What to do if your fingernails are wavy. Wavy nails: causes, treatment

It is unpleasant to discover an external change in the texture of your nail. Why does corrugation or unevenness appear on it? Few people ask this question, but in vain. After all changes in the texture of the nail plate appear for good reason. What to do, how to reverse this and restore smoothness and health? Let's talk about the main causes and methods of treating transverse waves on nails.

Older people whose nail plates have vertical grooves (raised lines running from the cuticle to the base) have no reason to worry. This an age-related anomaly, it becomes noticeable over the years. But the plate in horizontal corrugation is worth attention. The side view of the nail noticeably reveals the waves; take a closer look, the profile will show you the depressions and hollows.

Often, the corrugated plate on the nails is of a cosmetic nature, which is the result of incorrect, rough cutting of the cuticle by careless manicurists. But this is not always the case. Let's consider the most important reasons for this phenomenon:

Mycosis fungus

Half of the cases of wavy dystrophy are bacterial fungus. When you experience some discomfort: swollen hands, numb fingers and painful itching, you need to visit a specialist.

The symptoms indicate a dangerous infection that poses a health risk and does not require monitoring processes. The diagnosis may be obvious when examined by a dermatologist and after a scraping test. There is no universal approach to killing bacteria; they are responsive to one drug and completely resistant to another.

- functional disorder of the body (hormonal, cardiovascular, digestive and reproductive failure).

— mechanical injury;

- congenital anomaly;

- psoriasis, lichen planus;

- cancer.

Therapy

Having eliminated the cause of wavy nails using laboratory tests, the patient’s medical history, and information about his activities And lifestyle, the dermatologist will prescribe a comprehensive treatment. Functional failure, require specialized doctors. In the case of psoriasis, lichen and other bacteria and infections, therapy is delayed for a long time, you need to be prepared for this.

You will definitely be interested to know what it is: alginate face mask and how it helps.

Medicines and ointments for fungal infections

The main medical means that help normalize the growth of the nail plate and rid it of fungus include:

— glucocorticosteroids (hormonal drugs);

— vitamins and microelements that regenerate the tissue of the nail plate (A, B, C, D, P, E; calcium, selenium, silicon, zinc in tablets, injections and diet);

- antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil and Diphenhydramine tablets);

- from traditional ointments (tar, salicylic);

- Prednisolone and hydrocortisone ointments are used at the beginning of treatment;

- non-halogenated ointments: Flucinar, Advantan, Dermazolone, Oxycort;

- Psorcutan or Calcipotriol cream (not a hormonal drug, it is used for a long time).

Prevention

To speed up the process of nail regrowth, you must follow some measures:

- regularly strengthen nails using salt baths;

- use cuticle oil, it nourishes and moisturizes the nail plate (continuous use eliminates wavy grooves, eventually they disappear forever).

In order for your nails to grow healthy and not bother you, it is important to know how to avoid getting an infection.

The answer is simple - adhere to the rules of hygiene, carry out preventive measures of nail cleansing from time to time and develop proper resistance to diseases in the form of consuming a full range of vitamins for nail and hair growth.

People who lead a healthy lifestyle almost never encounter infectious problems. To be absolutely healthy, it is important not only to keep the internal organs clean (cleanse the body of waste and toxins), but also to carry out prevention against diseases that infect a person from the outside. A healthy body is resistant to attacks from viruses and bacteria. A strong life support system provides daily protection from environmental aggression.

An important priority for a healthy lifestyle is nutrition, sleep, exercise, outdoor activities. The listed factors are beneficial to metabolism and longevity. A smooth plate will grow, the nails will be replaced by waves, and the causes and treatment and their tedious search will cease to bother you. Following the recommendations after a while gives a positive result.

What does abnormal nail growth indicate?

When the nail plates grow incorrectly (they peel off, grow in waves), it is necessary to determine the causes and begin treatment. As a rule, nails and hair are the first to make it clear that a person has serious health problems.

If we take into account nature of delamination , as vertical and horizontal stripes and grooves appear on the nails, as well as a blue tint or poor (slow) growth, then based on these manifestations an experienced doctor will definitely find the cause and indicate that the patient has a particular disease.

It is the abnormal growth of nails that may indicate any deviations from the norm.

Of course, traditional medicine is quite strong, but it’s up to you to decide whether to take risks or not.

Poor condition of nails (for example, when nails grow in waves) is not a reason for self-medication, not a reason for independently selecting folk remedies without any experience.

It would be best to contact a more competent specialist if you suspect a problem.

However, it is still possible to consider the possible causes of improper nail growth.

What do changes on the nail plates tell us?

Let's look at the main causes and symptoms of improper nail growth.

Vertical stripes indicate that you most likely have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

If a bluish tint appears on the nails, the nails themselves begin to peel, this is nothing more than a heart problem.

Nail plates with white stripes, grooves and a bumpy structure may indicate the presence of diabetes. They may also indicate metabolic disorders.

Horizontal stripes indicate probable infectious diseases.

If the nails grow reluctantly and are concave downward, this may be the cause of iron deficiency anemia.

It is important to understand!

Before self-medicating, you should contact the clinic for advice. Only a timely examination will help to exclude possible diseases and a specialist will competently advise you, focusing on the examination performed.

Deformation of the nail plate “bumps” appears even in completely healthy people. Women are upset by the appearance of tubercles on their nails and for good reason, because they spoil the aesthetic beauty of the nail plate.

The bumps on the nails are located either horizontally or vertically. The tubercles are especially visible if you paint the nail plate with bright or dark varnish. There may be many tubercles, several or just one.

The tubercles can be deep, and in their advanced form they are accompanied by small cracks (in the recess of the nail), yellowness, and lamination of the nail plate.

Nail deformation: causes

Lumpiness of the nail plate, horizontal or vertical lines can be a signal of internal diseases, in particular the stomach, gall bladder, intestines, metabolic disorders, thyroid gland and blood disease.

Injury

A non-professional manicure can cause “bumps” to appear on the nail plate. During manicure, the matrix can be damaged. The matrix is ​​the visible part of the nail root (white lunula).

Damage during manicure:

• Incorrect cutting of the cuticle with scissors or forceps.
• Strong mechanical impact with a spatula (pusher) on the nail plate in the lunula area.
• Strong filing with a file in the area near the cuticle: extensions, incorrectly selected file grit (abrasive) for polishing nails.

Nail fungus

One of the most common causes of the appearance of tubercles on the nail plate. Fungus is an infection of the fingernails and toenails. Fungus on the nails can be a consequence of a person’s internal diseases (weakened immunity), as well as an acquired infection in public places (bathhouse, solarium, shower in the gym) or through the use of personal belongings (slippers, nail files, towels, etc.).

Contact with household chemicals

Household cleaning products, professional activities with chemicals or low-quality cosmetics are toxic substances for the body and nail plate. Wear gloves while cleaning, do not neglect safety rules at work, buy only high-quality cosmetics without toxic substances.

Smoking

The nail plate receives nutrition through the blood vessels that are located on the nail bed. Smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the blood, which in turn negatively affects the condition of nails, hair and skin. Nails may change color and develop bumps.

Stress and psychological problems

Psychological disorders and stress undermine the functioning of the body's defenses.

Onychophagia - habit of biting nails

The habit of biting nails and cuticles injures the entire nail plate, possibly causing tubercles and deformation of the nails.

Only a professional doctor can do a 100% examination of the results and prescribe appropriate treatment! In many clinics you can find a service - onychodiagnosis. Diagnostics will give accurate readings by which the doctor will determine pathological processes in the body that affect the condition of the nails. You can cure fungus at home, but it is worth remembering that there is a huge variety of fungal infections, all types of fungi are different, in some cases you cannot do without the help of a doctor.

Treatment for wavy nails

Drug treatment

Treatment can be prescribed by a doctor if you have been diagnosed with a nail infection (fungus) or other pathological processes in the body that accompany the appearance of grooves on the nails.

Treatment with cosmetics

To visually improve the appearance of your nails, you can cover them with bio gel. Bio gels are gels based on natural ingredients that have a gentle effect on the nail plate and hide existing “bumps” on the nails. Also, cosmetic stores offer medicinal varnishes, such as Smart Enamel, base varnishes for damaged nails, and finishing varnishes with a vitamin complex to smooth the surface of the nail plate.

Maintaining hygiene

Do not allow others to use your personal belongings, and also do not take other people’s things yourself: files, scissors, tweezers, combs, towels, shoes.

Tip: Use antibacterial gel (indelible) every time after visiting: swimming pool, solarium, showers in the gym, sauna, bathhouse. Treat your hands and feet with it.

Treating grooves on nails with proper nutrition

Proper nutrition. To keep your immune system strong, eat only healthy foods: less fatty foods, foods without chemical preservatives, dyes, etc. Drink more water and take a course of vitamins, eat vegetables high in fiber.

• Vitamins E, A: pork and chicken liver, eggs, cheese, beans and cereals, milk, nuts. Vitamins E and A enhance each other's effects. Therefore, they are taken together.
• Iodized foods: fish, pineapple, spinach, seaweed, milk, shellfish and other seafood.
• Magnesium: nuts, cheese, beans, blackberries, bananas, poultry, seeds, plantains.
• Vitamin B5: nuts, mushrooms, seeds, eggs, cereals, chicken, bran, mushrooms.
• Vitamin C: tomatoes, berries, citrus fruits, greens, fruits. A slice of lemon can saturate your nails with vitamins; just gently wipe the nail plate.
• Calcium: figs, dairy products, legumes, spinach, eggs, meat and cabbage.
• Zinc: greens, legumes, seafood, cereals, nuts.

How to remove bumpy nail surface at home?

Home care includes:

• Care: pamper your hands with salt baths, use a hand scrub once a week, then apply a nourishing cream. Rub the oil into the cuticle. You should avoid using hard nail files and carefully remove cuticles (European manicure). Do not buy cheap products: colored varnishes, bases and fixatives.
• Polish the surface of the nail plate once or twice a week. To polish your nail, choose a file of at least 600/3000 grit. You should not polish the nail plate too often so as not to injure your nails.
• Drink more water, eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, saturate your body with minerals and vitamins. The more nutrients there are in the body, the stronger the body’s protective functions work when in contact with pathogens.
• The manicure should be professional, without trauma to the nail plate, without sudden movements when cutting the cuticle, without excessive grinding of the nail plate, during extensions and when working with a pusher (spatula) in the area of ​​the nail root - lunula. Before applying colored polish, apply a protective base that will protect the nail from the chemical effects of the polish.
• To strengthen nails, there are many recipes in folk medicine: hand baths with medicinal herbs, hand masks based on natural products and oils, effective peelings for hands and feet based on coffee, sugar, and salt.

The condition of the nails is an important component of the appearance of both men and women. Lumpy nails cause aesthetic inconvenience and are a cosmetic defect.
The reasons for the appearance of lumpy fingernails are varied, but all reflect problems in the human body. Sometimes cosmetic manipulations will not help solve the problem, since it lies not in the nail plate, but in other organs and systems of the body.

Types of uneven nails

There are the following types of pathology of the nail plate:

• The grooves on the nail plates can be horizontal or vertical. If you notice one or two vertical irregularities on the nails of your thumbs or little fingers, do not panic. This can also be observed normally. If there are more stripes, they are different in direction and are found on all nails - this is a signal to action. It's time to reconsider your diet and add more iron-containing foods. If you have problems not only with nails, but also with other derivatives of the epidermis (increased fragility of hair, dry skin), you should consult a doctor.

• The nail plate has the appearance of a cobblestone pavement. If pits or dents appear in different areas — you should think about the reason.

• This symptom is not observed normally. It indicates the presence of internal diseases. A dermatologist will also see psoriasis (if there is an appropriate clinical picture, the symptoms manifested by changes in the nails may not be the main ones).

The main causes of lumpy nails

The entire mass of factors acting on our body can be divided by origin into two large groups: external and internal.

External factors

1. Injury. With direct mechanical impacts, the nail plate is deformed. It cannot recover on its own - specific cells capable of doing this are located only at the root of the nail. Therefore, after a strong blow, the nail turns blue, peels off and grows only from the side of the hole.
2. Violation of manicure technique. Injury to the cuticle or the use of harsh abrasive materials not intended for this procedure can lead to the appearance of bumps on the nails.
3. Onychophagia. The harmful habit of biting nails according to the mechanism of action refers to mechanical injuries. This is one of the manifestations of neurotic states and obsessive states. This most often affects children attending school or kindergarten. In addition to deformation of the plate, biting nails leads to the development of inflammation in the surrounding tissues, the addition of a secondary infection, up to the development of ulcers under the nail and in nearby tissues of the finger.
4. Impact of household chemicals. The condition of nails is worsened by surfactants, chlorine-containing detergents, phosphates, fungicides, and inorganic acids.

All manipulations and housework should be carried out with household gloves.

Diagnosis of diseases by the appearance of the nail plate in the video:

Internal factors

1. Nail diseases. They can be fungal or non-fungal. The cause of non-fungal diseases is vitamin deficiency, lack of microelements, and disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. Fungal diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms: dermatophytes, trichophytosis, microspores, etc. Infection occurs through contact with a sick person. It manifests itself as yellowing of the nails, irregularities appear. The patient complains of “humpbacked nails.” Timely treatment is usually effective. A wide range of antifungal drugs are available for purchase at any pharmacy.
2. Vitamin deficiency and poor nutrition. Changes in the nail are caused by a lack of iron in food, impaired absorption of iron in the gastrointestinal tract and its subsequent transformations. Changes in nail shape and color are a common symptom of iron deficiency or B-12 deficiency anemia. To strengthen nails, vitamins of groups A, B, C are needed.
3. Stressful situations. During times of physical or psychological stress, a portion of adrenaline and norepinephrine is released into the blood. These hormones force the body to devote all its efforts to supplying vitamins and nutrients to vital organs, and there are no resources left for hair and nails. Therefore, they fade, become uneven and brittle.
4. Smoking. It is known that nicotine accumulates in the nail plates, giving them a yellow color. Nails become brittle.
5. Weakened immunity. Immune deficiencies can be congenital or acquired. Symptoms of congenital immunodeficiency appear already from infancy and are expressed not only in changes in skin appendages and the skin itself. Acquired immunodeficiencies include HIV. This condition can be cured if all the doctor's instructions are followed.

The uneven surface of the nails should not cause an attack of panic and thoughts of the worst. Severe immunodeficiencies have clear clinical manifestations, and clumsy nails are not their only manifestation!

Treatment for wavy nails

• Drug treatment. It consists of correcting the conditions that caused it. Dermatological diseases - psoriasis, eczema; diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems; correction of anemia with iron supplements or B vitamins; extermination of fungus with fungicides; correction of vitamin deficiency and hypovitaminosis.
• Treatment with cosmetics available without specialist consultation. If it is determined that the cause is not serious, you can continue treatment at home using special hand creams and baths with herbs and essential oils. Don't forget about. How to straighten a nail outside the salon? Using baths, nail files and varnishes that protect the record.
• Maintaining hygiene. This also includes visiting trusted salons and craftsmen. Regular use of topical antiseptics and hand soap will relieve nail problems. It is also necessary to know whether people with whom you have regular contact have fungal diseases.
• Folk remedies and recipes. For treatment at home, you can use unrefined oil, using cotton wool or cotton pads to make applications on the affected plates. Baths with sage, oregano, and chamomile are effective. Baths with celandine are also available for use.
• Special diet for healing nails. A nutritious diet rich in fruits and vegetables, the use of vitamin complexes promotes healthy nails.

To maintain healthy nails, it is enough to follow a number of rules:

• avoid injuries and other damage to the nail;
• carry out cleaning only with gloves or using gentle products;
• visit trusted nail salons;
• follow a high-vitamin nutritious diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables, especially during seasonal hypovitaminosis;
• give up bad habits (smoking);
• regularly carry out cosmetic nail care procedures (use of creams, baths, strengthening varnishes).

Not only women, but also men pay attention to the condition of their nails. The condition of the nail plates is one of the main indicators of the internal well-being of the body. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to their changes so as not to trigger a serious illness and not waste time. And the main thing is to be patient in order to cure the problem if it appears and understand its essence.

Nails give away their owner. Even if a person is dressed in elegant clothes and wears expensive accessories, sloppy hands will immediately reveal to those around him that he is an ordinary slob. Unfortunately, not everyone can boast of healthy nails. And one of the common problems is wavy nails. “Waves” are located in an arbitrary direction: along or across, spoiling the entire aesthetics of the image. These “stripes” are always noticeable, especially among ladies who love to use bright varnishes. Why are nails wavy? How to return them to their original appearance? Is this even possible?

What does the problem look like?

Most often, waviness appears on the thumbs. It mainly occurs as a result of injuries and other mechanical impacts on the hands. In addition, the flaws on the nails of the big toes are much more noticeable than on the rest. But if the “ripples” are visible on other fingers, it means that the matter is not only about injury to the nail.

It is best to study the presence of “waves” by looking at your hands from the side. In the “profile” of the nail you can see how deep the depressions are. “Waves” can be the same or different in length and width, almost invisible and very deep. It happens that the longitudinal depression “grows” simultaneously with the nail, no matter how much it is cut.

You can better verify the waviness of the nail if you paint it with a bright varnish without a pearlescent tint. Then the irregularities will appear “in all their glory.” Having discovered such a nuisance, there is no need to be upset: you can get rid of it if you establish the cause of its occurrence.

Why are your fingernails wavy?

Sometimes the “grooves” that appear are simply a cosmetic problem caused by improper nail care. Perhaps the manicure was not done carefully enough, and the cuticle was roughly cut off. Or, when in contact with household chemicals, the hands were not protected with gloves.

But it often happens that wavy nails are a sign of serious health problems. What can you expect?

Fungal infection. Mycoses are a frequent guest on the hands of even very scrupulous people. After all, such an infection can be picked up very simply: for example, by using the personal belongings of an infected person or even by unsuccessfully “walking” in public places like the gym. If you suspect a fungus, you should immediately consult a doctor, since delaying treatment greatly delays recovery.

Mycosis is primarily reported by yellowed nails. Their crumbling, itching and painful sensations may also occur. There are many types of fungi, so first you need to get laboratory tests. Based on their results, the doctor will select the optimal treatment. An individual approach to the fight against mycosis is the main criterion for successful recovery. But under no circumstances should you self-medicate: this can lead to a deterioration in your health.

Even if it turns out that the cause of wavy nails is not a fungus at all, you should still follow the rules for its prevention. Basically, this means following hygiene standards: not wearing someone else’s shoes, changing socks every day, not being barefoot in baths and saunas.

Non-fungal lesions. Nails can suffer from many pathogenic microbes. They are just as good as a fungal infection in affecting the nail plates and deforming them. Therefore, even if it seems that there is nothing wrong with the “waves”, you should still consult a doctor. Treatment will not be unnecessary.

Why me?

It's a shame when you and your friend sunbathed on the beach together, but she continues to show off her beautiful nails. What is the reason? Why do some people allow themselves to fearlessly walk barefoot in communal showers, baths, saunas, swimming pools, and some cannot leave the house without rubber slippers? What explains the fact that fungi and other infections “love” some people more than others?

It's a matter of immunity. In seasoned people who eat right and exercise, the body can easily cope with almost any “infection”. So the appearance of “waves” on the nails signals poor health. What to do?

The following will help protect you from the aggressive influence of an environment infested with microbes:

• balanced diet;
• adequate physical activity;
• quality sleep;
• Fresh air;
• emotional balance.

It's not difficult at all, isn't it? But as a result, the body will be able to “boast” of healthy kidneys, lungs, liver, stomach, heart and will be able to protect itself from any pathogenic influences. Inner well-being will manifest itself in outer beauty.

If your fingernails become wavy, how can you restore their smoothness?

The solution to the problem of wavy nails is very simple, but to many it seems impossible. This is healthy eating. Nails very clearly show what exactly the body lacks. There is no need to be afraid of a healthy diet: the devil is not so scary...

Eating healthy is easy and inexpensive. The main thing is to include more “native” and familiar vegetables and fruits in your diet. Apples, pears, legumes, carrots, cabbage, beets, potatoes and even bananas, tangerines, oranges: from them our body has already learned to “extract” the maximum of necessary vitamins and microelements. We must also not forget about nuts, seeds, grains, and herbs - they are very useful “guests” on any table.

What substances are most “loved” by nails?

• vitamin B and iodine – promote growth;
• Vitamin D – helps the body absorb calcium;
• vitamins A, C and E – strengthen the nail plate;
• Vitamin H – prevents nails from crumbling and makes them less brittle;
• iron – ensures the correct structure;
• silicon – takes care of elasticity;
• sulfur – protects against inflammation;
• calcium – makes nails hard.

But how do you understand what exactly your nails are missing? They will tell you about it themselves!

Yellowness, unevenness, concavity and thinness of nails. Need iron. Its sources: cabbage, blueberries, raspberries, oats, legumes, peas, any fruit. You can improve the absorption of iron by consuming vitamin C and fluoride along with it. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, and greens. Eggs, potatoes, nuts, milk, tea, apples, cereals, grapefruits are rich in fluoride. You can “make your nails happy” with vitamin C by immersing them in lemon pulp: this will not only strengthen the nail plate, but also lighten it.
Brittle, crumbling nails. Lack of vitamin H, or biotin. 0.2 mg of this vitamin per day is enough to get rid of the problem of brittle nails. Biotin is found in mushrooms, chicken yolk and nuts.
Point depressions, white spots, layering of nails, the appearance of various infections. Lack of vitamin A, C and zinc. Vitamin A “lives” in all orange vegetables: pumpkin, bell pepper, carrots. But there is also a lot of it in butter and dairy products. Sources of zinc: seafood, legumes, raspberries, dates, greens, black currants, grains, leeks, mushrooms, nuts.
Nail deformity. There is not enough sulfur. It can be provided to the body by eating more cabbage, milk, buckwheat, garlic, cheese, eggplant, oatmeal, onions, and bread.

Dullness, gray-yellow nail color, grooves. Caused by a deficiency of vitamins PP, B5, and selenium. Vitamin PP is nicotinic acid, which is rich in nuts, seeds, yeast, eggs, milk, and porcini mushrooms. Vitamin B5 can be found in cereals, bran, eggs, yeast, and broccoli. Selenium ensures smoothness and shine of nails and is found in soy, black currants, beans, rice, buckwheat, garlic, olives, pistachios, coconut, porcini mushrooms, seaweed, white bread, eggs.

If for some reason your nails are not striking in beauty and do not shine with health, then it is better to consult a therapist. Perhaps, after all the tests, the doctor will prescribe a vitamin complex that will help get rid of nail problems.

How to get rid of uneven nail surfaces at home

If the waviness of the nails is not a consequence of any pathology or disease of the body, then perhaps the reason lies in improper home manicure. Nail care mistakes, unlike health problems, are easy to correct. The speed of “elimination” of unevenness depends only on the growth of the nails, because the “ripples” cannot disappear on their own. Having cut off the grooves, all that remains is to carefully care for your hands.

Do not injure the nail. The nail plate is quite delicate, so it can suffer from any mechanical impact. Pressing a regular ballpoint pen too hard against your nail or typing on the keyboard frequently will result in crumbling, peeling or deformation. So don’t overwork your hands: everything is good in moderation.
Gently combat cuticles. Rough removal of the cuticle leads to the appearance of “waves” on the nails. After all, after “cutting” the skin with scissors, various cracks, wounds, and cuts often remain. Thanks to them, the gates “open” for pathogenic microbes and bacteria, which contribute to the appearance of unevenness on the nail. You can avoid this by turning to an unedged manicure: you only need a wooden stick and a special gel that softens the cuticle. You can first make a hand bath: with sea salt or essential oils.

Correctly remove hangnails. The usual torn skin around the nail, which you just want to tear off or bite off, can aggravate existing unevenness. By getting rid of a hangnail in such a merciless way, you can get wounds that are very popular with infections. It is best to eliminate breaks in the skin using sharp scissors, after disinfecting the incision site.

There are also “tricks” that speed up getting rid of wavy nails and prevent similar deformations in the future:

• gloves during contact with household chemicals;
• decorative varnishes with a uniform coating that does not scratch the nails;
• disinfection of manicure instruments;
• hand baths (with sea salt, essential and vegetable oils);
• regular nail massage (with a special manicure brush or at least a regular toothbrush);
• unedged manicure: Japanese, spa, European;
• base coat of the nail before applying manicure polish.

Such “techniques” allow you to take maximum care of your skin and nails. And they will thank their owner with a healthy and beautiful appearance. The main thing is regularity. When using cleaning products, gloves should be worn every time, and not just when it comes to mind. Inconsistency of care negates all previous benefits received from caring for your skin and nails.

But there are also procedures that are completely useless in the fight against wavy nails:

• too much moisture in the nails and cuticles. Neither healthy nor damaged nails will like it if they are overly “pampered” with softening and moisturizing agents. Over time, the cuticle will become so tender that it will begin to suffer from regular injuries fraught with suppuration and inflammation;
• nail extensions. Artificial nails are not a solution to the problem. You can hide the deformation, but this will not get rid of the waviness, will not improve your health, or correct cosmetic errors;
• polishing nails. This is a useful procedure to get rid of dead cells. But you can do it no more than once a month and only very carefully with the help of a special nail file. For wavy nails, polishing will not be a salvation, because it cannot in any way change their structure and shape.

This does not mean at all that if your nails are wavy, you cannot do anything from the above list. But you need to be aware that grooves need to be dealt with using completely different methods.

Healthy nails – it couldn’t be easier

It’s very easy to say that bad nails were inherited from your mother or that they became that way due to the environment, lack of time and money for care…. These are the explanations of a lazy person. After all, taking care of your nails requires daily attention, and not everyone finds it in themselves to take such careful and loving care of themselves. But in vain!

Trimming and filing nails are hygiene requirements. Everything else, although optional, is required for a beautiful appearance. It is advisable to sometimes “show” your nails to a professional: a master from a salon can not only give you a high-quality manicure, but also suggest how to nourish your nails, what tools are best to use at home, and what vitamins you are missing. What should a girl who wants to become the owner of beautiful and healthy nails remember?

You should start with the basics: hygiene rules. Each person should have their own individual manicure set. After and before each use, instruments must be thoroughly disinfected to avoid contamination. In addition, before a manicure, you need to wash your hands with soap and be sure to remove old polish with a fortified cosmetic product. It would be superfluous to mention that all scissors-tweezers in a girl’s arsenal should be of high quality and well sharpened.

Then it's time to think about protecting your nails from negative environmental influences. After all, nails are similar in structure to hair: they absorb absolutely all substances from their surface in the same way. Therefore, it is better to get rid of the habit of washing dishes or tiles without gloves, as well as using decorative varnishes too often, especially if you do without a manicure base. Continuous “painting” is detrimental to nails. We need to give them a chance to recover and take a break from harmful substances. During nail “vacations”, it is recommended to take hand baths more often, nourish your nails with creams and oils, and also use various strengthening varnishes.

And the “pinnacle” of nail care is simple common sense. There is no need to pick off hangnails, bite your nails, cut cuticles until they bleed, or ignore disinfection. It is also necessary to seek advice from a doctor or a manicurist if you notice the slightest problems with your nails: deformations, color changes, pain.

Beautiful nails are healthy nails multiplied by constant care. You can achieve a good result only by loving and accepting yourself. Then taking care of your own body will bring only joy and pleasure. And graceful hands with a delightful manicure will evoke envious glances from those less fortunate in this regard.

As a rule, waves appear on all nails at once. They are especially clearly distinguishable if you look at the nail in profile. By assessing the side view of your nails, you can see how deep the hollows on the plate of each of them are. The “wavy” pattern is striking in its diversity: sometimes there are several parallel grooves that are located along the nail plate at the same distance from each other, and sometimes the nail is “decorated” by only one or two transverse grooves that do not grow as it grows. The waves can be subtle or clearly visible. The effect of ridges and grooves on the nails is enhanced by a bright, pearl-free polish. Agree, it doesn’t seem to be fatal, but the manicure on uneven nails doesn’t look quite right.

Grooves and ridges are not the only way to deform the nail plate. Here's what this “trouble” might look like:

• the nail becomes spoon-like when a small depression appears on its surface;
• Slightly raised ridges form on the sides of the nail plate, and the central part of the nail expands and thickens. Such nails look excessively large;
• nails peel and break easily, their surface is marked with white spots or blackened spots.

Why do my nails hurt?

The problem can be considered purely cosmetic if you do not follow basic rules at home. Whenever you casually cut the cuticle, be prepared that your nails will soon become agitated. A dense leathery cushion protects the growth zone of the nail from harmful infections and bacteria. Rough removal of the cuticle injures the growth area at the base of the nail plate, resulting in the nail growing uneven and weakened. Manicure involves gentle nail care: the cuticle needs to be pushed back to the base of the nail with a wooden stick or covered with special solutions that soften and dissolve the dense strip of skin at the base of the nail.

If you are sure that you know all the intricacies of proper manicure like the back of your hand, be sure to try to find out the true causes of nail deformation - in no case should such a problem be underestimated.

In medicine there is an official term for this phenomenon. Non-fungal damage to the plate, bed and fold of the nail is called onychodystrophy. Pathology is a concomitant complication of infectious diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, dysfunction of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems, and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Let us list several far from harmless factors that cause destructive processes in the thickness of the nail plate, distorting it unsightly.

1. In the vast majority of cases, the cause of curvature of fingernails is considered to be fungal diseases. Infection occurs through contact: in a beauty salon, when shaking the hand of a sick person, etc.
2. Severe bruises and pinches that injure not the nail itself, but the nail bed.
3. Chronic diseases of the lungs, thyroid gland, heart and joints. In this case, treatment of nails will be useless: to prevent them from hurting, the main disease must be eliminated.
4. Skin diseases such as eczema, lichen planus.
5. Aggressive influence on nails of chemicals, acids, alkalis and other synthetic things.

Treatment for wavy nails

The typically feminine approach to the problem - hiding disfigured, uneven nails under several layers of bright varnish - is considered fundamentally wrong. The varnish will undoubtedly hide the defect, but at the same time it will further worsen the condition of the nail - it will block the supply of oxygen to the nail plate and disrupt its general trophism (nutrition).

Another big problem of modern man is his inflated self-esteem and free access to almost any information. So, some, imagining that they know more than doctors, begin to treat their nails on their own, believing that a fungus is the culprit of their deformation. Without laboratory tests, even an experienced doctor will not risk making a diagnosis. Needless to say, we shouldn’t get carried away with self-medication?

To restore your nails to their former smoothness, you first need to consult with a competent specialist who, based on a microscopic examination, will prescribe the correct and effective treatment.

MirSovetov reminds that uneven nails are just a symptom by which the body reacts to the underlying disease. Complex therapy to restore nail health should take place in parallel with the treatment of the disease that is the reason why your manicure may not yet be perfect.

Treatment of the disease is aimed at restoring the full trophism of the nails and the tissue that surrounds them. To improve nail health, medications are used that normalize blood microcirculation and strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Physiotherapy and massage are used as adjuvant therapy.

Particular attention in nail rehabilitation is paid to vitamin and mineral complexes, which act as building materials for the nail plate. Particularly significant for nail health are preparations of retinol, iron, glycerophosphate, phytin, as well as ascorbic and nicotinic acids, thiamine and cyanocobalamin.

In addition to drugs whose action is aimed at correcting the condition of the nails, patients are prescribed general strengthening and immune-stimulating agents, and sedatives.

In the treatment of onychodystrophy, a good effect is observed after local procedures - these are hot baths (up to 45o C), to which sea salt, pine extract or sodium bicarbonate are added. This is a real gift for sore nails - the healing liquid stimulates blood flow to the growth zone of the nail, restoring nutrition to the tissues around the nail plate.

The next equally important procedure is applications based on warm natural wax, paraffin, ozokerite, and medicinal mud. In order for the application to bring the greatest benefit, the remedy is generously applied to the nail fold, cuticle and skin around the nail.

Physiotherapy for the treatment of nails involves the use of iontophoresis, diathermy, phonophoresis with the use of vitamins A and E. Treatment takes place in courses of 10 - 15 procedures with a break of 5 - 8 weeks.

Severely exfoliated nails with thickenings on the nail plate are saved with a special keratolytic plaster, with the help of which the keratinized areas of the nail are softened, which is very convenient for their painless removal. The patch is glued after a soap and soda bath.

Treatment for “wavy” nails is long-term, so you should not expect instant results. The more regularly you do all the medical procedures prescribed by your doctor, the faster new smooth nails will grow!

And finally...

No matter how much you would like to quickly show off your spectacular manicure to your friends, remember that during the treatment period you need to treat your nails with special care and love. Under no circumstances should you:

Until the cause of curvature of the nail plates is established, it is better to keep all cosmetic procedures for nails to a minimum in the form of trimming and careful filing. A little patience and perseverance will definitely return your nails to smoothness and shine!