Waves on the nails appear at any age. Besides the unpleasant appearance, it can be difficult for a person psychologically. Why nails grow in waves can only be determined by a doctor. He will prescribe effective therapy. The causes of this phenomenon and treatment are described in the article.
Causes
There are several factors leading to pathology. If the nails grow in waves, the reasons may be as follows:
- Injury. This is the main reason explaining why nails grow in waves. Due to improper care or carelessness, the nail plate is injured during manicure. Integrity is damaged not only due to impact or pinching, but also when cutting the cuticle, burrs. Even damage occurs with burns, non-compliance with the technique of nail extension, the use of low-quality gel varnishes for care.
- Infectious lesion. This is a common reason explaining why fingernails grow in waves. In this case, there are changes in the integrity and appearance of the nail plate, as with a fungal infection. No makeup can hide flaws. You can get infected in public places. Moreover, the infection can penetrate under the nails and on the legs, and on the hands. In addition to the ribbed surface, itching and burning appear. Without consulting a dermatologist and prescribing the right treatment, eliminating the pathology will not work.
- Hormonal changes. If the thyroid gland is disrupted, then growths and deformations on the nail are likely. This is another common reason explaining why nails grow in waves. The change appears not only on the nails of a person, but also in the body as a whole. Diagnosis is performed by an endocrinologist. Hormonal disorders are detected on the nails, as well as on the rashes on the face, brittleness and hair loss, weight loss for no reason, swelling.
- Hypovitaminosis. Iron deficiency is a common reason explaining why nails grow in waves. Only a specialist can determine the disease using blood sampling. But not only iron leads to pathology. A deficiency of other vitamins and minerals also negatively affects. Vitamin E affects the appearance, makes the nail strong and moisturized. If there are enough vitamins in the body, then the nails will be healthy and strong, they are not able to peel and break. A specialist can identify a deficiency of trace elements and vitamins by taking tests. Calcium is the main component of the nail, the lack of which leads to the pathology of the plates.
- Stress. This is no less common reason why nails began to grow in waves. Stresses, depression negatively affect the work of organs and tissues, including nails. If the plates become wavy, then only a doctor can determine the cause.
These are all the reasons why the nail on the thumb grows in waves. The defect may also appear on several plates. Whatever the reasons for this phenomenon, to get rid of this drawback will allow an integrated approach to solving the problem.
Kinds
There are several types of defects. In any case, effective treatment is important. Experts divide uneven nails into several varieties:
- Bumps. Grooves attract people's attention. Diagnostics allows you to determine the cause that led to the deformation. Longitudinal grooves not only spoil the view, but also indicate a health hazard. A ribbed plate should not be a concern only at an advanced age, since strong changes have occurred in the body. If the defect arose at a young age, then you need to see a doctor. Do not hide it with nail polish.
- The waves. This drawback indicates the malfunctioning of the body systems. The defect appears with a complete rejection of meat. If, in addition to transverse waves, peeling is noticeable, then this indicates a fungus. Do not panic, the fungus is perfectly treated. With the help of a specialist consultation and simple procedures, it will be possible to eliminate the pathology.
- Tuberosity. In addition to irregularities, there may also be mounds. In this case, a doctor’s consultation and treatment appointment are required. Usually a deficiency appears from a deficiency of minerals and vitamins, hormonal failure.
Often the nail grows in waves with improper cosmetic procedures. This is also associated with non-compliance with the rules for caring for hands and feet.
Drug treatment
If nails grow in waves, what should I do? First of all, you need to see a doctor. Treatment involves the use of pharmacological preparations prescribed by a specialist. But not all patients are ready for drug therapy, which can lead to the spread of irregularities.
If the nails began to grow in waves, during treatment, preparations with calcium and B vitamins should be used. This is nicotinic acid, retinol, chitin. Vitamins A and E can also be prescribed by a doctor, which strengthen the nail plate and provide resistance to the effects of the environment. To enhance the action, a specialist prescribes an external antimicrobial agent. For example, Miconazole ointment is effective.
Vitamin therapy
If nails or nails grow in waves, doctors recommend using vitamin therapy, as well as accustom yourself to a balanced diet. Nutritionists advise to eliminate flour and fatty foods from the diet. Vitamins that are in foods are also useful:
- Vitamin B. Eliminates inflammation, accelerates tissue healing. They are rich in black currants, as well as olives.
- Iron. It transports oxygen to tissues. The component is present in poultry, zucchini, berries.
- Fluorine and Vitamin C. Components are needed not only for nails, but also for the normal condition of teeth, bones, hair. With the help of vitamin C, the immune system is strengthened. The component is rich in citruses, nuts, tomatoes, chicken eggs.
- Selenium. Eliminates lamination and brittle nails, provides a natural shine. Selenium is rich in onions, oatmeal, buckwheat and other foods.
If nails on legs or hands grow in waves, then these products must be in the diet. Proper and balanced nutrition allows you to quickly get rid of a lack.
Folk remedies
If the nail on the arm or foot grows in waves, folk recipes are used. The most effective include the following:
- Applications based on unrefined oil.
- Oatmeal mask. For 30 minutes, apply an application of gruel oatmeal. Then rinse with running water.
- Tomato juice for baths. Hold for at least 20 minutes.
- Therapeutic baths. Warm water (4 cups) is required, sea salt (2 tbsp.), Lemon oil (4 drops) is added. The bath is used 3 times a week for 60 days.
- Baths with herbs and plants. Often used oak bark, calendula, chamomile.
Procedures
In modern salons there is a special technique that repairs damaged nails. For this, treatment courses created by specialists are used. In physiotherapy, diathermy, iontophoresis, phonophoresis using the necessary vitamins are used. Courses include 10-15 procedures with an interval of up to 8 weeks.
Non-apparatus methods of treatment are also in demand. In warm applications, the use of therapeutic mud, natural wax, ozokerite, paraffin is in demand. For maximum effect, such applications are applied to the nail and the surrounding area. Warm baths with essential oils, sea salt, and pine needles help. Such additives provide blood flow, stimulate the nutrition of nail cells.
It is important to consider that the porous structure of nails can absorb various components, including harmful ones. This explains why the nails become wavy. Therefore, it is important not to allow prolonged contact with household chemicals, if necessary, use gloves.
What can not be done with treatment?
Want to get an urgent result? You should remember about methods and actions that can be hazardous to health. To ensure that the problem is not exacerbated, you need to follow simple tips:
- Nail extensions are not able to solve the problem of deformation. This can aggravate it, since there is a high risk of a chemical burn.
- It is undesirable to use a high abrasive polishing file. It is harmful to healthy nails. After using it, the waves are eliminated, but the reasons remain. Treatment will still be needed.
- The cuticle and burrs should not be very wetted when eliminated. This makes the skin too vulnerable, leading to infection and injury.
- A dry cuticle must be trimmed carefully. This may require specialist assistance or advice.
Proper care
With the help of regular and healthy care, you can save the beauty of nails. There are a few rules to follow:
- Professional manicure. To do this, it is necessary to file correctly, cut the cuticle, carefully repair and treat cracks, damage to nails and skin.
- Protection of nails from toxic effects. For this, gloves are used, oils that strengthen varnishes are used.
- Hygiene. An individual manicure set is used, an antiseptic is used.
Proper care requires effort to achieve the desired result. Regular procedures and hygiene rules protect against aesthetic imperfections and unpleasant ailments.
Oils
To moisturize and restore wavy nails, base and essential oils are used. They can be bought at the pharmacy. Effective are:
- Coconut
- almond;
- olive;
- castor;
- burdock;
- apricot;
- avocado.
From esters, lavender, rosemary, lemon, grapefruit, tea tree help. Essential oils enriched with essential oils are rubbed into the nails in the evening for several minutes. Then cotton gloves are put on top. The product is left overnight.
You can still prepare an oil bath. Necessary:
- mix 3 tbsp. l olive, almond and avocado oils;
- add 5-6 drops of tea tree oil;
- heat in a water bath;
- lower your fingers for 15 minutes;
- then rinse, treat nails with a nourishing cream.
A mixture with iodine also helps. For this:
- olive oil (1 tbsp. l.) is mixed in the same amount of lemon juice;
- 3 drops of iodine are added;
- the composition is mixed.
The cotton pad is moistened with a mixture and rubbed into the nails. After a few minutes, it is washed with water. You can use oils every day, which has a positive effect on the skin and phalanx of nails.
It is recommended to go only to professional manicurists and do not cut the cuticle yourself. It is better to use a protective base coat before using colored varnish.
Bath with salt
Baths with sea salt help. They accelerate nail growth and protect against delamination. This requires:
- pour warm water into a glass;
- add 1 tbsp to it l sea salt;
- lower fingertips into the product;
- wait 10-15 minutes and wash your fingers with water.
Sea salt should be used without flavoring or other additives. If there are wounds and lesions on the skin, it is advisable to choose a different recipe. To quickly eliminate the deformation of the bath is used every 1-2 days.
Lemon acid
A lot of vitamin C is present in lemon. It provides strength and gloss of nails. You can use it in many ways. Baths help. This will require:
- dissolve 1 tsp in a glass of warm water citric acid;
- fingers immerse in solution for 10 minutes;
- rinse with water.
Fresh lemon may also be used. For this, the fruit is cut in half. In each half, lower the nails for 10 minutes. The procedure must be performed every other day, and for prevention - 2 times a week.
Prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure for a long time. With the help of proper hand and foot care, it will be possible to prevent problems with the nail plates. There are several rules to follow:
- You need proper nutrition.
- Homework must be done with gloves to prevent exposure to chemistry.
- It is important to observe breaks between nail extensions.
- It is useful to use nutrients, applications.
- It is necessary to file nails. The process should be carried out only at right angles.
- Before varnishing, a base coat is used.
- Twice a year, you need to drink multivitamin courses.
Conclusion
The disease occurs for various reasons. Compliance with simple preventive measures will help to maintain a healthy state of nails. Any medical measures should be carried out after consultation with a specialist, so that instead of benefit not to harm your health.