Poolside Nail Care: Can Your Nails Grow In Water?

Have you ever noticed that your fingernails seem to grow faster after swimming? Well, it's not actually your nails growing, but rather the skin around your nails retracting due to the water making it swell and then drying out, exposing more of the nail. So, the next time you're in the pool, remember that it's just an illusion and not your nails actually growing!

Chlorinated water can affect nail growth

The chlorine in the water can also damage the cuticles, leading to dry, brittle nails. This can cause the nails to split and crack, making them more susceptible to infection.

Additionally, the chlorinated water can disrupt the natural oils that are essential for healthy nail growth. This can lead to dry, flaky skin around the nails, which can inhibit nail growth.

To mitigate the effects of chlorinated water on nail growth, it is recommended to moisturize the skin around the nails regularly and use a nail conditioner to keep the nails hydrated. Additionally, wearing gloves while swimming can protect the nails from the harmful effects of chlorinated water.

Skin retracts when wet, giving the illusion of nail growth

Water makes the skin around the nail swell and prune (for water clearing to make your fingers more grippy on wet surfaces - when you cut off the nerves to the arm it doesn't happen. When you dry off the skin retracts, just like a corpse, giving you the illusion that your nails are growing quicker, when in fact they aren't.

After swimming for a few hours, your nails will grow rapidly, and you will notice this because you constantly cut your nails to be very short. There's no way this just happens to you. What can happen is that your skin will pull back from the nails. You don't get more nails, you just get less nail attached.

Remember that myth about finger nails and hair of corpses continuing to grow after death? Well, the same thing is happening when they get wet, or should I say when they dry out. The skin around the nails etc was retracting due to decay, giving the illusion that the finger nails were growing, where in fact it's just more of the nail becoming exposed.

Water makes the skin around the nail swell and prune (for water clearing to make your fingers more grippy on wet surfaces - when you cut off the nerves to the arm it doesn't happen. When you dry off the skin retracts, just like a corpse, giving you the illusion that your nails are growing quicker, when in fact they aren't.

Water makes the skin around the nail swell and prune

Water clearing makes your fingers more grippy on wet surfaces. When you cut off the nerves to the arm it doesn't happen.

Chlorinated water can have an effect on fingernail growth.

Swimming for a few hours can make your nails grow rapidly, but this is because your skin will pull back from the nails, not because your nails are growing.

Nails can grow rapidly after swimming

Water makes the skin around the nail swell, and when you dry off the skin retracts, giving you the illusion that your nails are growing quicker, when in fact they aren't.

Swimming for a few hours can make your nails grow rapidly, but this is because your skin will pull back from the nails, and you will get less nail attached.

Chlorinated water can also affect the effects of fingernail growth.

Myths about finger nails and hair of corpses continuing to grow after death are also misconceptions.

Nails don't grow in the pool, but the skin around the nails will retract when wet, giving the illusion that the nails are growing.

Myth about nail growth on corpses

There is a common myth that fingernails and hair of corpses continue to grow after death. This myth is based on the observation that the skin around the nails of a corpse appears to retract due to decay, giving the illusion that the finger nails are growing. However, this is not the case.

When a person is in the pool, the water makes the skin around the nail swell and prune (for water clearing to make your fingers more grippy on wet surfaces). When you dry off the skin retracts, just like a corpse, giving you the illusion that your nails are growing quicker, when in fact they aren't.

The skin around the nails retracts due to decay, giving the illusion that the finger nails were growing, where in fact it's just more of the nail becoming exposed. The same thing is happening when they get wet, or should I say when they dry out.

Therefore, the myth about nail growth on corpses is a misconception and is not true.

Frequently asked questions