One may envy or desire long, stylish nails but unless they are clean underneath, they can be the reason behind a range of bacterial diseases such as diarrhoea. Longer nails harbor more dirt and bacteria than short nails, thus possibly contributing to the spread of infection, says Rajesh U Pandya, Managing Director, KAI India

"Fingernails should be kept short, and the undersides should be cleaned frequently to maintain nail hygiene. At the same time, it is important to keep a tab on how you clean the nails. Unless the means are safe, the process of cleaning hands can cause more damage than good," Pandya told IANSlife.