Liam Carter
The nail bed is the layer of skin beneath your nails that supports and secures the nail in place on your finger. While nail beds don't grow longer over time, they do grow back after an injury. You can, however, make them appear longer by growing your nails out, moisturising your hands, and avoiding habits like biting your nails or cutting them too short. In rare cases, nails can thicken and overgrow, signalling an underlying health condition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nail bed growth | Nail beds can't grow longer as they're the skin beneath the fingernail, but the layer of skin does grow back after an injury with time. |
| Nail bed appearance | Nail beds can appear longer by growing out your nails, moisturising, and avoiding nail biting. |
| Nail bed protection | Cuticles, the hard surface of the nail, and surrounding skin protect the vulnerable nail bed. |
| Nail bed injuries | Acute damage from an injury can permanently change the nail bed's shape. Procedures like nail trephination can help relieve nail injuries and promote new nail growth. |
| Nail bed infections | Bacterial infections from nail biting or using sharp objects can cause nail bed issues. Fungal infections can be treated with antifungal pills. |
| Nail bed health | Good hygiene, nail health habits, and proper grooming can help nail beds grow and regenerate healthily. |
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What You'll Learn
Grow out your nails
While nail beds themselves do not grow longer, there are several ways to make them appear longer. One of the best ways to do this is to grow out your nails. Here are some tips to help you grow your nails:
Diet
Eat foods rich in vitamins A, E, and D, like fish, almonds, eggs, and spinach. You can also take supplements to support nail growth, such as biotin, folic acid (vitamin B9), or prenatal vitamins.
Nail Care
- Keep your nails moisturized to prevent breakage and cracking. You can use a hand lotion or cuticle oil, which helps to hydrate the cuticle and the nail bed. Coconut oil, olive oil, or argan oil are also good alternatives.
- Push back your cuticles to give the appearance of a longer nail bed. Before doing this, soak your nails in warm water to soften your cuticles.
- File your nails regularly to keep them smooth and reduce the risk of breakage. Avoid excessive buffing or filing, as it can thin out your nails. Opt for a gentle nail file and use it sparingly.
- Avoid biting your nails, as it can hurt your nail beds and introduce bacteria, potentially causing an infection.
- Avoid using your nails to open things, and instead use your knuckles.
- Use a glass nail file instead of clippers.
- Avoid nail polishes with high concentrations of acetone, as they can be extremely harsh on fragile nails and cause peeling, flaking, and splitting. Opt for acetone-free polish removers instead.
- If you use gel manis, maintain regular appointments to help your nails grow.
Treatments
- Apply a nail hardener to help protect and strengthen your nails.
- Use a nail strengthener or nail products such as OPI Nail Envy.
- If you have a fungal nail infection, treat it to help the nail plate reattach to your nail bed.
- If you have suffered an injury that has affected your nail bed, you may want to consider a nail bed graft to help the damaged area begin to grow again.
Remember, growing nails is a gradual process, and results may vary from person to person. Be patient and consistent with your nail care routine, and if you have specific concerns, consult a dermatologist for personalized advice.
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Push back your cuticles
While it is not possible to grow your nail beds, there are ways to make them appear longer. One way to do this is to push back your cuticles. The cuticle is the dead skin tissue between the nail plate and the eponychium, which is the skin at the base of the nail plate.
Pushing back your cuticles can be done with a variety of tools, including a soft cloth, a cotton swab, your fingers, or a wooden cuticle pusher (also known as an "orange stick"). It is best to push your cuticles when they are soft, as pushing when they are hard may be painful. To soften your cuticles, you can soak your nails in warm water for 5-10 minutes, either on its own or with jojoba, coconut, or avocado oil added. Alternatively, you can put oil directly on your cuticles and leave it for 2-5 minutes. After softening your cuticles, you can use a wooden stick to gently push back the skin along the bottom of your nail, working your way into the corner and up the sides. This will help to loosen any dirt and prevent ingrown nails.
It is important to note that you should never cut your cuticles, as this can expose you to dangerous and painful infections. Pushing your cuticles back will help your manicure look nicer and give the appearance of longer nail beds.
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Avoid biting your nails
While nail beds typically don't grow thicker, nail biting can hurt your nail beds and introduce bacteria that can cause infections. Here are some tips to help you avoid biting your nails:
Understand the triggers: Nail biting is often a nervous habit triggered by stress, excitement, or boredom. Understanding when and why you bite your nails can be the first step in finding a solution to stop. Recognize the situations that trigger your nail-biting habit and be more mindful of your actions in those moments.
Keep your nails trimmed short: Maintaining short nails leaves less nail to bite. This simple strategy can reduce the satisfaction derived from biting your nails and make the habit less appealing.
Use bitter-tasting nail polish: Applying a bitter-tasting nail polish can act as a deterrent. The unpleasant taste can help condition your brain to associate nail-biting with a negative experience, gradually reducing the urge to bite your nails.
Consider a mouth guard: Consult a dental professional about obtaining a mouth guard, which can serve as a physical barrier, making it difficult or uncomfortable to bite your nails.
Use a rubber band as a reminder: Wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it whenever you feel the urge to bite your nails. This method can help train your brain to associate nail-biting with an unpleasant sensation, discouraging the behavior.
Moisturize and nourish your nails: Regular moisturizing can help prevent nail dryness, leading to stronger and healthier nails. Additionally, eating foods rich in vitamins A, E, and D, such as fish, almonds, eggs, and spinach, can promote nail growth and strength.
Address underlying causes: If you struggle with chronic nail-biting, consider exploring the underlying reasons for this habit. Nail-biting can sometimes be a symptom of anxiety or stress. Seeking professional help to address these underlying issues can be a crucial step toward breaking the habit.
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Moisturise your nails
While nail beds themselves do not grow longer, the layer of skin does grow back after an injury with time. To help your nail beds appear longer, you can grow your nails out. This will give you a longer white tip, which helps elongate your nail bed.
Moisturising your nails is an important step in achieving healthy nails and preventing dryness. It can also help your nails grow stronger and faster. Here are some tips for moisturising your nails:
- Moisturise your hands regularly to prevent nail breakage and cracking.
- Use a hand cream or lotion to moisturise your hands and nails. Apply the moisturiser after washing your hands or doing the dishes to prevent your hands and nails from drying out.
- Exfoliate your nails once a week to remove dead nail cells and allow the moisturiser to better penetrate the nail. You can use products containing glycolic acid or urea.
- Apply cuticle oil with an applicator brush or dropper and rub it evenly over your fingertips.
- Use a thicker ointment or cream at night to add extra hydration to your nails and cuticles.
- Try a hot oil treatment specifically for your nail beds.
- Wear gloves when washing dishes to prevent water exposure, which can weaken the structure of your nails.
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Treat nail infections
While nail beds themselves do not grow thicker, infections can cause the nail to thicken. In addition, nail infections can cause the nail to become discoloured and brittle.
Treating Nail Infections
Nail infections can be caused by bacteria or fungi. Bacterial infections are known as paronychia and can be treated with antibiotics. If you notice any pus, you should seek medical attention, as a minor procedure may be required to drain the infected area.
Fungal nail infections are unlikely to get better without treatment. A pharmacist may suggest an antifungal nail medicine that you brush onto the nail. You should use this regularly for a few months before you see any improvement. If pharmacy treatments do not work, your doctor may prescribe antifungal tablets.
To prevent nail infections, you should avoid biting your nails, maintain good hand hygiene, and treat athlete's foot as soon as possible.
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Frequently asked questions
While nail beds can grow back after an injury, they do not grow thicker.
The length and shape of your nail bed are determined by genetics, so you cannot change the length of your nail bed.
You can make your nail bed appear longer by growing out your nails, moisturising your hands regularly, and avoiding biting your nails.
The nail bed is the layer of skin beneath your nails that supports and secures the nail in place on your finger.
You can protect your nail bed by using the right tools, such as a nail brush instead of metal nail tools, and avoiding biting your cuticles.
