated, and works better than callus removal if you put it on your feet and wear socks overnight," says Nguyen. "The best part is that it's affordable and probably already in your medicine cabinet!" she adds.
Dark purple or black bruising to the fingertip or the nail bed known as a subungual hematoma. Separation of the nail from the nail bed referred to as onycholysis. Laceration through the nail, cuticle and/or nail bed. Deep grooves across the nail called Beau's lines that form months after initial injury.
"I would suggest adding biotin and omega-3-rich food to your daily diet, which can strengthen your nails," says Lin. You can find biotin in foods like eggs, peanuts, almonds, avocados, or sweet potatoes, she says. "Another daily food is walnuts, which are rich in omega-3 and vitamin E."
Dry and brittle nails are the result of too little moisture. They're most commonly caused by the repeated washing and drying of fingernails. On the other hand, soft and brittle nails are caused by too much moisture, often a result of overexposure to detergents, household cleaners, and nail polish remover.
Minor nail bed injuries, including subungual hematomas, often heal on their own, especially when no other injuries are present. Receiving professional treatment can help ensure that the nail bed heals appropriately, forming a smooth surface on which the new nail can grow.
Trim off the detached part of a large tear, or leave the nail alone. Cover the nail with tape or an adhesive bandage until the nail has grown out enough to protect the finger or toe. If you trim off the detached nail, you will have less worry about the nail catching and tearing.
As long as there is no permanent damage to the nail matrix or nail bed, the nail ought to entirely regrow and appear completely normal.
Olive Oil. Olive oil is an extremely moisturizing and healing oil and is easily absorbed into the skin making it an excellent choice for nail and cuticle care. Rich in vitamin E, olive oil helps in the absorption of calcium, improves bone mineralization and the process of calcification, to help nails grow faster.
Whitening toothpaste, when applied, can lighten and brighten your nails in just a few short minutes. The same clinically proven natural whitening ingredients in products such as Tom's of Maine Luminous White Toothpaste can double as a treatment for surface stains on nails.
It's simply a common sign of normal aging. The growth of fingernails and toenails slows as we get older, and their appearance may change. Some nails become yellowed or dull and brittle, and some or all may develop tiny longitudinal ridges.
Moisturizing the nails at least once a day helps combat brittleness. Vaseline works, and so does any cream that that seals in moisture like Eucerin or Aquaphor, dermatologists say. Some manicurists recommend Trind Nail Balsam, which contains biotin, a B-complex vitamin.
If a damaged nail has not grown out normally after 12 months the damage is permanent. Nail plates grow forward from the germinal matrix which lies under the cuticle skin at the base of the nail called the eponychium.
discoloration (dark streaks, white streaks, or changes in nail color) changes in nail shape (curling or clubbing) changes in nail thickness (thickening or thinning) nails that become brittle.
This helps them know the best practices with the products they are using. As you can tell by now, it's not possible to create naturally thicker nails. The good news is that polish can add temporary thickness and strength.
Applying a nail hardener might help strengthen nails. Ask your doctor about biotin. Some research suggests that the nutritional supplement biotin might help strengthen weak or brittle fingernails.
“Peeling nails have been associated with low calcium, as well as a deficiency in iron, vitamin D, and B vitamins like biotin,” says Dr. Peters. “These vitamins all help keratin—what the tissue nails are made of—grow stronger.”