Do your nails need to "breath"?
This question was coming up in my mind over and over. I have terribly week nails and having the dry polish strips on allows them to grow and gives them that added layer of strength BUT am I going into a viscous cycle because they can't "breath"?? Will I end up just having week brittle nails after too much use?
Here is what I found...
Nails Cannot “Breathe”
Mothers everywhere have always said that your nails need to breathe. It’s time to nail the lid shut on the age-old beauty myth that nails can actually breathe, because let’s face it: They can’t breathe, meaning nails do not need to breathe.
The nail plate that makes up the hard, polish-able area of your fingernails and toenails is made up of non-living keratin (just like your hair). Because it’s not alive, it cannot feel pain, and it cannot breathe. However, all of the components of your fingernails and toenails do require oxygen for healthy cells, which it all receives via blood through tiny blood vessels. Painting your nails does not interfere with this process, so wearing or not wearing polish isn’t a factor in your nail’s ability to receive oxygen.
But Nails DO Need Polish Breaks
Even though nails don’t need to “breathe,” they do need periodic breaks from polish for many reasons, including:
Frequently removing nail polish with acetone nail polish remover can dry out the nail, causing it to crack, peel, separate and become brittle. Those who use gel polishes are particularly at risk of having super dry nails, as gel removal requires extra time and scrubbing with the acetone.
Leaving nail polish on for long periods of time can lead to a condition called keratin granulation, which is generally caused by wearing nail polish for too long, using dehydrating nail polish remover too often, or constantly exposing your nails to harsh or drying chemicals (like cleaning products, for example).
Information found here
Here is what I found...
Nails Cannot “Breathe”
Mothers everywhere have always said that your nails need to breathe. It’s time to nail the lid shut on the age-old beauty myth that nails can actually breathe, because let’s face it: They can’t breathe, meaning nails do not need to breathe.
The nail plate that makes up the hard, polish-able area of your fingernails and toenails is made up of non-living keratin (just like your hair). Because it’s not alive, it cannot feel pain, and it cannot breathe. However, all of the components of your fingernails and toenails do require oxygen for healthy cells, which it all receives via blood through tiny blood vessels. Painting your nails does not interfere with this process, so wearing or not wearing polish isn’t a factor in your nail’s ability to receive oxygen.
But Nails DO Need Polish Breaks
Even though nails don’t need to “breathe,” they do need periodic breaks from polish for many reasons, including:
Frequently removing nail polish with acetone nail polish remover can dry out the nail, causing it to crack, peel, separate and become brittle. Those who use gel polishes are particularly at risk of having super dry nails, as gel removal requires extra time and scrubbing with the acetone.
Leaving nail polish on for long periods of time can lead to a condition called keratin granulation, which is generally caused by wearing nail polish for too long, using dehydrating nail polish remover too often, or constantly exposing your nails to harsh or drying chemicals (like cleaning products, for example).
Information found here
