Maintaining Healthy Nails

Nails are living tissue, just like skin. In fact, they're composed primarily of the skin protein keratin. As your skin gets drier with age, your nails do, too. But that doesn't mean you have to resign yourself to a lifetime of ugly nails. You just need to treat them with more kindness and gentleness.

Don't overuse products like nail polish, nail hardeners, and polish remover. Keep your nails clean and dry; this prevents bacteria from collecting under the nails. Don't remove your cuticles, because that makes it easier for infection to develop. When you rub lotion on your hands, be sure you get it in the area around the nails. Avoid harsh chemicals; they can damage your nails. Many women say rubbing cuticle oil into your nails at bedtime helps make them much less brittle.