Nail hygiene is a part of hand hygiene. Nails are made up of layers of a protein called keratin. Somewhere our nails represent our personal hygiene. Nails can tell a lot about our general health. They grow on an average of 1mm per week unless there are dietary issues or medical conditions that prevent this. The purpose of nails is to protect the ends of our fingers and toes from trauma and to help pick things up. Taking good care of your nails and maintaining their cleanliness is very important. 

In India we eat through our bare hands, therefore, nail hygiene is crucial and without it hand hygiene is incomplete. Nails can become the breeding ground for bacteria and germs if not properly cared. Constant negligence towards the cleanliness of nails can result in serious health issues like bacterial and viral infections. It is not that difficult to maintain good nail hygiene. A little awareness and care are sufficient to keep our nails healthy. 

Do’s and don’ts of nail hygiene

Chewing fingernails can damage the nail bed as minor cuts can cause infection. Moreover, germs enter our mouths directly while we bite. Hence stay away from chewing nails. 

People don’t mind sharing nail clippers with others but they shouldn’t. Nails harbor abundant germs, bacteria and viruses and sharing nail clippers is equivalent to exchanging those microorganisms. Always wash hands and under nails with soap and water after a nail clipping session.

Keep fingernails dry and clean, this will prevent bacterial and fungal infections from growing under our nails. You can use cotton-lined rubber gloves while washing dishes, cleaning or using harsh chemicals. 

Wisely choose your nail care products in order to follow good nail hygiene. 

Keep hands and nails moisturized to avoid the cuticles from overgrowing. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and then apply moisturizer. 

Never pull off your hangnails. Rather, be gentle towards them and carefully clip them off. Stop using those products which are harsh on nails. Always go for acetone-free products.