Callus softeners are potent liquid formulas applied to heavy callus areas to soften them for more effective pedicure filing. So what exactly is in these softeners? Here’s a generic low down of three of the most common active ingredients in callus softeners today. . The softeners are typically left on the callus for about five minutes, though this varies from brand to brand, and care is advised to limit skin exposure to only heavy callus. Techs are advised to wear gloves during applications and to make sure healthy skin does not come into contact with the softeners. So what exactly is in these softeners that make it so volitile? Here’s a profile of three of the most common active ingredients in callus softeners today.
Urine! But wait not the kind of pee we are thinking of, read on...Urea is an organic compound that has a super-hydrating effect on skin cells. Its function within callus softeners is to over-moisturize and hydrate the tough, thick callus so that it becomes soft and supple for the pedicure file to have a greater effect at filing it down. It is a naturally occurring chemical that is produced within many organisms. In humans, the liver produces urea as a nitrogen waste carrier in the metabolic process to take waste out of the body in urine. Most industrial urea is synthetic and produced from carbon dioxide and ammonia. (It’s also used in animal feed and fertilizer as a relatively cheap source of nitrogen.)
Salicylic acid is an organic acid that derives originally from the bark of willow trees. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which has made its source compound, salicin, a model for aspirin. It also has the ability to break down fats and lipids. As of now, it is the only chemical the FDA has approved to be marketed as a callus “remover,” and acts to lift the dead skin cells off of callus for enhanced filing results. (It is also used to treat plantar warts and for exfoliating treatments for acne and psoriasis.)
Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound that makes for a strong callus softener depending on the amount in the formula. It degrades the protein in the callus cells and works quickly to soften even the toughest of callus in preparation for filing. Cuticle removers often contain a small amount of potassium hydroxide to help clean nail plates. (It is used in many industries including in the production of soap, fertilizer, and biodiesel and can even be used as a disinfectant and cleaning agent on surfaces that can withstand its corrosive properties.)
Now that you have the low down on callus softners, you will understand why gloves are needed. I am one of those that sees something and says why the heck do we need gloves?!? So I feel I should share my ah ha! moment!
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Friday, July 27, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Beau's Lines installment 3 Treatment
How To Treat Beau’s LinesDespite the long list of causes, there are a few things you can do to help a client with Beau’s lines, and a few things your client can do to help herself. The first step in preventing this condition from coming back is to refer your client to her doctor. In many cases, she may have a history of the above conditions. As a nail technician, you are not able to diagnose or treat her condition, but her doctor will be able to give her instructions on how to proceed.
After your client has seen her physician and gets the green light for a nail service, you then have a couple of options. Offer her a set of enhancements, especially if she considers the lines unappealing. But do not apply enhancements if the client has yet to see a doctor to evaluate the cause of the Beau’s lines. You can also provide your client with a natural nail manicure and polish the nails with her favorite color. But be careful; the grooves on the nail mean there isn’t as much nail growth, so you don’t want to file the ridges in an attempt to smooth the nail, as this will cause further damage by making the nail very thin and fragile.
Beau’s lines are caused by a variety of conditions. As with every set of nails at your station that seems out-of-the-ordinary, you need to proceed with caution. The good news for you and your client is that these grooves won’t put an end to her nail services—it’s just a bit of a pause on the road to beautiful nails!
After your client has seen her physician and gets the green light for a nail service, you then have a couple of options. Offer her a set of enhancements, especially if she considers the lines unappealing. But do not apply enhancements if the client has yet to see a doctor to evaluate the cause of the Beau’s lines. You can also provide your client with a natural nail manicure and polish the nails with her favorite color. But be careful; the grooves on the nail mean there isn’t as much nail growth, so you don’t want to file the ridges in an attempt to smooth the nail, as this will cause further damage by making the nail very thin and fragile.
Beau’s lines are caused by a variety of conditions. As with every set of nails at your station that seems out-of-the-ordinary, you need to proceed with caution. The good news for you and your client is that these grooves won’t put an end to her nail services—it’s just a bit of a pause on the road to beautiful nails!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Beau's Lines Review Article Installment 2: Causes
Welcome to the second session of Beau's Lines . The Article listed these causes as to what causes Beau's Lines.
CausesBeau’s lines are a result of a variety of conditions, ranging from minor to severe. The most common causes are local injury or exposure to severe cold, both of which decrease the blood flow to the nail matrix. Any kind of injury to the nail matrix (also called a microtrauma) slows cell division in the matrix, causing transverse ridges to appear. An excellent example of this is with athletes who do a lot of jogging or long-distance running—they often find Beau’s lines on their toenails from the repeated smashing of the distal edge into the front of the shoe when running or kicking. But not all injuries are from playing sports; other examples of local traumas include:
Eczema The inflammation in the skin around the nail (the proximal fold) associated with eczema can prevent normal cell division in the nail matrix.
Habit-tic deformity (HTD) A source of repeated, habitual trauma to the nail matrix, HTD occurs when a person habitually picks at or rubs the central cuticle with a neighboring finger, most commonly seen on the thumb.
Subungual hematoma The hematoma can press into the nail matrix affecting nail cell production.
Paronychia Inflammation of the tissue adjacent to the nail, usually accompanied by infection and pus formation.
Onychia Inflammation of the matrix often leading to suppuration—or pus formation—and loss of the nail.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome A condition caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, which can affect nail growth.
Another cause of Beau’s lines is congenital disease. For example, acrodermatitis enteropathica (technical jargon for zinc deficiency) causes changes in the skin and sometimes skin infections around the fingernail, which may result in ridges on the nail.
Beau’s lines are also caused by systemic illnesses, which include extreme fevers, measles, mumps, myocardial infarction and exposure to chemotherapy and radiation. Yes, this is a long list to remember, but there is good news—you don’t need to memorize all of these causes in order to help your clients.
CausesBeau’s lines are a result of a variety of conditions, ranging from minor to severe. The most common causes are local injury or exposure to severe cold, both of which decrease the blood flow to the nail matrix. Any kind of injury to the nail matrix (also called a microtrauma) slows cell division in the matrix, causing transverse ridges to appear. An excellent example of this is with athletes who do a lot of jogging or long-distance running—they often find Beau’s lines on their toenails from the repeated smashing of the distal edge into the front of the shoe when running or kicking. But not all injuries are from playing sports; other examples of local traumas include:
Eczema The inflammation in the skin around the nail (the proximal fold) associated with eczema can prevent normal cell division in the nail matrix.
Habit-tic deformity (HTD) A source of repeated, habitual trauma to the nail matrix, HTD occurs when a person habitually picks at or rubs the central cuticle with a neighboring finger, most commonly seen on the thumb.
Subungual hematoma The hematoma can press into the nail matrix affecting nail cell production.
Paronychia Inflammation of the tissue adjacent to the nail, usually accompanied by infection and pus formation.
Onychia Inflammation of the matrix often leading to suppuration—or pus formation—and loss of the nail.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome A condition caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, which can affect nail growth.
Another cause of Beau’s lines is congenital disease. For example, acrodermatitis enteropathica (technical jargon for zinc deficiency) causes changes in the skin and sometimes skin infections around the fingernail, which may result in ridges on the nail.
Beau’s lines are also caused by systemic illnesses, which include extreme fevers, measles, mumps, myocardial infarction and exposure to chemotherapy and radiation. Yes, this is a long list to remember, but there is good news—you don’t need to memorize all of these causes in order to help your clients.
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