Hands and nails come in contact with soaps and detergents daily, when we do our daily chores. These play havoc, not only on the skin, but also the nails, making them rough, dry and brittle, causing them to chip and break easily. Here are a few tips to protect your hands and nails.
- Wear rubber gloves for your washing chores
- Massage cream on the hands and nails daily, especially after using detergents and soaps. Put cream on each nail and massage the nail and the skin surrounding it, using circular strokes with your thumb. Daily massage is even more important during the dry season, to prevent brittleness and to restore the health of your nails.
- Pour a cup of warm milk into a bowl. Soak your hands in it for five minutes to strengthen nails and soften the skin.
- Avoid using very hot water to soak your hands, as this can cause dryness of the skin and nails.
- If you have brittle nails, avoid frosted nail varnish
- For brittle nails include adequate protein and calcium in your diet. Include skimmed milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, fish and sprouts in your diet
- Follow a ten-day programme of taking gelatin. Dissolve one teaspoon gelatin in a little boiling water. Cool the water and add it to fruit juice. Have this daily for ten days.
