When we are young, our nails grow roughly 3mm every month, but from the age of 25, that rate slows down by about 0.5% per annum. By the time you have reached the ripe old age of 85, your nails will only be growing at a rate of about 2mm a month. This is bad news for those ladies who enjoy their long talons, but it’s not the only bad news. As we age, nails become dehydrated and lose their flexibility resulting in splitting and peeling.

Nails also become more susceptible to breaking as they naturally are more brittle the older we get. One of the ways we can prevent this from happening is to wear rubber over cotton gloves when we wash the dishes every single time! Yes, I know it’s a pain, especially when you are only washing a few cups, but I promise you it will be worth it! Also, stay away from harsh varnish removers, which dry out your nails even more.

Nails may even become thicker, or thinner and more fragile. Your nails may even lose their sheen and lovely pink colour, becoming yellowy and dull-looking.
 
Something to keep an eye on is the shape of your nail. If it becomes very rounded and club-shaped, it may be time to pop over to your GP for a visit. Clubbed nails can often be a sign of lack of oxygen, so this needs to be checked out. Also, make a doctor’s appointment if your nails become bluish in colour, as this can also be a sign that something isn’t right.

A normal sign of aging is the development of longitudinal ridges. These are just like “wrinkles” on your nails and are a sign of aging, though not everyone gets them. Do get it checked out though, if a dark ridge appears on one of your nails, as this could be a melanoma under your nail.

So what can you do if your nails are already showing signs of old age? 2
Gently exfoliate your nails on a regular basis. I love using one of The Body Shop body scrubs for this purpose, though you can easily make your own with some bicarbonate of soda and some water.

 Never buff your nails, as, although they look beautiful and shiny afterwards, this actually weakens the nail. My mom went through a stage of buffing her nails every day and it took her literally years to get them right afterwards.

Use a good cuticle oil at bedtime and cover with cotton gloves. I highly recommend good old olive oil or coconut oil, otherwise Sally Hansen’s Vitamin E Nail& Cuticle Oil (R79,95) is excellent.

If your nails have become a little yellow, try rubbing them with a bit of lemon juice, but always follow with a nourishing oil or cream as lemon can also dry them out.

If you have got those “wrinkles” on your nails, try one of the ridge fillers on the market. Essie and Opi both make great ones.

Eat a diet that is rich in Vitamin B, iron and calcium to keep your nails strong and healthy for years to come.

Article by: Maryanne Young