They protect the ends of the fingers and toes from injury. They help you pick up things. They also come in handy when you have an itch that needs to be scratched.

Indeed, nails help us perform many tasks but they’re also the subject of many myths and misconceptions. Strange as it sounds, when it comes to nail care, a lot of people are in the dark and know more about Dr. Phil than they do about their very own nails!

To clear up whatever misconceptions you have about your nails, read the article below courtesy of Somasin AFS, nature’s answer to stubborn fungal nail infections that are difficult to treat. Somasin is made from a unique herbal blend that will restore your nail’s healthy shine and luster in just seven days.

Nail hardeners and gelatin will strengthen nails. False. Commercial nail hardeners do contain ingredients that strengthen the nails. But by doing so, they also make the nails less flexible and prone to break more easily. Since the nails take a lot of pressure in daily life from activities like housework, dishwashing, and gardening, they can benefit from moisturizers that contain petrolatum or mineral oil.

“The best way to grow strong nails is to make sure that they are kept moisturized. Because nails take a lot of abuse in daily life and are repeatedly exposed to harsh detergents and chemicals that can dry them out, it's important to keep them moisturized. Most nail polish removers are alcohol based, so it is especially important to moisturize after removing nail polish,” said Anthony J. Jannetti in “Nail care myths and facts” in the Third Age web site.

As for gelatin, it has no effect on nail growth and strength. This was an advertising campaign that began in the 1890s when Charles Knox created gelatin from leftover slaughterhouse waste. Knox claimed that this waste material would strengthen nails since cow’s hooves were strong. Unfortunately, it doesn’t so even if you eat a truckload of Jell-O, your nails will still become chapped and brittle if they’re constantly exposed to water. Wearing gloves makes more sense.

Push your cuticles back to help your nails grow. False. This is a bad idea since you can injure the cuticle and expose the nail to a host of problems including nasty bacterial and fungal infections. For your safety, don’t touch that cuticle!

"The cuticle is a barrier that protects the skin and the delicate nail matrix, or 'root' of the nail. Pushing back on the cuticle can injure it and expose the paronychium, or skin fold around the nail, to bacteria and result in infection,” said Dr. Marta VanBeek, assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City.

Artificial nails are good for you. False. Another bad idea if you have brittle nails or recurrent fungal infections since they can worsen these conditions. When worn continuously, artificial nails can trap moisture, making them a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. They can also cause allergic reactions in some people.

“People with brittle nails should minimize the amount of trauma associated with removing or changing artificial nails. Chemicals used to dissolve the bond between artificial nails and the nail plate can dry out the nail and damage the nail if used too frequently. For people with healthy nails, artificial nails can be fine as long as they are not worn continuously," VanBeek said.

If you’re sick of fungal nail infections and are worried about expensive oral antifungal drugs and their side effects, try Somasin AFS, an all-natural herbal formula that will bring back your beautiful nails. Check out http://www.somasin.com for more information.