Liam Carter
Healthy nail beds are essential for strong and beautiful fingernails and toenails. The nail bed is the layer of skin beneath your nails that supports and secures the nail in place. While nail beds do grow, they do not become longer over time. However, you can help the tissue of your nail beds regenerate and grow at a healthy rate by adopting good grooming habits and performing the right treatments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a nail bed? | The layer of skin beneath your nails that supports and secures the nail. |
| Can nail beds grow longer? | No, but they can regenerate and heal. |
| How to promote nail bed health? | Avoid biting nails, moisturise regularly, eat vitamin-rich foods, wear rubber gloves when cleaning, avoid picking cuticles, treat fungal infections. |
| What is the nail plate? | The most visible part of the nail that grows "free" and is white in colour. |
| What is the nail matrix? | The part of the nail that produces new nail plate cells, including the lunula (half-moon shape at the base). |
| What is the eponychium? | Skin at the base of the nail plate that produces the cuticle. |
| What is the cuticle? | Dead skin tissue that prevents infections and provides a waterproof barrier. |
| How fast do nails grow? | Typically 2.5-3.5mm per month, but varies between individuals and is faster in the summertime. |
| What causes slow nail growth? | Poor circulation, aging, unbalanced diet, certain medications, improper gel removal. |
| What to do if nail separates from nail bed? | Keep the area dry, apply petroleum jelly, cover with a bandage, watch for signs of infection. |
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What You'll Learn
Avoid biting your nails
Biting your nails can damage the tissue around your nails, causing abnormal-looking nails and creating an easy way for germs to enter your body. It can also chip, crack, or break your teeth, and over time, it can even cause jaw problems. Nail biting can also introduce bacteria to the edges of your nail beds, which can potentially cause an infection.
Nail biting is a common habit that often begins in childhood, and many people carry it into adulthood. It can be a coping mechanism for feelings of nervousness, boredom, loneliness, or hunger, and it may be a side effect of medication. If you want to stop biting your nails, it's important to identify your triggers and find alternative behaviours to replace the habit. Here are some tips to help you stop biting your nails:
- Keep your nails trimmed: Short nails reduce the temptation to bite, as there is less nail to grab with your teeth.
- Use bitter nail polish: Special nail polishes with a bitter flavour can deter nail biting.
- Wear gloves or nail stickers: If you wear gloves, you won't be able to bite your nails. If gloves aren't practical, you can use stickers designed to cover your nails and achieve a similar effect.
- Keep your hands and mouth busy: Find something to fiddle with, such as a stress ball or a worry stone, or try chewing gum to give your mouth something else to focus on.
- Identify your triggers: Pay attention to when you are most likely to bite your nails. Once you know your triggers, you can work on finding alternative coping mechanisms.
- Set small goals: If going cold turkey is too challenging, start with small goals, such as committing to not biting the nails on one hand or even just one specific nail. Gradually increase the number of nails in the "no-biting" zone as you make progress.
- Seek professional help if needed: If you're struggling to break the habit on your own, consider cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to address the psychological aspects of nail biting. These therapies can be combined with habit-reversal training for more comprehensive treatment.
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Moisturise your nails
Keeping your nails moisturised is essential for nail health and growth. Nails are made up of layers of tissue, and the nail bed is the thin layer of skin under your fingernail that protects your fingertip. The nail bed supports the hard part of your nail as it grows, and it is partially responsible for holding on to the nail plate.
Moisturising your nails will keep your hands looking soft, young, and healthy. It is a great preventative measure to keep your nails from drying out, which can help them grow stronger and faster. The very things that make your nails look shiny and beautiful, such as nail polish, can also cause them to become brittle and breakable. Ingredients in nail polish, such as formaldehyde, can dry out nails. The acetone in many nail polish removers is also extremely drying to nails.
The solution is simple: moisturise. You can use either a cream or an oil, but how you apply it is important. It's not enough to just apply it to your nails; you need to massage it in. This will reduce peeling and brittleness, and it will stimulate blood circulation around the nails to encourage healthy nail growth. Ideally, you should do this for at least a minute.
After applying your cream or oil, coat each nail in a thick layer of ointment, such as Vaseline or Aquaphor. You can also pop on some cotton gloves to keep everything locked in and leave it on overnight. This technique is called "nail slugging", which is a K-beauty trend that involves applying a thick, occlusive agent on top of your exfoliated, moisturised nail bed to seal in moisture and improve absorption.
You can also moisturise your nails by wearing rubber gloves whenever you do the dishes or use harsh chemicals. Prolonged contact with water or cleaning chemicals can weaken your nails, preventing them from growing.
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Take vitamins A, E, D and B9
While it is not possible to make your nail beds longer, you can make them appear longer and stronger by practicing good nail health habits. This includes avoiding biting your nails and moisturising them regularly.
One way to improve nail health is to take vitamins A, E, D, and B9. Vitamin A is known to promote nail growth, although there is no evidence that it improves the appearance of nails. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that helps improve blood circulation, promoting healthy nail growth and preventing breakage. Vitamin D also plays a role in nail growth, although there is limited information on how it does so. Folate, or vitamin B9, is important for nail growth and health by contributing to red blood cell formation and the development of new cells. A deficiency in folate can cause a pigment change in your nails and make them rigid and brittle.
In addition to taking vitamins, there are other ways to improve nail health. This includes eating foods rich in vitamins A, E, and D, such as fish, almonds, eggs, and spinach. You can also take a biotin supplement to support nail growth and apply a nail hardener to help protect and strengthen your nails. Moisturising your hands regularly can also prevent breakage and cracking.
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Wear rubber gloves when cleaning
While it is not possible to increase the length of your nail beds, you can help them regenerate and grow stronger by adopting good grooming habits and performing the right treatments. One of the best ways to make your nail beds appear longer is to grow out your nails. The longer the tip of your fingernail, the longer your nail bed will seem.
Prolonged contact with water or cleaning chemicals can weaken your nails and prevent them from growing. Therefore, it is recommended to wear rubber gloves when doing chores involving water or harsh chemicals, such as dishwashing or cleaning. This protective barrier helps to shield your nails from potential damage and allows them to grow longer and stronger.
Wearing rubber gloves while cleaning is a simple yet effective way to maintain nail health. By minimising direct contact with water and chemicals, you can prevent nail weakening and promote stronger, healthier nails. This practice is especially important if you frequently engage in activities that involve water or chemicals, such as cleaning or dishwashing.
Additionally, if you work in a laboratory or similar environment, you may be required to wear gloves for extended periods. In such cases, consider using full-length glove liners underneath rubber gloves to reduce the negative impact of trapped moisture on your nails. Glove liners can help absorb moisture and create a protective layer between your skin and the gloves, minimising the potential damage to your nails.
By incorporating this simple habit of wearing rubber gloves during cleaning and other activities involving water or chemicals, you can effectively protect your nails. This, combined with other healthy nail habits such as moisturising, avoiding nail-biting, and consuming nail-strengthening nutrients, will help you achieve stronger and healthier nails and nail beds.
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Treat fungal nail infections
While growing your nail beds is not possible, treating a fungal nail infection can help the nail plate reattach to your nail bed. A fungal nail infection is when the nail becomes thick, discoloured, and brittle. It is usually not a serious infection, but it can take a long time to treat.
If you think you have a fungal nail infection, you should speak to a pharmacist. They may suggest an antifungal nail medicine that you brush onto the nail. You will need to use this regularly for a few months before you see an improvement and should keep using the treatment until advised to stop. If pharmacy treatments do not work, your GP may prescribe antifungal tablets. Before starting treatment, your GP will take a sample of your nail to test what kind of infection you have.
To prevent fungal nail infections, treat athlete's foot as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading to your nails.
- Eat foods rich in vitamins A, E, and D, such as fish, almonds, eggs, and spinach.
- Take a biotin supplement to support nail growth.
- Moisturize your hands regularly to prevent breakage and cracking.
- Apply a nail hardener to help protect and strengthen your natural nail.
- Wear rubber gloves when doing the dishes or using harsh chemicals to protect your nails.
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Frequently asked questions
The nail bed is the thin layer of skin under your fingernail that protects your fingertip and secures the nail in place. Healthy nail beds are essential for strong and beautiful fingernails and toenails.
While nail beds themselves don't grow longer, you can make them appear longer by growing your nails and adopting good nail care habits. This includes eating a nutritious diet, moisturising your nails, and avoiding biting your nails or cuticles.
Prolonged contact with water or harsh chemicals without protection can weaken your nails and hinder their growth. Additionally, biting your nails or cuticles, and picking at your manicure can damage the nail bed and introduce bacteria, leading to potential infections.
To promote nail growth, ensure your diet includes vitamins A, E, and D, and vitamin B9 (folic acid). You can also take biotin supplements and apply nail hardeners to strengthen your nails.
