Onycholysis

Onycholysis is a nail disorder characterized by separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. It frequently begins at the free edge and extends upward to the cuticle area. Less frequently, it begins at the cuticle area and extends downward. Onycholysis is most often caused by fungal and bacterial infections, excess moisture under and around the nail, and trauma. It can also result from medical conditions such as anemia, diabetes mellitus, hyper- and hypo- thyroidism, impaired oxygen and blood circulation, leprosy, lupus, sarcoidosis, syphilis, pregnancy, psoriasis, dermatitis, hyperhidrosis, congenital abnormalities of the nail, and carcinoma of the nail bed.

As a nail professional and soon to be nurse, the majority of onycholysis cases I’ve seen, resulted from trauma or fungal infections. Types of trauma includes: items being dropped on the hands, feet, or nails; stumping of the toe on hard objects; using shard tools to clean under the nails; and long toenails hitting the top of closed toe shoes (i.e. runners and walkers). Fungal and bacterial infections are often due to excess moisture, walking around barefoot, and getting pedicures at unsanitary salons.

To prevent onycholysis caused by trauma and infections, you should: dry feet thoroughly before enclosing them in socks and shoes; avoid wearing dark colored socks because fungus and bacteria breed in moist-dark conditions; keep toenails short or flushed with the skin; and use blunt implements to clean under nails using light strokes.

If you suspect that your finger or toe nails are undergoing onycholysis, please consult a licensed and sanitary nail professional, physician, and/or podiatrist. There are medications and over the counter topical agents that can be given or suggested to prevent further separation and/or generate new nail growth.

Nails and Your Health

The condition of your nails can say a lot about disease processes within the body. Over the next few weeks, I will highlight nail conditions and what they may be saying about your body. To stay up-to-date with Sole Elegance, "Like" the Sole Elegance Facebook fan page, and "Follow" @soleelegance on Twitter!

Paraffin...Mmm Mmm Good!

The seasons are rapidly changing, temperatures are dropping quickly, and these conditions can wreak havoc on our skin, especially our hands and feet. By getting a paraffin wax treatment, you will not only be indulging in a warm treat, but also softening, moisturizing, and rejuvenating dry skin. In addition, the treatment increases blood circulation and relieves aching joints.

A paraffin wax treatment is an add-on service that can be performed as part of your manicure or pedicure. Your nail care specialist will dip your hands or feet into a warm paraffin bath, place a plastic covering over the area being treated, and insulate with a cotton mitten. After some time, the wax is massaged off.  Upon completion of your treatment, your hands and feet will have a soothing feeling thanks to the calming oils infused in the wax.    

   

If you experience frequent joint pain or have arthritis, you can definitely benefit from a paraffin treatment. If you suffer from dry skin, impaired circulation or skin irritations, you should consult your physician first. In addition, if you are a senior, you may be more sensitive to the heat of warm paraffin due to various medications or thinning skin; therefore you should seek approval from your physician as well.

So treat yourself today to a relaxing paraffin wax treatment. Your hands, feet, and joints will thank you!

don’t FALL out of your pedicure schedule

Just because autumn is upon us and your feet will soon be bundled up, does not mean that you don’t need to get regular pedicures. Pedicures not only enhance your personal appearance, but they improve basic foot comfort and help with foot and toe health. When feet are confined in closed-toe shoes, they can suffer from dryness, cracking, fatigue and cramping. Also, some individuals feet tend to sweat; therefore, causing the skin to peel and potentially develop a bacterial or fungal infection. The steps of safely cleaning under and around toenails can help clean any debris and skin that bacteria and fungus like to attach to. In addition, the processes of soaking, exfoliating, and massaging the feet during a pedicure, are done to soften and sanitize; remove and smooth dry, flaky, and callused skin; and to lubricate moisturize, and invigorate the skin, respectively.

      

Remember that your feet are in daily use and they need routine maintenance all year long. So schedule your biweekly or monthly pedicures in advance for the fall and winter months to keep feet healthy and happy!    

FALL FOR COLOR

Fall is vastly approaching and the leading manufacturers of nail polish have already introduced their fall 2010 lines. One collection that has really made me fall for color is Essie’s fall collection. This line was inspired by cosmopolitan (quiet, smoldering, chic) runway fashion. The colors are strong and confident, neutral and bold, yet trendy and classic! They are perfect autumnal pops of color that are the perfect touch to complete this season’s hottest fall fashions. With colors like: In Stitches, Limited Addiction, Sew Psyched, Merino Cool, Velvet Voyeur, and Little Brown Dress, you are sure to be polished in fabulous color that is always in style.

Read the descriptions below to see which color(s) you will fall for. This may be a hard decision to make, but it doesn’t have to be. The colors look great on all skin tones and can definitely fit your various moods and fabulous fashion sense. In the words of Essie, “Life is a runway, so let your fingers do the walking!”

 

In Stitches – “This cheeky, blush pink knows how to work the room. Wherever she goes, her bubbly laughter is positively contagious.” -Essie

Limited Addiction – “Supremely covetable, infinitely appealing. Too much is never enough with the hottest red of the season.” -Essie

Sew Psyched – “This cashmere-soft pewter sage perfectly suits the season’s darker hues. Dressed up or down, it’s sure to start a fashion frenzy.” -Essie

Merino Cool – “Soft and sensuous, this mulberry purple is laid back, yet elegant. Perfectly balanced for day or night-its chic to be neutral.” -Essie

Velvet Voyeur – “All eyes are on you in this decadently dark amethyst. Seductive and slinky, it’s enough to make a good girl turn bad.” -Essie

Little Brown Dress – “Surprise! The cocktail party just got more interesting. A new classic, this beguiling black coffee is a real head-turner.” -Essie   

NAIL STRENGTHENING TREATMENT

If you are looking to spice up your daily nail regimen you can follow the following smell good recipe!

20 drops Lemon

15 drops Carrot Oil

13 drops Grape Seed Oil

13 drops Rosemary

13 drops Avocado Oil

2 oz. Jojoba Oil

Blend all oils together and store it in a light-sensitive bottle (dark in color) with a dropper. Rub it into your cuticles as well as your nail plate periodically throughout the day, or at least twice a day. It can be used on natural nails or nails with enhancements.

Divas, MPH Highlights Sole Elegance & It's Owner

I am honored to have been blogged about on the August 17, 2010 post entitled "Oh You Fancy Huh?" by Tenille Daniels a.k.a. Diva T of Divas, MPH (making our people healthier). "Divas, MPH loves to celebrate young women entrepreneurs committed to the women’s health & wellness" and they recognize that "...a huge part of health & wellness is feeling and looking our best." So please, check out the post by clicking on the aforementioned green words. It is a short, entertaining and informative read! Thank you ladies of Divas, MPH!

Lasting Color for Natural Nails

Over the years, there has been an increase in all things natural, especially in nail care. Many individuals have opted out of nail enhancements and opted in for healthier alternatives. The one thing that natural nail clients despise is the fact that nail polish does not have longevity on the nail. The wear of polish on natural nail does depend on the quality of nail preparation, base and top coats, and color lacquer used, as well as the type of work performed by the hands.

Two leaders in the nail care industry, OPI and CND, have come up with a solution for individuals who want to remain natural and wear nail color.

Almost a year ago, OPI introduced Axxiūm to the world. Axxiūm is a soak-off gel lacquer system that is polished onto the nail and then UV cured. This system provides flawless color for up to two weeks. It comes in many of the OPI nail lacquer shades you love! Axxiūm soaks off in approximately 15 minutes.


A few months ago, CND came out with Shellac: their breakthrough patent-pending UV3 technology which combines the ease of polish with the permanence of gels. It is truly an innovation in chip-free, extended wear color. It is applied like polish, UV cured, and can be removed in as little as 10 minutes.


The great thing about Axxiūm and Shellac is that there is zero dry time! Since both systems are UV cured, clients don’t have to worry about smudging their nail polish before or after they leave the salon. Axxiūm and Shellac also add extra protection to natural by minimizing nail breakage. Both products wear very well; however the application process and removal process of Shellac is less time consuming. Both products can also be applied to toenails for a chip free pedicure!

So now you can have natural nails with the confidence that your nail color will last for up to 14 days! At this time, Sole Elegance (SE) is only taking new clients by referrals only. If you are not an existing SE client and do not have a referral, you can visit www.opi.com or www.cnd.com to find a local salon that provides these services.

Moisture Lock

It takes approximately 3 minutes for your body to absorb the properties of your moisturizer. So give your body, especially your hands and feet, a chance to soak up the moisture. White cotton gloves and socks are a great way to lock moisture in. You can also intensify moisture therapy by wrapping your feet in saran wrap and then applying cotton socks.

Ravishing Hands… Always!

Regardless of the weather, your hectic schedule, lifestyle, or job, you can have and maintain beautiful hands. If you prefer to wear your nails natural you should visit your manicurist every 1-2 weeks. If you are an acrylic or gel nail client, you should be visiting your nail care specialist every two weeks. Although we as nail care specialist nurture your hands, it is important that you take care of them in between visits. Below are 7 quick and easy tips for keep your hands looking flawless all year long.



1. Stay Hydrated
Rub a small amount of cuticle oil, olive oil, or caster oil on your nails and around cuticles throughout the day and at night before bed. Keep a small amount with you in a leak proof bottle inside your purse, desk drawer or car. That way, you will always have it on or near your person.

2. Wear Gloves
Although they may feel uncomfortable in the beginning, wear rubber gloves when washing dishes and cleaning for protection. Cleaning agents can be harsh and drying to hands and nails. For dual action, put hand cream or moisturizer on before placing on gloves for extra hand softness.

3. Stay Dry
Dry your hands and feet for at least two minutes after washing dishes or taking a shower/bath. Leaving fingernails, toenails, and feet damp increases your risk of fungal infection.

4. Polish
Even if you do not wear color, you should wear a clear coat of nourishing nail polish. Polish helps to protect your nails from natural elements, UV rays, etc. If you wear color, a high quality base coat should be applied to prevent yellowing of the nail, and a quality top coat that will help to alleviate wearing and chipping or color.

5. Remove Polish
When removing polish, avoid polish removers with acetone or formaldehyde. They are drying to your nails. Use acetone-based removers instead.

6. File Correctly
To keep your nails at their strongest, avoid fining in a back-and-forth motion. File only in one direction. Also never file nails after being exposed to water because wet nails break more easily.

7. Massage Daily
Massaging your hands and nails increases blood supply, thus stimulating the matrix of the nail to grow.