Medizines

Eucalyptus oil is a popular ingredient in many mouthwashes, and such mouthwashes should therefore be kept out of reach for children and pets. If a person swallows large amounts of eucalyptus oil mouthwash, the toxics can cause multi-organ failure and affect the cardiovascular system. Such problems have however only been reported in patients that swallowed really large amounts of eucalyptus oil mouthwash. Swallowing a very small amount of eucalyptus oil mouthwash when you are gurgling is much less dangerous, but should of course be avoided. Do not let children use eucalyptus oil mouthwash unless it has been prescribed by a licensed health professional. Children are more sensitive to toxics and the risk of them swallowing mouthwash is also higher.

Eucalyptus oil is an important part of many aromatherapy treatments. Adding eucalyptus oil to baths are very popular, but some people have reported laboured breathing, wooziness and drowsiness after taking long and hot baths with eucalyptus oil. It is of course hard to know whether this was caused by the long and hot bath, or by the eucalyptus oil, or by the combination of both, but caution is still recommended when using eucalyptus oil for the first time. Start by taking a shorter bath with a small amount of eucalyptus oil to test your sensitivity. Another problem linked to long and strong eucalyptus oil baths are skin irritation.

Applying eucalyptus oil directly to the skin is a common treatment for a wide range of skin problems, but you should keep in mind that the strong eucalyptus oil can cause skin irritation, especially if the skin is already injured by eczema, burns or similar. A painful burning feeling can develop, sometimes combined with skin rashes. Try the eucalyptus oil on a piece of healthy skin to test your sensitivity before you proceed to treat upset skin.By: William Berg

Skin rashes can be caused by various factors. You may have a skin disease or infection. Allergies are very common too. If you are allergic to sea foods you will surely have skin rashes after eating some of it. Some changes may be observed on your skin. The color will become reddish and the texture will surely become rough. Itching, inflammation, pain and blisters are also common to those who are affected. These rashes can occur in various parts of the body. If you have jock itch, the rashes will surely be found on your groin area. You have to remember that there are various ways that you can do to get rid of these rashes. Natural products and items can be utilized to get rid of these irritations. Cure skin rashes naturally by following the tips mentioned.
OLIVE OIL
You can apply olive oil over these rashes. Olive oil is an effective healing agent. It can help in the healing process of the rashes. The moisture that it will give to your skin can surely help in promoting skin renewal to ensure your recovery from these irritations. Apply olive oil for at least twice a day.
ALOE VERA
Aloe vera is very popular among skin care companies. This plant contains various elements that can rejuvenate the skin and bring back its youth. Aloe vera is very effective in healing simple skin irritations. Apply fresh extract of aloe vera over the affected areas once a day.
OATMEAL
Try to use oatmeal to get rid of these rashes. It is very effective in healing skin inflammation. Pour at least one cup of uncooked oatmeal inside the bathtub filled with water. You have to submerge the affected areas to this solution for about 20 minutes. It can help in keeping your skin soft and healthy.
BAKING POWDER
Baking powder will keep the rashes moisture free. This is very effective in skin irritations caused by jock itch. Fungi like to be in damp environment. Baking powder will help you keep the affected areas dry all the time. It will ensure faster healing for the rashes.
CHAMOMILE TEA
Chamomile has a very soothing effect. Try to use chamomile tea in healing the rashes. You just need to boil one bag of chamomile tea. Allow it to cool down. Soak a clean cloth and apply it over the rashes. You need to do it twice a day to see better results.
VITAMIN C
One thing that you need to remember is to increase your intake of vitamin C. Try to eat more fruits like grapes, oranges and strawberries. These are very rich in vitamin C. It can aid in healing the rashes in a much faster way. Include broccoli and tomatoes in your diet too.
Skin rashes can be cured with various methods. You can buy those over the counter medicines. But you have to remember that there are natural methods that can cure these rashes. You just need to use natural products. Keep the tips in mind to have a guide.

By Marisse Joenas

Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which is a trace mineral that contributes to the strength of our connective tissue. Connective tissue is what holds our body together. Cucumbers are effective when used for various skin problems, including swelling under the eyes and sunburn. They also contain ascorbic and caffeic acids. These acids prevent water retention. That may explain why when cucumbers are applied topically they are often helpful for swollen eyes, burns, and dermatitis.

Cucumber is a vegetable that belongs to the same family as pumpkins, zucchinis and other squashes. It has a dark green skin, which reveals whitish or very light green flesh, when peeled. There are basically two types of cucumbers - the pickling varieties and the slicing varieties. Of these, the pickling variety is relatively small, around 2 - 4 inches long.

Today we see the cucumber as a provider of a very healthy juice beneficial for its places as an increaser of the flowing of weewee and as a complement to the outcomes of apium graveolens dulce and carrot juice for rheumatic statuses, while at the same clip being a soothing skin lotion.

As a beauty aid, the cucumber provides immediate relief to puffy eyes; a fresh cucumber can be cut into thin slices, and these placed on the eyes for 5-10 minutes. This works incredibly well after a tiring day at work in front of the computer, and helps to relieve stress and dark circles around the eye area as well. Grated cucumber can be used as a mask and tonic for the entire face and neck.

Cucumbers are scientifically known as Cucumis sativus, which belongs to the same family as pumpkin, zucchini, watermelon and squash.

Cucumber's nutritional benefits include natural salts, enzymes, and vitamins essential for strong cell growth and repair. In addition, the high mineral content and minerals in cucumber peel offer a natural source for a fresh, powerful antioxidant. The alkalinity of cucumber is also a positive attribute, and because of its water base, the cucumber is also a top choice as a diuretic.

The high water content makes cucumbers a diuretic and it also has a cleansing action within the body by removing accumulated pockets of old waste material and chemical toxins. Cucumbers help eliminate uric acid which is beneficial for those who has arthritis and its fibre-rich skin and their high levels of potassium and manganese helps regulate blood pressure and help promote nutrient functions. The magnesium content in cucumbers also relaxes nerves and muscles and keeps blood circulating smoothly.

Cucumber is good for those who are dieting as it is very low in calories. It has a cleansing action within the body by removing accumulated pockets of old waste material and chemical toxins. It helps eliminate uric acid so it is good for those who has arthritis. Its juice is a nourishing vitamin for our hair and skin. It is also a good rejuvenator and makes us feel and look younger.

It is believed that cucumber helps in reducing swelling around the eyes or the big dark circles under your eyes. This is world-wide treatment which is being used to its maximum extent.

Author: Corwin Brown

Few very good masks to lighten the skin tone and add a glow to the complexion. continue to care your skin is always important to maintain your skin and look fresh all the time.

Mix 1 table spoon of milk powder, 1 table spoon of honey, 1 table spoon of lemon juice, and ½ table spoon of almond oil. Apply on face and wash off after 10-15 minutes. This pack helps bring shine to the skin and also removes tan.

You can do a fairness massage easily at the privacy of your home. Soak four almonds overnight. In the morning remove their skin and grind them fine. Make a paste by adding one teaspoon of gram flour, one teaspoon of milk and four drops of limejuice. A regular massage with this paste will assure a long lasting fairness to you.

For 15 days, apply a paste of gram flour (besan), milk (2 teaspoon) and lime juice(3-4 drops) on face and neck for 15 minutes and wash with water. You complexion should improve. Repeat every 2 weeks.

SANDALWOOD:

This is best home remedy for dark skin. Sandalwood is one of the most expensive, most exotic, and most aromatic plants known to humans. Sandalwood has a use in treating most skin problems. It is a cooling agent, stimulant, and blood purifier. It protects skin from the sun's rays, acts an anti-aging agent, and keeps skin smooth and aromatic. Sandalwood is extremely effective on pimples, prickly heat, skin erruptions, itching, rashes, spots, freckles, and swellings.

Mix oatmeal with yogurt and tomato juice and apply on the face. Wash it with cold water after 15 minutes.

Apply a mixture of 3-4 drops of lime juice and a grated tomato on face and neck for 15 minutes for 15 days. Wash with cold water.

Mix almond, neem leaf , turmeric, sandlewood and poppy seeds.

Blend this mixture into a fine paste using milk . Apply this paste on face and allow it to dry. remove the dried mask by massaging your face in circular motion and wash your face using luke warm water.

Wheat germ scrub:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon oatmeal powder

1 tablespoon wheat germ (powder)

1 tablespoon skimmed milk powder

1 teaspoon sandal wood powder.

Rose:

This is a popular herb for dark skin. Rose oil is a cooling agent and is excellent for tired skin. It is a good source of vitamins C and E. Rose oil has a very pleasant fragrance to it. It removes dead cells from the skin, and provides relief from burns. It slows the aging process and balances the skin's chemistry. Rose oil is used for cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and nourishing of the skin.

Mash the cucmber with the skin still on to get the juice. You may then need to squeeze the juice out with your hands. You can use lime juice with haldi and besan, and scrub your face with this to try and remove the tan. However. simply applying lime juice and cucumber will help lighten skin over time.

Fair look, dry skin:

Apply a mixture of equal amounts of cucumber juice and honey on the face and whole body. Leave it for 15 minutes and wash off.

Fair look, oily skin:

Apply a mixture of equal amounts of lemon and cucumber juice on the face and whole body. Leave it for 15 minutes and wash off.

Author: peterhutch

Think back to when you were a child and when during the summer months, the pinnacle of cookouts and family gatherings was always the cold juicy watermelon that was for desert. When you were young, eating watermelon was about taste. Now that you're older, it's more than just taste that should inspire you to eat lots of watermelon each year when the season arises. It's because watermelons have tremendous health benefits that anyone who lives a healthy lifestyle should be determined to take advantage of every year. Let's take a closer look at some of these health benefits this fruit has to offer.

Health Benefit of Watermelons #1 Lycopene

Lycopene is an antioxidant found in most red colored fruits, with the exception of a few things such as strawberries. Scientific studies have shown that Lycopene reduces the risk of prostate cancer and heart disease in people. People who eat a diet high in lycopene are much less likely to suffer a heart attack then men who don't.

Health Benefit of Watermelons #2 Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is an important attribute to have in a healthy diet because it promotes chemicals in the brain that help people to cope with anxiety and panic. These are two psychological disorders that are on the rise in America today.

Health Benefit of Watermelons #3 Vitamin C

If you thought oranges were the only fruit that could provide you with Vitamin C, think again. Vitamin C is important to not only being healthy, but remaining attractive all your life. Vitamin C boosts the immune system so that you get sick less often and it also slows down aging and medical conditions such as cataract.

Health Benefit of Watermelons #4 Vitamin A

Vitamin A works much like Vitamin C, in that it helps boost immunity, but it also help your body fight off infection. It also prevents blindness.

As you can see, eating watermelon is almost tantamount to taking a multivitamin every morning, but with a much better taste. Watermelons are seasonal, which means that they are not available all year long. It means that when they are in season you should make sure and take advantage.

When you go to the store to purchase one you want to try and find one that is ripe and ready to eat. The best way to do this is to knock on the outside of the rind. If you hear a hollow sound then melon is ready to eat, but if you hear solid thud put it back. The fruit is over ripe and you won't be getting very good flavor from it. Buy you water melon and eat it within the first few days of getting it home. Everything about it is healthy, and in addition, it won't leave you feeling over stuffed if you eat too much.

So in a few weeks, the weather gets warmer and summer is approaching. Don't forget about watermelons. Eat up and get the extra boost they will add to your healthy lifestyle.

Author: Yuki Shoji

Take a long hard look at the people you consider attractive.
Blonde, brunette or redhead, exotic or girl next door,
sophisticated or down-to-earth - they all have one thing in
common... a clear, healthy looking complexion.
There are a few people out there who have simply been
blessed by the Dermatology Fairy, but just a few. Most of
the people who strike you as healthy-looking and, let's face
it, lucky, are in fact dedicated to a good skin-care regime.
We'd all like to have blemish-free skin, and the truth is,
with a little commitment we all can. Even you!
So, how can you change your skin?
No, it won't cost you a dime, all you need to do is change
your habits. People with truly beautiful skin dedicate time,
just a little, and the results are, well, the results are
beautiful.
Here's How You Can Join the Ranks of Pimple Free People
* WASH using an oil-free cleanser and your bare hands
(washcloths and sponges damage your skin), in the morning,
after exercise and before bed no matter how tired you are.
* LAUNDER your sheets frequently - don't lay that freshly
washed face on a less than fresh pillowcase!
* WATER is essential to clear skin. You've heard it before,
but here we go again: Drink at least eight glasses of water
a day.
* EAT HEALTHY FOODS. They are just as important to skin
health as they are to overall health. Fruits and vegetables
provide vitamins and minerals; fish are full of essential
oils; avoid junk foods. Research does not support the
common myth that chocolates cause break-outs, but too much
of any junk food is detrimental to your well-being, and is
therefore bad for your skin.
* SLEEP when you're tired. Sleep, and its counterpart,
relaxation, are necessities, not luxuries. Physical
exhaustion and stress are enemies of a clear complexion.
* BABY your skin. Don't pick at pimples. Avoid touching your
face unnecessarily - the oil on your fingertips belongs on
your fingertips, not on your face. Moisturize and use
sunscreen with at least a 15SPF every day all year long.
Make these habits your own and you will see a difference
in as little as a week. You may even find people looking
a little longer at your face. That look... it'll be envy.
People will be wondering if the Dermatology Fairy has
blessed you.
Share your secrets with the envious masses. Imagine. A
world populated by happy, healthy faces.

By Allison Saunders

If you are like many women out there and have been gifted a round face, there are specific hairstyles for round face shapes that will make you look more beautiful.

But before we proceed to give you hairstyle ideas, here's an important question...

Are you sure you have a round face?

To make sure that you are going to get your best look with these hairstyle tips, it's important that you first make sure you have a round face.

One simple way is to put your hair into a ponytail and go in front of the mirror. Then draw the outline of your face on the mirror with a lip stick around your face. Then step back and see what shape it is more similar to.

Here is a list of face shapes to help you see which one your face drawing is more similar to...

* Oval

* Round

* Long

* Heart

* Square

* Diamond

Another great technique to see if your face is really round is to ask other people like your friends or family members to guess your face shape. Since they will have an outsider's look, they can say more accurately.

OK, so now that you are sure you have a round face, let's see what kind of hair style will look best on you...

The best hairstyles that will look good on you are those that add length to your face.

A long straight hair is a good idea because long hair will make your face look longer, and since it's straight it will make your head width show less.

So what if your hair is not straight and it's curly?

Then a long hairstyle will still look good on you. You may want to use a hair straightener like the popular Sedu flat iron to make your hair straight sometimes.

Here you can see some beautiful Sedu hairstyles for straight hair.

Another good hairstyle idea that will look perfect on round faces is a long hairstyle with curly ends because it will add width to the bottom of your face and make the width disappear.

Also an easy way to find beautiful hairstyles for round face is to see which celebrity has a round face and then search for that celebrity's hairstyles pictures.

Since celebrities frequently try different hairstyles, you can easily find a collection of good round face hairstyles this way. You can see which hair styles fits her face most and then try it on yourself.

But at the end, remember it's YOU and only you who decides which hairstyle you feel most comfortable in, and that it the hairstyle that will also look most beautiful on you.

If you like a hairstyle that doesn't fit the rules outlined here, it doesn't matter. Because when you like your hairstyle and feel good in it, all the rest goes away because this confidence and inner beauty will shine through your face and you will look more beautiful than ever.

Wish you the best of luck in choosing your hair style!

Author: Ladi Lashkari

Color of the Iris

The iris is usually strongly pigmented, with colors ranging from brown to green, blue, gray, and hazel. Occasionally its color is due to lack of pigmentation, as in the pinkish-white of oculo-cutaneous albinism, or to obscuration of its pigment by blood vessels, as in the red of an abnormally vascularised iris (although human albinos generally have very light blue eyes, as the un-pigmented color of the human iris is a pale blue).

Despite the wide range of colors, there is only one pigment that contributes substantially to normal human iris color, the dark pigment called melanin. Structurally, this huge molecule is only slightly different from its equivalent found in skin and hair.

Genetic and physical factors determining iris color

Iris color is a highly complex phenomenon consisting of the combined effects of texture, pigmentation, fibrous tissue and blood vessels within the iris stroma, which together make up an individual's epigenetic constitution. A person's "eye color" is actually the color of one's iris, the cornea being transparent and the white sclera entirely outside the area of interest. It is a common misconception that the iris color is entirely due to its melanin pigment, but this varies only from brown to black.

Melanin is yellowish-brown to dark brown in the stromal pigment cells, and black in the iris pigment epithelium, which lies in a thin but very opaque layer across the back of the iris. Most human irises also show a condensation of the brownish stromal melanin in the thin anterior border layer, which by its position has an overt influence on the overall color.

The degree of dispersion of the melanin, which is in subcellular bundles called melanosomes, has some influence on the observed color, but melanosomes in the iris of man and other vertebrates are not mobile, and the degree of pigment dispersion cannot be reversed.

Abnormal clumping of melanosomes does occur in disease and may lead to irreversible changes in iris color (see heterochromia, below). Colors other than brown or black are due to selective reflection and absorption from the other stromal components. Sometimes lipofuscin, a yellow "wear and tear" pigment also enters into the visible eye color, especially in aged or diseased green eyes (but not in healthy green human eyes).

Blue is one of the possible eye colors in humans. The "blue" allele, existing in the Bey2 and Gey genes of chromosome 15, is recessive. This means that both genes must have both blue alleles i.e. "blue-blue", in a person with blue eyes. If one of the alleles were not "blue" ("green" for Gey or "brown" for Bey2) then the person would have those colored eyes respectively.

As either allele (though not both) can be passed on to offspring it is perfectly possible for someone who does not have blue eyes to have blue-eyed children. Because of its recessive nature, this is a certainty if both parents have blue eyes. Though this explanation gives an idea of eye color delineation, it is incomplete, and all the contributing factors towards eye color and its variation are not fully understood.

Faking the iris color

Certain eye colors are sometimes seen as being especially attractive and motif-expressing contact lenses can be worn to mask one's natural eye color with another. They are rarely needed and almost never recommended by serious medical doctors, unless the patient's retina needs extra protection, as in aniridia.

Since the introduction of machines which can automatically analyse iris patterns, and their use at some airports as a security measure, it is reported that some people have resorted to colored contact lenses, or deliberate iris injury with lasers, to prevent personal identification.

Iris color as paternity test

As stated above, although there has been much fuss about finding the genes for eye color, there is no simple genetic determinism for such a complex trait, as there is more to iris color than pigmentation. Overall, there is no simple Mendelian inheritance in iris color. Consequently no serious test of paternity can be based on observations or even measurements of iris color, except to note that blue eyes are normally phenotypically recessive, so that a brown-eyed child of two blue-eyed parents may create some doubt about paternity.

Different colors in the two eyes

Heterochromia (also known as a heterochromia iridis or heterochromia iridium) is an ocular condition in which one iris is a different color from the other iris (complete heterochromia), or where the part of one iris is a different color from the remainder (partial heterochromia or sectoral heterochromia).

Uncommon in humans, it is often an indicator of ocular disease, such as chronic iritis or diffuse iris melanoma, but may also occur as a normal variant. Sectors or patches of strikingly different colors in the same iris are less common. Alexander the Great and Anastasios the First were dubbed (dikoros, "with two pupils") for their patent heterochromias. In their case, this was not a true dicoria (two pupils in the same iris). Real polycoria can be due to disease but is most often due to previous trauma or surgery.

In contrast, heterochromia and variegated iris patterns are common in veterinary practice. Siberian Huskies show heterochromia due to interbreeding, possibly analogous to the genetically-determined Waardenburg syndrome of humans.

Some white cat fancies (e.g., white Persians) may show striking heterochromia, with the commonest pattern being one uniformly blue, the other green. Striking variegation within the same iris is also common in some animals, and is the norm in some species.

Several herding breeds, particularly those with a blue merle coat color (such as Australian Shepherds and Border Collies) may show well-defined blue areas within a brown iris as well as separate blue and darker eyes. Some horses (usually within the white, spotted, palomino or cremello groups of breeds) may show amber, brown, white, and blue all within the same eye, without any sign of eye disease.

One eye with a white or bluish-white iris is also known as a walleye

Author: George Christodoulou

Whether you are in your early teens or well into your adult years, chances are that you will encounter problems with acne from time to time. Pimples on your face, chest, back and shoulders can cause problems with your social life and affect your self-esteem. If you have zits, you need to know where they come from and how to cure acne permanently. This article discusses the causes of pimples and how to prevent and cure this aggravating condition.
Causes of Pimples
Pimples occur when the oil glands in the skin work overtime, blocking the pores and trapping dead skin cells inside. The clogged pores attract bacteria, which cause the reddened swellings of the skin typically associated with acne.
Attempting to squeeze or pop your pimples can irritate or damage the skin, leading to further outbreaks and potential scarring.
How to Prevent Severe Acne
Although it is not always possible to completely avoid acne, you can work to prevent severe outbreaks by washing your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser; if your skin is prone to pimples, using an over-the-counter acne medication such as benzoyl peroxide can help to reduce the appearance of blemishes.
Stay away from soaps and exfoliating cleansers, as these can cause dryness and irritation of the skin that may exacerbate your acne problem.
How to Treat Pimples?
If you do experience pimples, it is important that you resist the temptation to pick at them; popping your zits can cause scarring, as well as spreading the bacteria that cause acne. Avoid touching your skin, and keep your hair away from your face. Cleanse your skin with gentle, all-natural products, and treat the pimples with an over-the-counter acne cream. For stubborn acne that will not go away with home treatment, you may need to consult a dermatologist.
The Best Way to Cure Acne
Fortunately, there are now holistic treatments that can help you get rid of pimples gently, without irritating your skin with harsh chemicals.

By W. Samaan

By Micheal Thomas

A bandage and some povidone iodine will arrive in very useful for this reason.

# How to get rid of tags with no bleeding

Tie it up and choke it with a string. Not all people is willing to cut the pores and skin themselves, and there is one successful strategy for achieving the exact same results with no self-surgical treatment.

Basically get a length of dental floss (about 7 to nine inches) and tightly wrap it all-around the skin tag. This must choke the blood supply of the skin tag, and the body's natural processes will understand it as dead pores and skin - forcing it to fall off immediately after a even though.

You could want to question somebody else to do the tying for you, as the string has to be extremely restricted in buy to avert the blood from flowing back in. You also have to maintain the tie for about a week or so ahead of the pores and skin tag dies and falls off.

# How to get rid of tags in the long operate

Ingest a lot of drinking water, Shocked? Indeed, drinking water plays a part in protecting against the regeneration of skin tags and other

comparable problems like moles and warts.

A constantly dehydrated body will discover its internal workings stressed out and pushed to the limits. This encourages the breakdown of smooth bodily processes, in particular when it will come to the sweat glands and blood vessels situated close to the pores and skin. Retaining the physique effectively hydrated permits the blood and skin cells to build in a natural way though reducing the expansion of irregular cells - in this situation tags.

Consuming six to 8 glasses a day is a very good measure of hydration, but you could have to consume far more if you are continuously perspiring. This will not get rid of your skin tags, but will absolutely assistance in avoiding them from popping again up as soon as you get rid of them.

Pores and skin Tag Triggers

A tag may possibly be dim or flesh colored, sleek or irregular. They are observed additional amid girls than men and generally start out exhibiting up in middle age. They have been connected with obesity, pregnancy, and diabetes mellitus. Though their trigger is unfamiliar, it is suspected that genetics participate in a function. It's approximated that six out of each and every ten persons will have 1 at some position in their lives.

Pretty much often benign skin growths, tags are often indicative of a unusual condition named Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome in which there are a number of non-cancerous tumors of the hair follicles, specifically on the deal with, neck, and upper chest. The situation ordinarily emerges involving the ages of 20 and forty. Sufferers have an enhanced danger of building kidney tumors, possibly cancerous or non-cancerous, as properly as tumors in other elements of the physique. Cysts may possibly kind in the lungs air may then obtain in the chest cavity, sometimes resulting in a collapsed lung.

Skin Tag Remedies

Despite the fact that tags can demonstrate up almost anywhere on the physique, the most popular web sites for them are the upper chest, groin, armpits, eyelids, neck, and back. 

by SVEN DESLAURIER

 Chipped, peeling, flaky fingernails are never in style. If you're reading this, you've probably tried a lot of different products and strategies to stop the problem from happening. Understanding how your nails got that way in the first place could help you come up with a better strategy.

Here are eight of the top causes of peeling fingernails.

Climate Changes

No, we're not talking about carbon emissions. Your nails are not suffering from global warming the way the polar bears are. It's just that sudden changes in the weather, or extreme weather conditions, might be affecting your nails. Usually the culprit is cold, dry weather that dehydrates the nail plate, causing layers to separate and flake off. To solve it, try rubbing in a rich lotion or moisturizer every morning and evening—and wear gloves!

Dietary Issues

Many people will say that if your nails are peeling, it's a lack of protein that's the cause. This is really unlikely in North America or Western Europe, even if you're a hard-core vegan. Usually, if diet's to blame for your fingernail problems, it's a lack of biotin, sulfur, or B-vitamins (which is a concern for vegans). A good supplement, along with a few extra servings of raw vegetables and fruit, should alleviate the chipping.

Prescription Medications

Some medicines have a drying effect on the skin and nails. If your peeling nails became an issue after you started taking a certain drug, you should head to the manufacturer's website to double-check side effects. We'd never recommend quitting any physician-prescribed drug just for the sake of your fingernails. Instead, try improving your diet, as in step 2, and moisturizing, as in step 1. If that doesn't work, pick a good nail strengthener (see step 8).

Psoriasis, Yeast Infections, or Other Skin Conditions

If you're suffering from a skin condition such as psoriasis or a yeast infection, there could be knock-on effects for your nails. Many psoriasis patients also report chipping and peeling nails. If you've been given a prescription ointment or cream for what's on your skin, try rubbing it on your nails, too.

Chemical Exposure

Lots of people don't take proper precautions when cleaning the house or conducting pest control. For the sake of your lungs, ventilate the room. For the sake of your nails, wear gloves. Chemicals and solvents present in many cleaning products can dry out or damage your fingernails, leading to peeling.

Immersion in Water

Water swells and separates the layers of the nail plate. If you keep re-wetting the nails, they never dry properly, leading to flaking and peels. If you're in a job where you soak your hands or have to wash them regularly, you're going to have nail problems unless you take evasive action. Wear gloves wherever possible, and moisturize at least twice a day, if not more. Fitness swimmers who spend more than an hour in the pool should rub olive oil or petroleum jelly into their nails before starting their laps.

Post-Fake Nail Trauma

Really well-done acrylic nails look great, but it's pretty much inevitable that your nails will be paper thin and damaged once you have the fakes taken off. You'll have to be patient, and stimulate new growth with diet, moisturizers, and nail strengtheners. But don't just pick any nail strengthener…

The Wrong Kind of Nail Treatments

Nail strengtheners and peeling nail solutions contain a lot of chemicals. Most of them are designed to make your nails bond back together to prevent breaking and peeling. Some of them may actually be making the problem worse. Formaldehyde, an ingredient in several popular strengtheners, can cause drying and irritation of the skin and nails—not to mention being a suspected cause of breast cancer. Switch to a nail care product that's free of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl pthalate, such as Nail Aid's Peeling Nail Intense Repair Gel. Your entire body, not just your nails, will thank you.

Jen Denero