Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Nail Fungus

Nail fungus may grow in the nail bed on both the fingernails and the toenails. Fungus grows in dark, moist areas and may grow under the nails after you use public showers and swimming pools, says the Mayo Clinic. Additionally, toenail fungus may be caused by wearing synthetic socks or wearing the same pair of shoes over and over. In some cases, you can reduce fungus naturally with home remedies.

Vinegar
Soaking the nails in vinegar may be effective in reducing some cases of toenail or fingernail fungus, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although it may not be effective in all cases, the home remedy is inexpensive and may be worth a try. Soak your feet or hands for 15 to 20 minutes in a solution of one part vinegar and two parts warm water once a day. If the vinegar causes skin irritation, add more water to the solution or reduce soaking to three or four times a week.

Trim Nails
Trim nails short; the lifting of a long nail from its bed can give fungus access to the nail bed. To keep fungus from spreading, keep nails trimmed as close to the nail bed as possible. Do not cut your cuticles, says podiatrist James Graham, D.P.M. Removing the cuticles can create an easy entrance for fungus, which can rapidly spread to the rest of the nail. Wash your hands and the nail scissors or clippers thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water after trimming your nails to keep the fungus from spreading.

Nail Brush
Use a nail brush to exfoliate the skin around the nails, recommends Richard L. Dobson, M.D., professor of dermatology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Fungus attaches itself to dead skin cells and will spread rapidly to the nails. Scrub away dead skin cells using antibacterial soap and water each day; then rinse with cool water. Wash the scrub brush after using it to prevent fungus from growing on the brush.


http://www.livestrong.com/article/116957-natural-rid-nail-fungus

Nailcare for Men

Men's nails generally grow faster than women's nails and tend to be stronger. However, their increased surface area makes them prone to trauma from bumps and bangs. Wider nails often need more coats of nail polish and a longer time to dry as well as making it harder to keep the polish spread smoothly on the nail surface.

Should you go the route of nail salons, you may discover that they charge more for men. A non-gothic friend of mine who goes for manicure on a regular basis tells me he can often talk them down to the same price as women or find places that charge the same price for both genders. However, chances are the more complicated your needs the more likely they will charge more. It is always a good idea to find a salon you feel comfortable with and become a repeat customer. Keep in mind that you do not need to go to a nail salon if you follow my suggested weekly maintenance. If you are unsure of how to begin, you may want to go once to see how they prepare for the nail care, or do what I did and go with a friend who is getting a manicure and just watch.

Apart from a 20 minute weekly self-manicure, there is not much else needed apart from an almost daily application of clear polish to keep the nail protected. You may also want to use hand lotion once a day to help keep the cuticles soft and the nails flexible… of course most men use some sort of lotion or lubricant on a somewhat regular basis so that may not be a problem... at least for one hand.

As the subtitle "Isn't he Dainty" suggests, you need to relearn how to use your hands and fingers. The section entitled Nail Care Survival Guide covers this topic well, but I'll add that men tend to have more of a problem with long nails than women in this area because they are starting the practice so much later in life. Women have the advantage of starting younger and also learning from the experiences of their peers growing up. So be patient with yourself and accept your fate that you will break a few nails in the beginning. Stop whining about it and be a man!

There are many brands out that have released polish specifically for men that come in a variety of colors. Apart from the nice non-gloss clear polish that is great for those who like the natural look, there is no reason to bother with these brands unless you like a particular shade they carry. These gender-specific polishes were intended for mundane males who are concerned about feeling effeminate while purchasing nail polish. Goths don't tend to be concerned about such gender issues.

Finally, be realistic. If you are active in sports or other activities that are rough on the hands, long nails are probably not for you. This goes for women too, but they tend to be more aware of the limitations one's lifestyle has on nail length.

http://www.nailcareguide.com/nailcare_for_men.htm