Good nails are an indispensable part of a woman’s beauty and style. Regular manicures and pedicures should therefore be a part of your weekly activities. Fortunately, the revolution in science and art has led to the development of eminent products like OPI and other notably skin care and nail care products these tested products are time-saving since they come with useful accessories, and are safe to use.

Besides improving your image, proper nail care helps to relieve stress, aid in digestive and heart health, and also aid in memory. In this article, you will learn a number of serious nail complications which will require medical intervention. You will also learn a step by step home procedure of how to repair damage on your nails.

When to Seek Medical Intervention

Many conditions affecting the fingernails or toenails can be easily corrected at home. OPI gel polish is an example of a product that can effectively treat damaged or diseased nails. However, both men and women need to know red flag signs that your toes or fingernails require medical intervention. The following are two common conditions which should be corrected at once; these conditions tend to become worse if left unattended, leading to serious impairment on the hands or feet.

Fungal Infections

Fungal infections occur when there is an overgrowth of fungus in the body. The most common type of fungal infection is known as tinea unguium, or onychomycosis, which affects both toenails and fingernails. The same fungus is responsible for the development of athlete’s foot, ringworm and jock itch.

Beware that fungal infections can spread easily within a family or through unsterilized salon equipment. Common signs of a fungal infestation include bad smell from infected nails, brittle nails, and a distorted nail that eventually falls off. The most prevalent fungal infections are: distal subungual infections, proximal subungual infections, white superficial infections and candida infections.

Paronychia

Paronychia is an inflammation on the nails mostly caused by bacterial activity. This condition is common in people who have a habit of biting their nails, those who constantly work with water, and those exposed to harsh chemicals. Symptoms of paronychia include tenderness, swelling and pain around the nail. After a few days, a painful, pus filled abscess forms. Although antibiotics paronychia, the condition is known to reappear after treatment.

After healing, this condition tends to leave ugly waves and ridges on the nails. Applying OPI gel polish helps the process of healing, especially in the case of acute paronychia where two or more fingers or toes are affected.

Self Nail Care Techniques

Modern techniques in pedicure and manicure require you to have an assortment of tools and accessories. These may include, but are not limited to, the following: tweezers, cotton balls, cuticle scissors, and nail files moisturizing lotion, bamboo sticks, gel polish, and small paint brushes for artwork. Genuine and reputable products such as OPI gel nail color come along with a number of accessories for a refined manicure. The following are steps to follow in order to achieve a radiant manicure:

Remove traces of the previous coat, soak acetone-based nail polish removers for a faster and smoother job. Clip and file your nails, nails files, nippers, and scissors make the procedure simple and effortless. Do not use excessive force which might damage or disfigure your nails. Soak your nails, immerse your feet in warm water for a maximum of three minutes. Soaking softens cuticles and loosens up dead skin cells and dirt.

Introduce genuine beauty products, now you can massage some cream and moisturizer into your hands and feet in preparation for gel polish. Good gel polish will give you a radiant and long lasting finish. Add an extra coat, a second coat can effectively iron out any streaks. It will also seal any visible ridges left on the fingernails. Remember to wait two to three minutes between coats. The top coat – the top coat works as a sealant which contains hardeners and also intensifies the shine. Allow ample drying time of up to half an hour to achieve a superb finish.

Conclusion

Settle for natural product options when possible. Remember to give your nails special attention if they experience external trauma. Nail polish gel helps to conceal black spots from the nail’s surface. OPI gel polish is recommended for treatment of damaged and discolored nails. Nutritional supplements like biotin are also useful to stimulate growth of fingernails, OPI gel comes in handy to strengthen weak nails and to keep them glowing. It is advisable to seek medical help to discover internal causes of poorly-developed nails.