Beauty

[juperier]

@Rachb  This is just a wild thought that crossed my mind...perhaps the filing is somehow causing damage to the edge of the nail that is growing out so that it develops rough edges. 

I agree that Blue Cross is to thin. However I still like it since it also removes staining. The reason the skin around your nails feels different after using is that it is basically designed to dissolve skinn...doesn't matter whether it's lliving or dead. Thus it's very important to minimize the amount of any cuticle remover that gets on one's skin and thoroughly wash away all remnants for skin and nails after using.

Bliss Kiss has a good blog post covering nail anatomy and care...http://www.myblisskiss.com/blog/cuticle/

[Rachb]

@juperier that has crossed my mind too. I have some fine grit files. I'm going to try to stick to only filing the tips and not touching the sides. I just hope I have the self control.

[Rachb]

I just gave myself a manicure without cutting my cuticles. I used my Butter London cuticle remover and then pushed them back and gently scraped the excess from my nail bed with an orange stick. We'll see how it goes over the next few days. I intend to apply solar oil (until my isomers arrives) a few times a day, definitely after I wash my hands. I'm going to try to maintain my nails without cutting my cuticles, or as I learned from the link provided above, it's actually my eponychium!

[juperier]

@Rachb  I've heard really good things about Solar Oil, tho I've never tried it. Just hang in there. The thickened, rough areas of damaged eponychium take a while to grow back normally. But it does happen over time. I'm glad the link proved useful. I've read articles that are probably better written about individual topics. But this one provided good info on a nice range of topics all in one place.

[Rachb]

@juperier I'm actually pretty obsessed with my nails. My polish collection is about 150 bottles. Please share any other articles/blogs/sites that you find useful.

[juperier]

@Rachb  You may not want to open that door! My actual obsession for the past couple of years has been collecting polish...all the pretty colors and finishes! Let's just say I had lots of fun on Black Friday weekend!. But a run in with onycholysis last summer led me to learn a whole lot about nails, and polish composition, and manicures, and that I really enjoy scientific type learning.

[Rachb]

Well, I have not cut my cuticles in 2 weeks. I'm not going to lie, it's difficult not to grab my nippers. The skin on either side of my nails feels hard and dry, even after applying solar oil, hand cream rubbed vigorously into the area, etc. And I hate having that hard skin. I just want to pick at it or cut it off. So it really takes a lot of self control for me not to cut it off. I will say that Cuticle Eliminator does a nice job at removing the actual cuticle and any gunk on my nails. I bought a couple of mini tins of Josie's Argan balm on the bay, unscented. They must be old. Smell so rancid. I applied it around all my nails and rubbed it in, didn't really help, and was actually nauseated by the rancid smell. Washed it off immediately. I opened a case on the bay to get my money back.

[Rachb]

Oh, and I hated the Isomers stuff. Didn't moisturize at all. I'm not sure why nothing seems to soften the skin around my nails.  I think at this point, that's what I need most. Because it's the hard edges that I want to pick and pull. And that leads the sides of my nails being exposed and becoming rough and the cycle begins and repeats. 

[juperier]

@Rachb  Unfortunately, it will take time. I read somewhere that trimming your cuticles will just make them grow back thick/hard. That seemed to be my experience with one area on my thumb that accidently got nicked. It's taken way longer than 2 weeks from the time I stopped trimming off the thickened part for it to soften up. I assume it's the same idea as I read about trimming a calous back to much...the skin thinks "oh, I need to protect this area more" and the calous returns.

Just be careful not to use the Cuticle Eliminator to frequently, avoid as much skin contact as possible and be sure to wash it off thoroughly when you're done. It's whole purpose is essentialllyl to eat away at the cuticle on your nail. But it doesn't discriminate and it will eat away at your skin also.

Good for you for removing the rancid balm. If the smell was that strong, you definitely don't want to risk absorbing it into your body.

[Rachb]

Thanks juperier. I just need to stay strong and not cut! I just wish I could find something that actually softens the skin on either side of my nails. It's not cuticle. It's skin.