Do your nails need a break between manis?

Manicures can help to strengthen and grow your nails, but do we need to give them some time to breathe in between?

A certified dermatologist and nail specialist thinks so.

Speaking to The Huffington Post, Dr Dana Stern says that while nails don’t actually “breathe” (apparently, they receive their nutrients and oxygen from the blood stream and not the air), you still shouldn’t wear polish all the time.

Why? Well, according to the expert, “When nail polish is left on for a prolonged period (usually on the toenails for greater than one month) something called a keratin granulation can develop.”

…and in English?

“These are white, rough patches on the nail that form when the polish is removed along with the superficial layers of nails cells.”

Right. Well, that sounds pretty gross. So what’s the cure?

A “nail polish holiday,” which Stern says should last a whopping three weeks (give or take, depending on the severity of damage).

Sadly, “if you are experiencing excessive peeling, dryness, discoloration, and/or ridging, it is time for a break from nail cosmetics to allow for the repair and regeneration of the nail cells”.

Stern also cited overexposure to water, harsh nail polish removers, and even worse, peeling off your polish, as causes of nail damage – all of which feature in our 9 reasons your nails aren’t growing.

I know, you’d probably rather follow these rules than go without your polish – but if your nails benefit in the long run, it’s probably not such a bad idea.

Do you take a break between manicures?