NEVER NEGLECT A SKIN PROBLEM
It is important
to understand that there are literally hundreds of skin ailments, both minor
and major; that a skin condition can mirror an internal disorder-a disease of
lungs, liver, heart, or other organs of the body; that it may also indicate
general poor health, or a vitamin or other nutritional deficiency. Without
years of study, you cannot learn all the skin ailments and all the possible
meanings of changing skin conditions. Some, in fact, are difficult for
physicians to identify and may require special study by specialists. For this
reason, and because the significance of skin changes varies greatly, it is
important to consult a doctor if anything unusual happens to your skin. He may
be able to quickly relieve your mind of worry; and if it is a serious or
potentially serious problem, the opportunity you give him for early diagnosis
and early treatment is likely to be of great help in preventing complications
and making possible eradication and cure.
NAILS
generally, fingernails need little
special care. In fact, most infections such as abscesses, whitlows, paronychia,
or "runarounds" are caused by excessive care-too much manicuring of
the cuticle. Push the cuticle back gently. Do not use a sharp instrument for
this or for nail cleaning. Generally, any nail polish you happen to like can be
considered safe to use if it does not produce irritation because of allergy or
sensitivity. It's a good idea to tryout any new polish on a single nail at
bedtime and make certain it is safe to use on your other fingers in the
morning. Excessive dryness encourages the development of hangnails, and plain
oil or a hand cream can be helpful in correcting the condition. If a hang- nail
develops, it will heal over in a few days if protected by a small bandage.
Brittleness of the nails does not, as many people still believe, stem from a
deficiency in proteins, vitamins, or any other recognized nutrient.
Brittleness
can be caused by external factors such as detergents, solvents, and manicure
preparations. To some extent, brittleness increases with age. Nails tend to be
plastic when moist, brittle when dehydrated. It is possible that frequent use
of nail polish removers containing solvents produces some decrease in
water-holding capacity. Some investigations suggest that gelatin in large daily
doses may be helpful, although, in general, physicians are convinced that no
significant improvement is to be expected from gelatin. In some instances,
brittleness can be traced to impaired thyroid gland functioning, a circulatory
disturbance, or other systemic disorder. If you are bothered by persistent
brittleness without obvious external cause, your physician may well be able to
help.
