Many people dream of long, strong and healthy nails. But it is not always possible to grow them. After all, the speed of nail growth is affected by age, lifestyle and even gender. In some cases, you will need to change some habits and spend more time on care.
How nails grow
The nail’s matrix is responsible for its growth. This is the skin sac at the base of the nail. Its visible part is a white semicircle called the lunula. The matrix constantly produces the protein keratin, which is what nails are made of . When keratin cells come together and move forward, the nail grows.
On average, nails grow by about 3-4 millimeters per month. That is, a new nail will grow from scratch in 3-6 months. This process cannot be accelerated. At least, a scientifically proven method has not yet been invented . But nails can be strengthened. Then they will break less and they will grow longer.
In what cases do nails grow slower?
Nails grow more slowly in women and older people . Scientists also believe that warmth and an active lifestyle speed up growth, while cold and a sedentary lifestyle slow them down. And, by the way, toenails grow more slowly than fingernails.
Sometimes nails grow very, very slowly and even stop growing altogether. This happens due to illness or injury. This is because during stress, the body saves energy. It tries not to waste it on less important tasks – such as nail growth. Nails also grow more slowly during chemotherapy. Cancer drugs attack all cells that divide quickly. These include tumor cells and healthy hair and nail cells.
How to Strengthen Your Nails So They Grow Healthier
Protect your nails from water and injury
Water can make nails brittle, weak and too soft. Therefore, it is recommended to dry them thoroughly after a shower or swimming. If you often take a bath, do not put your hands in the water for a long time, keep them outside.
American dermatologist Samantha Ellis advises not to wash your hands 10 times a day and to wear vinyl gloves when cleaning and washing dishes. According to her, nails let water through 1000 times more than skin and therefore need additional protection.
Water is not the only thing that can ruin your nails. They are vulnerable in principle because they are constantly used for something – either opening soda cans or tearing off labels. If you want to grow strong nails, you should start treating them more carefully. At the very least, don’t use them as a bottle opener.
Moisturize your hands
Frequent hand washing dries out both skin and nails. This makes them brittle. When the skin around the matrix is too dry, nails grow worse. That’s why American dermatologist Andrea Suarez advises to apply moisturizing cream to your hands all day long. Ideally, you should find a product with sunscreen filters . This will both moisturize and protect your nails and skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.
Gently clean dirt from under your nails
To clean the space under the nails, do not use hard manicure tools. By pushing them under the nail, we lift it each time. This can provoke onycholysis – the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. It is better to clean the nails with a small brush (you can even use a separate toothbrush for this).
Don’t pick or bite your nails
These habits are not always possible to control. But they harm the nails – they thin the nail plate and make it brittle. And if you pick at the cuticle, you can also damage the nail matrix. Because of this, the nail will grow unevenly.
Don’t get carried away with polishing and leave the cuticles alone
Buffing makes nails thinner and weaker. This does not mean that you should forget about it forever. But if you want to grow strong nails, it is better to polish them less often. The same applies to the cuticle – a piece of skin at the base of the nail plate. The cuticle protects the nail matrix. Dermatologists do not recommend cutting it. This is fraught with injuries and infections and generally harms the nails. If you really want to, you can gently push back the cuticle with an orange stick (although some experts believe that even this is risky).
Apply oil to your nails
Nails have a porous structure, which is why they actively pass water through themselves. Oil “seals” the nail and protects it from water. Dermatologist Samantha Ellis advises applying oil after each hand wash. A couple of drops will be enough for all nails. Any oil will do – jojoba, avocado, and even regular sunflower. And once a week, you can make an oil bath: dip your nails in warm (not hot!) oil and hold for five minutes. You can heat the oil using a water bath.
Eat well
In order for nails to grow, it is important to eat a balanced diet . Any deficiency can harm them. For example, people who do not eat enough protein have soft and thin nails. In children, they crack and sometimes even stop growing. And a lack of iron, zinc and calcium makes nails brittle (this is why nails deteriorate in people with anorexia nervosa , who starve themselves out of fear of gaining weight).
Talk to your doctor about taking biotin
Biotin is a B vitamin . Some studies show that it strengthens brittle nails. However, doctors have different opinions about it. For example, dermatologist Samantha Ellis believes that biotin will at least not cause harm. And at most, it will strengthen nails. But according to her, you need to wait for several months to see results.
In 2021, American dermatologist Warren R. Heymann noted that the effectiveness of biotin has not yet been proven. There are too few clinical studies on this topic. This means that it cannot be said with certainty that biotin stimulates nail growth and strengthens them.
The American Association of Dermatologists and experts from the US National Institutes of Health share the same point of view .
Even if you decide to take biotin, be sure to consult with your doctor. If you take multivitamins, you may not need a separate supplement – sometimes they contain enough biotin. It is also important to consider that biotin can affect test results. Therefore, it is better not to take it 72 hours before donating blood.
When to see a doctor
If you have tried all sorts of ways to strengthen your nails, given them time, but still have not achieved results, this is a reason to be wary. Sometimes brittle, fragile nails are a sign of illness. For example, anemia or thyroid problems. The exact cause will be indicated by a doctor after examination and tests.