Caleb Foster
The nail bed is the thin layer of skin under your fingernail that protects your fingertip. While nail beds don't become longer over time, you can make them appear longer and stronger by practicing good hygiene and nail health habits. This involves avoiding certain habits like biting your nails, picking at your cuticles, and prolonged contact with water or cleaning chemicals. Additionally, maintaining a healthy diet with adequate vitamin intake and keeping your nails moisturized can promote nail growth and overall nail health. In some cases, treating nail infections or addressing underlying health conditions may be necessary for optimal nail bed health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Factors determining nail bed size | Genetics, nail injuries, nail biting, cutting nails too short |
| Nail bed appearance | Longer with longer nails, shorter with nail biting/cutting nails too short |
| Nail bed growth | Not possible to grow longer, but possible to regenerate and support healthy growth |
| Nail bed care | Moisturize, use cuticle oil, avoid biting nails, wear rubber gloves when using harsh chemicals, don't pick cuticles |
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What You'll Learn
Avoid nail biting
While it is not possible to physically lengthen your nail beds, you can make them appear longer by growing your nails. However, nail biting can hinder this process and even hurt your nail beds. Here are some tips to help you avoid nail biting:
Identify triggers
Nail biting falls under a list of behaviours known as body-focused repetitive disorders (BFRDs). These are habits such as hair pulling or skin picking that can cause harm when done frequently. Try to identify the triggers that cause you to bite your nails. These triggers can be sensory, cognitive, motoric or setting-based. For example, you may find that you bite your nails when you are bored or anxious.
Keep your hands busy
Once you have identified your triggers, you can try to substitute nail biting with alternative behaviours. For example, you could try rubbing your cuticle area and pushing it down to lengthen your nail beds, or use fidget toys to keep your hands busy. Some people have also reported success with chewing gum, sucking on hard candy, or knitting.
Keep nails well-maintained
Well-maintained nails can reduce the temptation to bite them. Keep your nails short and use cuticle oil and lotion to prevent dry skin, hangnails and thin, peeling nails. You can also carry a cuticle cutter to deal with ragged cuticles without using your teeth.
Make your nails look nice
Some people have reported that painting their nails helped them to stop biting them. This could be because they do not want to ruin the manicure. If you do not want to apply nail polish, you could try applying bitter nail polish to deter nail biting.
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Moisturise your nails
While nail beds themselves don't grow longer, moisturising your nails can help them grow stronger and faster, and make your nail beds appear longer and stronger.
How to Moisturise Your Nails
Using lotion or moisturiser, rub your hands with the product, focusing on your nails and the surrounding area. This will prevent your nails from drying out, which can cause breakage and cracking. You can also use cuticle oil and rub it evenly over your fingertips with an applicator brush or dropper.
Intensive Moisturising
For intensive moisturising, apply liberal amounts of hand cream or petroleum jelly before bed and then put on gloves or socks. You can buy special cotton gloves for this purpose. Choose a moisturiser that contains alpha hydroxy acids.
Natural Remedies
Natural oils such as olive, coconut, or jojoba oil can be used to soak or massage your nails.
Preventing Damage
Prolonged contact with water or cleaning chemicals can weaken your nails, so wear rubber gloves when doing the dishes or using harsh chemicals. Avoid biting your nails, as this can hurt your nail beds and introduce bacteria that can cause infections.
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Wear rubber gloves when cleaning
While it is not possible to make your nail beds longer, you can make them appear longer and stronger by practicing good hygiene and nail health habits. One of the ways to do this is by wearing rubber gloves when cleaning.
Prolonged contact with water or cleaning chemicals can weaken your nails, preventing them from growing. Wearing rubber gloves when doing chores such as washing the dishes or cleaning with harsh chemicals will help protect your nails and promote their growth. This way, your nail beds will also appear longer.
It is important to note that wearing rubber gloves for long periods can create a warm and humid environment that is perfect for the growth of natural skin yeast, which can cause nail problems. Therefore, it is recommended to let your hands dry out as much as possible between wearing gloves. Keep your nails short so that they dry quickly. After washing your hands and nails, towel them dry, then dip your nails in rubbing alcohol to help control the yeast and dry out the nail space.
If you are experiencing nail yeast infections, you can use clotrimazole cream or solution in the morning and at bedtime to treat the yeast. It is also advised to avoid cutting your cuticles or the skin on the sides of your fingernails, as this can make you more susceptible to bacteria and infection.
In summary, wearing rubber gloves when cleaning can help protect your nails from water and chemicals, promoting their growth and making your nail beds appear longer. However, it is crucial to take steps to prevent nail problems associated with prolonged glove use, such as letting your hands dry out and avoiding cuticle cutting.
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Don't cut your cuticles
While you may be tempted to cut your cuticles, especially when getting a manicure, it is not recommended. Cuticles are a thin sliver of skin along the bottom of your nail bed. They act as a "first line of defence" for the nail plate, the nail matrix, and the nail fold. In other words, they protect your nails from bacteria and infections.
Cutting your cuticles can open up your nails to various infections. Dr. Joel Schlessinger, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, says that "the small area of skin is there to protect your nails from infection. When this skin is removed, your nail is left unprotected from bacteria and fungus." Dr. Corey Hartman, MD, adds that "if they are dry, cracked, cut, or interrupted, dirt and bacteria can more easily enter the nail bed and cause skin disorders that require prescription management and, in extreme cases, surgical procedures to treat." Common nail infections include nail fungus and paronychia, an inflammatory infection that occurs at the nail fold.
Cutting your cuticles can also cause damage to your nail bed and put you at risk of infection. Instead of cutting them, you should gently push them back. New York City nail pro Simcha Whitehill recommends using cuticle nippers only to hack away at hangnails. She suggests using cuticle remover on each nail and then gently pushing the cuticle back with an orange stick wrapped in cotton. A good time to do this is right after a shower when your skin is soft and easy to push back.
To keep your cuticles healthy, Dr. Hartman recommends ensuring they are smooth and intact, uniform in colour, and free of cuts, abrasions, and rough edges. You can also apply cuticle oil with an applicator brush or dropper and rub it evenly over your fingertips to keep your cuticles moisturized.
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Genetics and nail growth
Genetics play a significant role in determining the size and shape of your nail beds. If your parents have short nail beds, chances are you have inherited the same trait. However, it is important to note that nail beds themselves do not grow longer over time. While you cannot change the inherent characteristics of your nail beds, you can certainly influence their appearance and promote healthy growth.
Nail beds are a thin layer of skin beneath your nails that provide support and protection to your fingertips. They consist of the hyponychium and the onychodermal, which are layers of tissue that safeguard the skin underneath the nail plate from pathogens. Although nail beds do not lengthen like fingernails, the tissue of the nail beds can regenerate and recover from injuries.
To enhance the appearance of your nail beds, you can focus on growing your nails. Longer fingernails create the illusion of more extended nail beds. It is advisable to avoid biting your nails and maintain proper nail hygiene. Moisturizing your nails regularly and using cuticle oil can also help strengthen your nails and promote growth. Additionally, wearing rubber gloves while doing chores that involve water or harsh chemicals can protect your nails and support their growth.
It is worth noting that certain nail shapes are more prone to damage and splitting due to their genetic makeup. For instance, sword-shaped nails tend to split at the sides or down the middle, while inverted triangle-shaped nails often snag and split horizontally. Understanding the natural shape of your nails can guide you in choosing appropriate nail care techniques and treatments to maintain their health and appearance.
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Frequently asked questions
The nail bed is the thin layer of skin under your fingernail that protects your fingertip. While nail beds don't grow longer, you can help the tissue regenerate and appear longer by practicing good nail health habits.
Good nail health habits include avoiding biting your nails, moisturising your hands and nails regularly, and eating foods rich in vitamins A, E, and D, like fish, almonds, eggs, and spinach.
Yes, you can try using cuticle oil and pushing back your cuticles to allow your nails to grow longer. Additionally, wearing rubber gloves when doing dishes or using harsh chemicals can protect your nails and help them grow stronger.
If your nail has detached, it will not reattach, and a new nail will have to grow back in its place. Keep the area dry and clean, and apply petroleum jelly and a bandage until the nail has grown back.
