Noah Sinclair
While you can't change the size of your nail beds, there are ways to make them appear longer. Firstly, avoid biting your nails or cutting them too short, as this can make the nail bed appear shorter due to less or no whiteness at the tip. You can also try pushing back your cuticles, but be careful not to damage the nail bed or put yourself at risk of infection. Allowing your nails to grow out will also help elongate the nail bed, and you can use artificial nails to protect your real nails while they grow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genetics | Plays a significant role in determining the size and shape of nail beds |
| Habits | Avoid nail biting, cutting nails too short, and picking at the nails |
| Medical conditions | Psoriasis, eczema, autoimmune disorders, hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders, and fungal infections can affect nail health and growth |
| Nutrition | Inadequate intake of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, protein, biotin, zinc, and iron can contribute to short nail beds |
| Nail care | Practice good hygiene, moisturize nails and cuticles, use a nail brush instead of metal nail tools, and clean underneath nails |
| Nail growth | Allow nails to grow longer, use artificial or acrylic nails to protect real nails, and consider nail bed extensions or cosmetic procedures |
| Nail injuries | Trauma or injuries to the nail matrix can cause shortening of the nail bed, and a new nail bed can regrow in at least 6 months |
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What You'll Learn
Avoid nail biting and cutting nails too short
While you can't change the size of your nail beds, you can make them appear longer by avoiding certain habits, like cutting your nails too short and biting your nails.
Cutting Nails Too Short
Leaving your nails slightly longer helps elongate the nail bed, giving it a longer white tip. Cutting your nails too short can make the nail bed more prone to trauma and infection. It can also be painful, as the soft tissue structure of the nail bed is left exposed without the protective nail plate.
To avoid cutting your nails too short, make sure to use sharp nail clippers, and cut your nails straight across rather than rounding the corners, as this can weaken the nails and cause them to peel. Filing your nails is also important to create even, smooth edges, but remember to file in a single direction to maintain nail strength.
Nail Biting
Nail biting can damage the tissue that makes nails grow, resulting in abnormal-looking nails, and leaving you vulnerable to infection. It can also be painful if you bite down on the nail bed.
To stop biting your nails, try keeping them trimmed short so there isn't enough nail to grab with your teeth. You can also coat them with bitter-tasting nail polish, or cover them with gloves or stickers to make them inaccessible. Finding something else to do with your hands or mouth, like fiddling with a stress ball or chewing gum, can also help redirect the habit.
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Treat fungal infections
While you cannot change the size of your nail beds, you can make them appear longer by letting your nails grow out. As your nails get longer, the white tip becomes more prominent, helping elongate your nail bed.
Fungal infections can cause your nail bed to appear shorter. The infection causes the nail plate to separate from the nail bed, resulting in a shorter pink section and a longer white section. It can also lead to discolouration, thickening, and brittleness, making the nail easy to break.
To treat a fungal nail infection:
See a dermatologist:
A dermatologist is a doctor who specialises in treating skin, hair, and nails. They can examine your nails and the nearby skin to determine the extent of the infection. The dermatologist may collect samples, such as debris from under the nail or a trimmed portion of the nail, to identify the specific type of fungal infection.
Treat the infection:
The treatment will depend on the severity and type of infection. Your dermatologist or pharmacist may recommend an antifungal medication that you brush onto the nail. This treatment needs to be applied regularly for several months, and you should continue using it until advised to stop. Antifungal nail medicine helps prevent the regrowth of the fungus while allowing new, healthy nail to grow.
Take preventative measures:
Fungal nail infections can take time to clear and may have side effects. To prevent the infection from returning, continue treatment until advised to stop by a medical professional. Additionally, treat any athlete's foot promptly to prevent it from spreading to your nails.
Explore other treatment options:
If pharmacy treatments are ineffective, your general practitioner may prescribe antifungal tablets. Researchers are also exploring alternative treatments, such as patches, nail lacquers, gels, lasers, and light therapies. These new treatments aim to provide safer and more effective solutions for fungal nail infections.
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Push back cuticles
Pushing back your cuticles can help give the appearance of a longer nail bed. It is important to note that you should never cut your cuticles, as this can expose you to dangerous and painful infections.
First, remove any existing nail polish with a non-acetone remover and a cotton ball. Acetone-based removers can dry out your nails and cuticles. Soak your nails in warm water for 5-10 minutes to soften the cuticles, making them easier to push back. You can also add a few drops of essential oil or cuticle oil to the water. After soaking, dry your nails with a clean cloth.
Next, apply a cuticle removing gel or cream to your cuticles and let it sit for 15-60 seconds before pushing them back. You can use a cuticle stick or your nail to gently push back the cuticles. If you are using a cuticle stick, use a new one each time, as it can be difficult to fully sanitise wooden sticks.
After pushing back your cuticles, you may notice small pieces of excess skin at the base of your nail. Do not cut or tear these off, as it is easy to cut too deep and expose your nail bed to infection. Instead, gently exfoliate the area with a clean washcloth dipped in warm water.
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Moisturise cuticles and hands
Keeping your cuticles and hands moisturised is an important step in making your nail beds appear longer. Dry and cracked cuticles can ruin the look of your nails, and when the cuticle becomes dry and cracked, it can't attach to the nail to do its job of protecting the nail from bacterial and fungal infections.
To moisturise your cuticles and hands, you can start by prepping your cuticles. Soak your fingers in lukewarm water for 10 to 15 minutes to make your cuticles soft and pliable. You can also add a few drops of essential oil or cuticle oil to the water. After soaking, gently push back your cuticles with a cuticle stick. Never use a metal tool to do this.
Once your cuticles are prepped, it's time to moisturise. You can use cuticle cream, which should contain citric acids, petroleum, glycerin, shea butter, or safflower seed oil. Cuticle oil is another option, especially for detached cuticles, as it provides intense hydration and allows the cuticle to repair itself and reattach to the nail. However, use cuticle oils sparingly, as your cuticles could become used to the deep hydration. For cracked cuticles, try an intensive treatment with vitamin E oil or shea butter. Coconut oil is another great natural moisturiser for your hands and cuticles.
In addition to these targeted treatments, you can also use hand creams and nail oils to keep your hands and nails hydrated. Olive & June's Hand Serum is a lightweight and quick-absorbing option that contains hyaluronic acid, cactus flower, and fruit extracts. For an extra boost of moisture, try Olive & June's Cuticle Balm before bed. If you want even more moisture, try an overnight hand treatment like Olive & June's Overnight Hand Treatment or Thrive Causemetics' Defying Gravity Cream, which contains hyaluronic acid and mango seed butter.
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Wear gloves when cleaning
While you cannot change the size of your nail beds, you can make them appear longer by letting your nails grow out. As your nails become longer, you will have a longer white tip, which helps elongate your nail bed.
Wearing gloves when cleaning can help you grow your nails out and make your nail beds appear longer. This is because gloves protect your nails from damage and breakage. For example, wearing gloves can prevent your nails from being chipped or broken when you are doing chores such as washing the dishes. Gloves can also protect your nails and manicures from the chemicals in cleaning products.
It is important to note that wearing gloves for extended periods of time can negatively affect your nails. Trapped moisture can get into your nail beds, making the nail plate expand. To prevent this, you can wear full-length glove liners underneath your gloves.
In addition to wearing gloves, you can also try other methods to make your nail beds appear longer. For example, you can push back your cuticles, either by using coconut oil and an old toothbrush or by soaking your nails in warm water with a few drops of essential oil or cuticle oil. You can also clean underneath your nails with a nail brush instead of metal nail tools.
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Frequently asked questions
While you cannot change the size of your nail beds, you can make them appear longer by following these steps:
- Push back your cuticles. Before doing so, soak your nails in warm water with a few drops of essential oil or cuticle oil for about five minutes. Dry with a clean cloth, and then use a cuticle stick to gently push back your cuticles.
- Avoid biting your nails or cutting them too short.
- Treat any fungal nail infections, as this will help the nail plate reattach to your nail bed.
- Clean underneath your nails with a nail brush instead of metal nail tools.
- Allow your nails to grow out.
It is important to note that picking or pushing back your cuticles may do more harm than good. Moving or cutting your cuticles, especially without the proper tools, can cause harm to the nail bed and put you at risk of infection. Cuticles protect your nail bed, and cutting or picking them could make you more susceptible to bacteria. Instead, it is recommended to moisturize them and leave them alone.
If you have difficulty growing your nails, artificial nails can protect your real nails from cracks and breaks. You can also wear rubber gloves while cleaning to avoid prolonged contact with water or cleaning chemicals, which can weaken your nails.
The size and shape of nail beds are mostly determined by genetics. Other factors that may cause nail beds to appear shorter include nail injuries, fungal infections, and biting your nails or cutting them too short.
A nail bed can grow back in a minimum of 6 months. Toenail nail beds can take up to 18 months to fully grow back.
