Ways To Keep Your Nails Fresh During the Monsoon Rains

Shahnaz Husain

Does your nail turn brittle in the monsoon season? The rainy season brings increased humidity and dampness, creating an ideal environment for fungal infections and brittle nails. Nail fungal infections, such as onychomycosis, are characterised by discolouration, thickening, and brittleness of nails.

Due to moisture, nails can become softer and may grow irregularly, increasing the risk of nails growing into the surrounding skin. This can lead to pain, redness, and inflammation.

Taking care of your nails during the monsoon may be a little tricky, but it is extremely vital to prevent them from becoming weak, brittle, or infected due to the increased moisture and humidity.

Choose from a range of hand creams, cuticle oil/creams /oils to  moisturize them regularly to make them strong, shiny and healthy.

Use a good quality cuticle oil or a hydrating hand cream to keep your nails and cuticles moisturized. Massage the moisturizer into your nails and cuticles every night before bed.

I will recommend putting coconut oil around the cuticles daily to moisturize  your nails for strong, long, healthy nails

Try to keep your nails dry with extra care, especially your toes. You may opt for open shoes / sandals/chappal as if you are wearing closed footwear   all the days long then fungs/bacteria  may thrive in your feet due to moist and damp environment which can result in dead skin cells and bacteria. ultimately affecting your toes.    

You need to be very careful while picking a nail polish.  While wearing nail polish does not harm your healthy nails.

Typical nail polish is filled with toxic chemicals such as Paraben, diethyl phthalates, dibutyl phthalate  which  cause nail brittleness, dryness, and thinning and     are bad for the skin surrounding it. Always prefer water-based polishes, which don't last as long but are the safest option out there.   

Try your level best to choose natural and chemical-free nail paints that are eco-friendly and cruelty-free. Avoid eating with hands that have paint on its nails as bits of the nail paint can chip and fall into the food, which will eventually go inside your body and cause harm.

Pick a nail colour remover that contains vitamin A, C and E to  treats conditions that adversely affect nails and cuticles.

The cuticle (skin surrounding the nail) should be kept soft and smooth. Otherwise, it sticks to the nail and gets dragged as the nail grows.

Avoid wearing leather, plastic or canvas shoes. Do not wear the same shoes every day. It is better to have an alternate pair of shoes. Wash your footwear regularly. Desist from sitting in wet footwear and socks all through the day. Try to bear waterproof footwear to allow air circulation. Your nail health is important during the rainy season. Refrain from growing your toenails long. Wash and clean dirt from under the nails as also the edges.

Cut your toenails short to avoid any chances of accumulating dirt and other infections. Try to   spray deodorants / talcum /anti-fungal powder in between toe nails regularly at least once in  a day to prevent infection.

During the hot and humid season, we go for light, serene, pastel colours for our clothes. The same goes for the nails too. We can select colours that are icy, “cool” and trendy. The way to protect the nails and keep them looking good is to give them regular care. There is no point wearing a glamorous outfit if the feet and toe nails show neglect and lack of care.. Chipped nails and chipped nail polish can really spoil the entire effect.

Protection of nails is so important, especially during the Monsoons, when fungal infection can set in. Detergents can also lead to itchy and rash conditions. Wear rubber gloves for your washing chores like cleaning with harsh chemicals, gardening, or doing anything that involves  hot, soapy water  dirtying your hand  , always  wear  rubber, vinyl, nitrile, or plastic gloves — some of which have a cotton liner .It not only protects your polish but keeps anything harsh or drying in your cleaning solutions off your hand.

Massage a cream after your washing tasks, working it into the skin. This takes only a few minutes. Massage cream on the nails and the skin around the nails.  

Regular handwashing or use of hand sanitizer can dry out the skin and nail bed quickly, so try to moisturize after every wash, if possible. Coconut oil is excellent for rubbing into your nails and cuticles.  It is advised to wash the hands with lukewarm water to help keep the hands and nails soft and smooth.  

Keep a travel-size hand cream enriched with fruit extracts or cuticle oil bottle at every sink in your home.

Apply warm almond oil, soften cuticles and push them back gently with a cotton bud. Use a cotton bud to clean beneath the nails too. Avoid cutting cuticles and using metal instruments. Apply almond oil or olive oil on the nails and hands. Apply nail varnish, using smooth strokes, from the base of the nails to the tip. First, apply one coat of colour on all the nails. Wait for it to dry and then apply the second coat of colour.