Fingernail Repair with Author Jane Godman

Just as the eyes are the window to the soul, the fingernails hold the key to our health. That’s something my grandmother used to say, and she came from a family of traditional herbalists and healers.

I won’t bore you with the details of my own health here. I have a brain tumor, and some associated issues. If you’re interested in learning more, I wrote a blog post here  http://janegodmanauthor.com/new-year-same-challenges-livewell/ about my determination to raise awareness of living (and writing) with a life-altering condition. But that’s not what this post is about.

No, this post is about fingernails! I must admit, I used to take mine for granted. A chronic nail-biter as a child, I accepted the long, strong nails of my teens and twenties as a right.

Now, my nails are horrible. They are both soft and brittle at the same time. Left to their own devices, they crack and peel. The cuticles split, leaving the skin around my nails raw and painful. As a window on my health, they don’t give a pretty view.  

So what can be done to limit the damage if, like me, you have fingernails that are easily damaged?

These are just a few things that work for me:

1.   Limit how long you expose your nails to water. According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, prolonged contact with water is the most common cause of split fingernails. This one breaks my heart because I love to soak in a hot, scented bath!

2.   Wear gloves while cleaning or exposing your hands to harsh chemicals.

3.    Reduce how much you use nail polish remover. The harsh chemicals in nail polish removers can thin and weaken the nails, which makes breakage more likely to occur. When you do use nail polish remover, choose an acetone-free version.

4.   Keep your nails well moisturized by applying a hand cream. I use a hemp hand scrub and hand cream. Am I allowed to mention the brand? I will any way. They are both from the Body Shop and they are the best products I’ve found for dry skin.

5.   File down your nails. Round the tips of the fingernails with the use of an emory board to keep the nails from breaking. I keep my nails short now, but they are a lot stronger because of it.

6.   Take a vitamin supplement.

If you have any other tips that have worked for you, I’d love to hear them!

JANE GODMAN writes paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne and SMP Romance and thrillers for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. She also self publishes her historical and gothic stories. She has been a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Nominee and The Romance Reviews Readers’ Choice Award Winner.

Jane worked in a variety of shops, bars, and offices before settling into a career as a teacher. She was born in Scotland and has lived in Germany, Wales, Malta, South Africa, and England. Jane still gets the urge to travel, although these days she tends to head for a Spanish beach, or a European city that is steeped in history.

When she isn’t reading or writing romance, Jane enjoys cooking and spending time with her family. She is married to a lovely man, has two grown up children and has recently discovered the joy of becoming a grandparent (to two gorgeous boys).

 Connect with Jane Godman on the web:

Website         Facebook          Twitter

Colton and the Single Mom (The Coltons of Red Ridge)

This Colton cop falls for a ready-made family

A Coltons of Red Ridge story

A serial killer is on the loose, and true-crime filmmaker Esmée da Costa is on the case. K-9 cop Brayden Colton, the prime suspect’s half brother, works hard to stop her prying, but sparks fly as he falls for Esmée and her son. When Esmée and Brayden’s little family comes under siege, can they save all they love?

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