How to Heal Damaged Nails

What caused the damage?

As I’ve mentioned before, when you pick your polish off instead of using actual nail polish remover, the first layer of your nail can come off with the polish. You may not take off the whole first layer, but pieces can definitely come off. Your nails have tons of layers, so this may not seem like a big deal. At first. But what if you always take off your polish this way? Well, first of all, it will make your nails thinner and weaker. Also? You can be causing tiny holes in the layers of your nails which can lead to peeling when those holes grow to the edge. It can take 6 months for a nail to grow back completely!

How can you fix it?

As they say, time heals all wounds. But you can also do things to help your nails. First, keep your nails trimmed. I do not mean with nail clippers. No. Use a glass file (a glass file helps to seal the keratin layers that make up your nails) to keep your nails on the shorter side. Keeping your nails a shorter length can prevent them from peeling more and will give your nails a chance to get strong again. Next, stay hydrated. Drinking water can help to flush toxins from your body and is good for you in general. A healthier you can lead to healthier nails. And finally, take your vitamins. Because you know, the healthier you thing. Plus vitamin A, B-complex vitamins and omega 3s all play a part in how your nails look. Keratin is the basic protein found in nails and anything keratin based can benefit from omega 3s. Vitamin deficiencies can lead to dry, brittle nails that peel. I do have to say here though, that before starting vitamins or supplements, you should consult your favorite medical professional. Also, please note that some vitamins and supplements can interfere with blood test results (biotin can interfere with thyroid tests, for example) so you really should consult your doctor. The internet jury is out on whether additional supplements will do a lot for your nails if you’re not vitamin deficient.