Welcome to Ask Healthy Living -- in which you submit your most burning health questions and we do our best to ask the experts and get back to you. Get in touch here and you could appear on Healthy Living! "Ask Healthy Living" is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified health care professional for personalized medical advice. Why are my nails so brittle and break so easily? And how can I fix it? Brittle nails, or onychorrhexis, is a very common condition, affecting about 20 percent of the population and disproportionately common in women. It's characterized by easy breakage -- either splits lengthwise or nails that easily "peel" across from corner to corner. Nails get brittle with age, which is the most common cause of the condition, according to an NYU Medical Center explanation on the subject. But there can be underlying conditions that affect the structural quality of the nail. These range from relatively harmless issues like nails that are exposed for too long to water, soap or detergent -- to evidence of serious underlying conditions, like hypothyroidism, an endocrine disorder or malnutrition, NYU further reported.
The trick is to determine if a change in nail quality -- thickness or even color -- has occurred, a sign of a more serious condition. "Nails often reflect our general state of health. Changes in the nail, such as discoloration or thickening, can signal health problems, including liver and kidney diseases, heart and lung conditions, anemia and diabetes," reads the American Academy of Dermatology's literature on the subject. "Symptoms that could signal nail problems include changes in color, shape, and/or thickness, swelling of the skin around the nails, bleeding or discharge, and pain." Lifestyle factors -- like water exposure and prolonged, non-stop nail polish use -- are easy enough to alter. If those have been ruled out -- or if brittle nails are one of a constellation of symptoms -- it's important to see a doctor for testing. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologists are the appropriate specialists to see with nail complaints, as about 10 percent of dermatological complaints are nail problems.
Conditions we more often associate with skin, like psoriasis, can also cause brittle nails. Some companies sell vitamins that are meant to help strengthen nails, most notably using a b-complex vitamin called biotin, but there is very little evidence to suggest that these vitamins actually improve brittle nails. That's largely because biotin deficiency is extremely rare and so very few cases of nail brittleness are caused by it. So what to do? Practice good nail hygiene, with plenty of time in between nail polish applications and gentle soaps and detergents. See a specialist if the problem persists. For a list of warning signs that it's time to ask a doctor about the condition, have a look at the National Institutes of Health website on the subject. The page you have attempted to reach is no longer available. If this is a page you have "bookmarked" or added to your "favorites", please be sure to update the link accordingly. We apologize for any inconvenience. « Back to the previous page |
Go to the homepage » There are many supplements marketed for strengthening nails, but the only significant evidence to-date is for supplementing with biotin (vitamin B-7). A small, but controlled, study among women with brittle nails found that a daily dose of 2,500 mcg of biotin for 6 to 9 months increased nail thickness by 25% and reduced the tendency of nails to split (Columbo, J Am Acad Dermatol 1990). Biotin does not, however, further strengthen healthy nails. 's tests of biotin supplements are found in the Product Review of B Vitamins. Some preliminary studies also suggest improvement in brittle nails supplementing with 10 to 30 mL daily of colloidal silicon (silicic acid, trademarked Silicol) or 10 mg daily of orthosilicic acid. Adequate intake of vitamins and minerals facilitates nail health, but there is no evidence that normal nails are affected by supplementing with gelatin, collagen, cystine, L-methionine, keratin, pantothenic acid, salt, millet, yeast, or chromium, or with formulas containing these ingredients (Scheinfeld J Drugs Dermatol 2007).
What vitamins should you take to strengthen brittle nails? Vitamins and minerals that strengthen brittle nails include iron and zinc. Vitamin B12 also promotes healthy, strong nails. Zinc, iron and vitamin B12 are available in dietary supplements and occur naturally in many foods. What vitamins strengthen nails? What causes brittle nails? What are some treatments for brittle nails? Iron strengthens brittle nails caused by iron deficiency. Leafy greens, nuts and red meat contain high levels of this mineral. Discolored, brittle nails are a symptom of B12 deficiency. Dietary sources of vitamin B12 include cheese and eggs. Vitamin B12 is also available in tablet and liquid form. Moisture is also essential for maintaining strong nails. Adequate hydration and frequent moisturization help nails stay strong and healthy. Learn more about Nail Care What are the top treatments for brittle nails? Brittle nails are often characterized by dryness, splitting, and cracking.
Brittle nails are generally thought to be caused by a lack of moisture or protei... How do you get long nails? Diet can be adjusted to include more protein, zinc, iron and biotin to speed up the growth of nails. Increased blood flow to the fingers speeds up growth a... Why are my nails peeling? Causes for peeling nails include doing extra chores with hands, exposing nails to chemicals, yeast infection, low protein levels, lack of amino acids, medi... Is lobster healthy to eat? Lobster is healthy to eat in moderation because it contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, vitamin B6, vitamin E, potassium, zinc, phosphorous an... What are some types of toenail dremels? What is a gel manicure kit? How long are vitamins still good after the expiration date? How do mobile manicures work? What vitamins are in apples?No matter how many vitamins I take, my fingernails always seem to break so easily. It makes it nearly impossible to ever grow them, plus it can be painful when they catch on things and tear.
I’ve been looking into what I can do to make them stronger and have found quite a few remedies that I wanted to share here on the blog today – if you have any of your own tried-and-true remedies, please share in the comments! For starters, when filing your nails, only file in one direction – NOT back and forth. I never knew this, but filing back and forth can worsen damaged nails and cause splitting. Certain oils are great for strengthening your nails – particularly olive oil, vitamin E oil and tea tree oil! Olive oil is extremely moisturizing and easily absorbed into the skin and nails. Soak your nails in a dish of olive oil for about 20 minutes once a week, or every day for a few minutes, to feel its full affect. Tea tree oil is a powerful antiseptic that can remedy discolored nails and prevent fungus, in addition to repairing and strengthening damaged nails. Lastly, vitamin E oil is another great moisturizer that is rich in antioxidants and also has the added benefit of a very light scent.
Apply it to your nails and cuticles and soak up its restorative properties! Moisturizing your nails is just as important as moisturizing your skin – but it’s not something I ever think to do. Washing your hands can really dry out your nails, and keeping them moisturized is one of the easiest ways to keep them strong and healthy. Vaseline is an excellent way to keep them moisturized. Massage it into the nails to get the blood circulating, and if you have really dry and damaged nails, put on a pair of gloves after applying the Vaseline to lock in the moisture (many recommend doing this before bed and sleeping with gloves on). Nails contain a lot of sulfur, and another way to strengthen them is to eat foods that are also high in sulfur – like broccoli, onions, and garlic. The sulfur in these foods will not only help to repair nails but will give them added shine. Do you have any tips for strengthening nails? Share in the comments! Jewelry pictured: Assorted Cluster Brass Bracelet, Trapped Crystal Cuff, Filagree Skinny Hard Bangle Set, Stacking Ring Set, Smokey Mountain Stone Ring, Novelty Flip Ring.