Nails Problems at Menopause

The eyes are the window to the soul and the hands are the keepers of time.

Nails grow strong with uniformity when the body is healthy. If nails are brittle or cracked, this is an indication that there is something wrong.

The most important cause of weak or brittle nails is dehydration or lack of moisture in the body. Estrogen plays a major role in body water regulation. At menopause our estrogen level is low, so dehydration is obvious.

Generally, hands age at a much faster rate than the other parts of the body. They are continuously exposed to soaps, detergents, cold, heat, wind and water. In order to minimize the harsh effects of these elements it is crucial to keep replenishing the skin's surface with moisture and nutrients. Because we rely so heavily on the use of our palms, fingers and nails during the course of the day, the optimal time for a hand treatment is at night.

Home Remedies Solutions

If your nails are yellow and dull, brighten them by scrubbing them with white vinegar.
Hot oil treatment: break one vitamin E capsule, mix it in 1/2 cup olive oil. Heat mixture and let it cool until warm to the touch. Rub into nails and hands.
Process 1/2 cup almonds in a coffee grinder. In a bowl, combine ground nuts with 1/4 cup oatmeal, 3 tablespoons cocoa butter and 2 tablespoons honey. Rub into hands and cover with cotton gloves. Leave overnight; next morning when you rinse your hands you will see the difference! This home remedy is ideal for soothing hands. It exfoliates dead skin and nourishes the new cells.

Nail Fungus

If one or more of your nails are thickened, brittle, distorted in shape, dull, with no luster or shine, you may have a nail fungal infection. Nail fungus infection occurs when fungi infect one or more of your nails. It may begin as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the nail fungus spreads deeper into your nail, it may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and develop crumbling edges — an unsightly and potentially painful problem.

Nail fungal infections are really hard to spot earlier on. They only become obvious when they are fully established under the nails. It is very easy for the fungus to survive in the nails. This is because most people wear shoes that are not aerated; a warm moist dark environment is the optimum breeding condition for it. Please note that nail fungus infections can spread from one person to the other.

There are varied treatment methods that you can opt for. The best one by far is ZetaClear. It gets to the root of your nail problem outside AND inside!

ZetaClear consists of a spray and a solution. The oral spray application gets powerful homeopathic ingredients to your bloodstream quickly for fast, effective symptom relief without side effects. Just spray under the tongue up to three times a day! The gel solution contains special soothing oils that move under your nail to promote healthy nails. These oils not only work to make your nails appear healthy, but also smooth and soften your skin with each application. The combination of Lavender, Lemongrass, Tea Tree, Almond, Jojoba and Clove oils give ZetaClear a delightful fragrance without any medicinal smell. It is easily applied morning and night with the applicator brush that comes in the bottle.

Nail Fungus Prevention

To help prevent nail fungus and reduce recurrent infections, practice good hand and foot hygiene by following these steps:

Keep your nails short, dry and clean.
Trim nails straight across and file down thickened areas.
Thoroughly dry your hands and feet, including between your toes, after bathing.
Wear appropriate socks. Synthetic socks that wick away moisture may keep your feet dryer than do cotton or wool socks. Change them often, especially if your feet sweat excessively.
Take your shoes off occasionally during the day and after exercise. Alternate closed-toe shoes with open-toed shoes.
Use an antifungal spray or powder. Spray or sprinkle your feet and the insides of your shoes.
Wear rubber gloves. This protects your hands from overexposure to water. Between uses, turn the rubber gloves inside out to dry.
Don't trim or pick at the skin around your nails. This may give germs access to your skin and nails.
Don't go barefoot in public places. Wear shoes around public pools, showers and locker rooms.
Choose a reputable manicure and pedicure salon. Make sure the salon sterilizes its instruments.
Give up nail polish and artificial nails. Although it may be tempting to hide nail fungal infections under a coat of pretty pink polish, this can trap unwanted moisture and worsen the infection.
Wash your hands after touching an infected nail. Nail fungus can spread from nail to nail.