HOUSTON – If you're getting regular manicures, there are extra precautions to take in order to save your nails from damage.
Take a monthlong break
“Give your nails a break,” said Dr. Sherry Ingraham, of Advanced Dermatology in Katy.
Ingraham said for every three months of repeated manicures, give your nails one month off.
Nothing but moisture
“Do not wear polish in those break periods. Polish dries out their nails but more than that, removing the polish with acetone really dries out the nails,” Ingraham said. “Cover your nails with a barrier product like Cerave, Aveeno Eczema Therapy or Vaseline so when you're washing dishes or cleaning the house, that water and chemicals are not constantly getting in that already weakened nail. You've got to protect that nail from the elements.”
Skin damage
“Another thing to think about, look for LED lights that cure these gel and shellac manicures. If you're using UV lights, you are getting intense UV exposure to the tops of your hands,” Ingraham said.
She said that one exposure to UV lights during a manicure won’t cause skin cancer, but repeat manicures over years dramatically increase your risk.
Here are more dermatologists’ tips for keeping your nails healthy, according to the American Academy of Dermatology: