How often washing your hands and using nail polish remover can make your nails weaker
To stay clean and healthy, a lot of people wash their hands several times a day. This is good for keeping germs away, but washing your hands too much can make your nails weak and break. Using nail polish remover too often can cause the same problem. These habits can make your nails dry and weak when done together.
To stay strong, nails need moisture and natural oils. These natural oils come off when you wash your hands a lot, especially with hot water or harsh soap. As time goes on, nails get dry, thin, and more likely to break or split. A lot of healthcare workers, cleaners, and people who are very clean do this.
Nail polish remover can make things even worse. Acetone, a strong chemical that dries out nails quickly, is in most removers. Using acetone often takes off not only nail polish but also the moisture inside the nail. This can make nails peel, break, and grow slowly. Even removers that don’t have acetone in them can make your skin dry if you use them too much.
Nails that are dry are more likely to break and may look dull or sick. Some people also see white spots, rough edges, or painful splits in their nails. People often think these problems are caused by a lack of vitamins, but it’s usually because of their daily habits.
When you can, wash your hands with gentle soap and lukewarm water to protect your nails. After washing your hands, put on hand cream or cuticle oil to add moisture back. Try not to use nail polish remover too often, and give your nails breaks from polish. Cleaning with gloves on can also help.
Simple care is the first step to healthy nails. You can keep your nails strong, smooth, and less likely to break by making small changes to your daily routine.
