Daily trimming of fingernails and toenails to make them look good could lead to serious nail conditions, according to physicists at the University of Nottingham in the U.K. and reported by WebMD.
The physicists came up with a set of equations to identify the physical laws of nail growth, and used them to throw light on the causes of some of the most common nail problems, such as ingrown toenails, spoon-shaped nails, and pincer nails.
"It is remarkable what some people are willing to do to make their nails look good," says study researcher Cyril Rauch.
According to the research, published in the journal Physical Biology, regular poor trimming can tip the fine balance of nail growth, causing physical stress to the nail. Over time, this can cause a change in nail shape, which can lead to serious nail conditions.
"Looking at our results, we suggest that nail beauty fanatics who trim their nails on a daily basis opt for straight or parabolic (curved in an arch) edges, as otherwise they may amplify the imbalance of stresses, which could lead to a number of serious conditions," Rauch says.
In other words, choose a simple shape to minimize stress on nail growth.
