How to strengthen weak nails naturally. Brittle nails

A thin nail plate is characterized by increased fragility and lamination. These characteristics can be supplemented dull color, tuberosity and slow growth. After analyzing everything possible reasons thinning of the plate, a person can independently formulate a nail treatment plan.

Causes of Soft and Thin Nails on Fingernails and Toenails

To establish the cause of soft fingernails, all their diversity should be differentiated in the following areas:

  • Neglect of its basic rules, failure to comply with hygiene standards during implementation, as well as incorrect removal of material for nail extensions worsens the condition of the nail. The use of varnishes, gels and gel polishes with formaldehyde and nail polish removers with acetone negatively affects the structure of the plate. It can also be damaged by improper use of cuticle files and tools.
  • Household factor. If you use alkaline and acidic products without rubber gloves, your fingernails will noticeably become thinner. Since a high concentration of alkali completely dissolves the plate, a low concentration in household chemical solutions makes the surface of the nail weaker and softer.
  • Frequent exposure to the cold without gloves, as well as insufficient hydration with creams and oils in low humidity conditions makes the plates less nourished and brittle.
  • They can be either accidental or inevitable, for example, when playing a guitar, the plate becomes noticeably deformed. This happens when carrying out many other works.
  • It is the basis of strong plates. Brittle nails - no result balanced nutrition. With a sufficient amount of microelements and vitamins in the diet, nails become resistant to external influences.
  • Diseases endocrine system, biliary tract, gastrointestinal tract or liver lead to a change in the plate due to metabolic disorders and, as a consequence, a negative change in the process of transporting trace elements. Anemia and various dermatological diseases, for example, fungus, hormonal disorders and heavy metal intoxication is the reason why nails are soft and bendy.

How to treat and what to do if your nails are thin, soft and brittle

Recommendations that will help strengthen soft nails are based on the reasons for their structural changes. It is almost impossible to make an existing plate thicker, but growing a healthy one is quite natural. To do this, you must follow the following rules:

  1. Normalize nutrition. basis nail plate keratin is a protein, so it is necessary to calculate the individual amount of protein necessary for the normal functioning of the body. Protein contains meat, fish, legumes and dairy products. Since vitamins A, B, C, E, PP must be present in the diet for the beauty and health of nails, vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts and vegetable oils will help compensate for their deficiency.
  2. Dietary supplements. During the period of vitamin deficiency, you should take a course of bioactive supplements for nails, skin and hair; they combine all the necessary microelements. Preference should be given to the manufacturer natural vitamins, since synthetic ones are not absorbed by the body at all.

Because a thin nail plate is a consequence of improper nail care. Therefore, to restore them you should use nourishing creams, olive, almond, campfire and other oils. You need to make baths with them. To do this, immerse your fingertips in a mixture of several oils for 15 minutes. The procedure must be repeated three times a week for two months.

Help for thin nails may involve the use of special wax. It will strengthen the nail and make it more durable. Should be applied a small amount of wax onto the plate and rub it in in a circular motion with a special nail file.

Those who are looking for an answer to the question of what to do if their nails are thin, soft and brittle should temporarily stop using polishes and gels and give preference pharmaceutical products for growth, strengthening and nutrition of the plate. You should not use quick-drying varnish; it significantly damages your nails. Before applying gel polish, it is necessary to apply a base; it protects the nail from harmful substances of the varnish.

The nail polish remover should contain oils to prevent it from drying out.

Treatment methods

Nails become brittle and thin not only on the hands, but also on the feet. When the reason why the toenails become thin is determined, you can move on to the treatment stage. It can be done by using it to thicken the nail. They contain vitamin B5. protects the plates from negative external influences.

If the base of the nail is soft, then it is necessary to carry out procedures to strengthen the plate. To the number folk remedies include iodine and sea ​​salt. The first one is applied to the surface cotton swab, based on the second one, baths should be made. Her recipe is to dilute 4 tbsp. l. in one liter of water.

To strengthen your nails, you can also make a compress: add 5 g of alum and 25 g of glycerin to 70 g of water. The ingredients are mixed and applied to the nails. Fingers should be covered with compress paper and warm cloth. You need to keep the compress for half an hour, then rinse with warm water.

Thus, to thicken the nail, it is necessary to clarify the cause of its thinning and eliminate it. However, for strong and healthy nails, you should always follow the rules of a balanced diet and manicure.

Photo from the site: forfamilies.ru

What girl doesn’t dream of her hands looking well-groomed and beautiful? This is not the last thing that men pay attention to, so I really want to always keep my hands in perfect order, and perfect manicure– the first thing to do for this. However, it is worth saying that not everyone has correct and correct nails. beautiful shape, but that wouldn’t be so bad, because modern cosmetology literally works wonders. In fact, nails can become thin, brittle, constantly peel and break off, and then appearance your hands are more reminiscent of a schoolgirl after an exam, and not a socialite or business woman. You need to devote enough of your super-precious time to understand why your fingernails break and peel, and therefore look for the reason for this, not at all a joyful phenomenon.

Simple truths: Why do women's toenails break? the body itself will answer

It is clear that fingernails, as well as toenails, are an integral part of the human body, and it is worth understanding that peeling or brittle nail plates are a clear sign the fact that the clearly tuned “mechanism” of our body is malfunctioning somewhere, in some places. Moreover, many are surprised, because in at a young age And good health, a girl’s nails can constantly disappoint with their qualities, which are far from outstanding.

Then the question arises, what can they point to? bad nails and is there any way to combat this? In fact, you can easily and simply find answers to all questions if you delve a little deeper into the study of anatomy, and not like in an institute, but simply at the school curriculum level. Moreover, the question of why women’s fingernails break is so relevant that it is worthwhile for us to dwell on it in more detail.

Worth remembering

If your nails have recently begun to peel and break, and at the same time, you have begun to feel itching and tingling in the area of ​​your fingers or toes, then there is a serious problem that will have to be addressed immediately before it develops into something more. All these signs, as well as redness, peeling, and even an unpleasant, characteristic odor, directly indicate fungal disease, which should be gotten rid of as soon as possible.

Excessively brittle fingernails: the reason may be hidden in many factors

Every day, and moreover, throughout absolutely the entire human life, we are influenced by many factors, which can influence indicators such as dryness and brittleness of hair and nails, the condition of the skin, which can be either oily or dry, and so on. . Moreover, all these factors-indicators n6a can be conditionally divided into two main subcategories:

  • Endogenous factors can affect the fragility and fragility of nails, and this internal problems in organism. It is this option that indicates that something is wrong, and it is worth thinking about proper nutrition, regular physical exercise, as well as consumption of vitamins, trace elements and minerals in sufficient quantities.
  • However, there are also exogenous factors, that is, those reasons that can affect the nail plate, as well as everything else, external influences. For example, environmental pollution, the presence of lead in fruits and vegetables grown within the city, constant stress, and so on, the list could go on for a very long time. For example, your favorite dishwashing detergent, which you use daily without wearing rubber gloves, can have a detrimental effect on your nails.

In order to finally figure out exactly what factors-indicators were the cause, you will have to think carefully, and maybe even turn to a specialist nutritionist or a specialized doctor to check the proper functioning of the organs. However, whatever one may say, if your fingernails break, the reason may be hidden inside your own body, and also directly indicate that it is time to start “fixing” systems that are not working correctly. Moreover, the endogenous aspects are much more serious, because external stimuli are easy to eliminate, but internal ones can really become a real problem.

Why do toenails break? and hands: looking for suitable factors

  • An incorrect diet, as well as incorrectly selected components, that is, in fact, your diet, can cause your fingernails to break and it is quite clear what to do about it. You just have to introduce it into your diet necessary products which will be discussed further, acquire vitamin complexes and mineral supplements, which will help the body “build” the nails correctly.
  • Bad, flaky, and also brittle nails, the reasons for which are unknown, which look more like tissue paper may indicate the presence diabetes mellitus, you should definitely go to your own family doctor so as not to miss the moment when the disease can still be dealt with.
  • Some teenagers who have just entered puberty may also experience symptoms such as brittle and brittle nails.
  • Abrupt changes in climate zones, frequent trips and flights can also adversely affect the condition of nails.
  • For workaholics, even for those who do not put any physical effort into work, the simple question of why nails peel and break indicates constant stress. They say that depressed people also never have well-groomed nails, so you should be more cheerful.
  • As already mentioned, an unhealthy lifestyle, coupled with tobacco products and propaganda everywhere alcoholic drinks, this is also one of the factors that have a bad effect on the condition of the nails.
  • Hormonal as well as a wide variety of endocrine disruptions can also lead to excessive brittleness of nails.

Thus, it turns out that brittle and thin nails, the cause of which may be hidden inside your body, can be put in order only if it is found. Most often, after being treated for an existing disease, many girls were relieved to discover that the condition of their marigolds noticeably improved, and then completely recovered. It turns out that brittle nails, the causes and treatment of which we will consider today, do not have one evil “enemy”, by destroying which you will immediately become the owner of silver claws.

It’s worth balancing the workload, going to work more often fresh air and rest, normalize your diet, and only then pay attention to nail care products, as well as their treatment. In the same way, there can be brittle toenails and the reasons for this lie in the same “places” that we talked about.

Core question: nails peel and break - what to do how to fight and win

It is clear that if the fragility and brittleness of nails is in any way connected with various diseases, then it simply cannot be done without treatment, and it is unlikely that it will be possible to restore nails with external care. Only by qualitatively improving your body and eliminating all traces of the disease can you achieve an excellent result, although even here you will have to try quite a bit. Moreover, everything is simple and understandable, since nails break, there is something missing in the body or there is an excess of these substances, which is also not at all good.

Yours nails are thin, soft, brittle, what to do?? Eliminate the lack of minerals and trace elements

First of all, even experienced specialists check whether your body receives enough various vitamins, microelements, as well as other useful substances, especially if serious problems There are no health problems. Do you want to know what to do when your nails peel and break? All you need to do is simply give the body what it may be missing.

  • Calcium that is real building material for bones, nails and hair in the body, so its deficiency will also necessarily affect the condition of the nails. It is worth making sure that there is plenty of it, and everyone knows foods rich in this amazing substance. Dairy products, for example, cottage cheese and cheese, broccoli, spinach and sesame, chicken eggs, cabbage, peas, nuts - all these are natural sources of calcium and must be consumed.
  • It is also important to provide an influx of magnesium, which is involved in the production of human DNA. It is found in buckwheat and rice, whole grain wheat, bananas, spinach, and so on.
  • Also, to the question of how to treat thin and brittle nails, there is another answer. Surprisingly, your body definitely needs sulfur, and not the kind in hell, but the most ordinary kind, although it has a smell, to be honest, it’s still the same. It is sulfur that is found in almost all proteins. human body. For getting sufficient norm, daily you need to consume sufficient quantities of fish and meat, poultry and a variety of seafood, which6, moreover, are full of iodine. Bread, milk, cheese and radish - all this will become a source of health for your marigolds.
  • How to strengthen your nails so they don't break? Give your body phosphorus, which takes an active part in almost any process in the body. You can replenish it by consuming meat and eggs, seeds, nuts and fish.
  • It is also very important to give your body silicon, which makes up cartilage and connective tissue, hair and the same nails. You can “get” it from carrots and young nettles, onions and radishes, from green lettuce leaves, as well as from forest mushrooms and champignons.

Among other things, if your fingernails are brittle, special specialists will tell you what to do. vitamin complexes, the instructions for which must contain precise dosage instructions and purpose. For example, excessively brittle and peeling nails can be a consequence of a lack of entire groups of vitamins, such as the already mentioned notorious vitamin C, “sunny” D, a whole set of group B (B5, B3, B1), women's vitamin E, as well as “carrot happiness”, vitamin A. Moreover, usually vitamin capsules also contain gelatin, which is also very useful for nails.

Nails peel and break: what to do how to fight and when to expect results

If you finally understand that no matter what you give your body as food, no matter how hard you try, you will protect your hands, as well as your nails, from contact with a harmful environment, for example, caustic household chemicals, the problem remains. There are still very brittle nails, and it is completely unclear what to do. There are a couple of folk care products that will definitely help cope with the problem, according to at least, it definitely won't do any harm.

  • Per hundred grams olive oil You will need to add about ten drops of fresh lemon juice. After generously lubricating your nails with the resulting solution, put cotton gloves on your hands. This procedure is best done at night, and it doesn’t hurt to leave the mixture until the morning.
  • If you don’t have lemon on hand, you can use apple cider vinegar, then even if your nails are brittle and peeling, you won’t have to ask what to do. You will have to dilute the oil and vinegar one to one.
  • Any vegetable oil, be it olive, sunflower or sesame, you need to warm it up a little, and then add from five to ten drops of iodine, depending on the quantity. By doing baths every morning and evening for just twenty minutes, in just three days you will see the results for yourself.

It is worth understanding that external problems will be quite easy to solve, but if a disease has crept into your body and is cunningly waiting for the right moment, you should definitely think about it. Problems with nails may indicate some kind of disease, so you should not neglect such signs. Consult a doctor, and if everything is in order, only then calmly proceed to simple and high-quality care.

Brittle weak thin nails. Strengthening fragile nails

Strengthening brittle nails includes nourishing them with nail oil and medicated cuticle cream. When applying oil Special attention is applied to the contour of the nail, and the cuticle product is rubbed into the base of the nail in a circular motion thumb other hand. In this case, the softened cuticle can be gently pushed back with an orange stick, allowing the nail to “breathe.” The composition of ready-made products for strengthening nails is very different. Allantoin and panthenol effectively heal the cuticle, especially after trimmed manicure. Liposomes and nutrients stimulate the formation of new cells in the growth area of ​​the nail plate to enhance nail growth. Creams may also contain sulfur amino acids and keratin, proteins and vitamin C, which help strengthen nails and improve their resistance. harmful effects environment.


To strengthen fragile and brittle nails, you can take baths of warm vegetable oil with the addition of vitamin A, 3 drops of iodine or 5 drops of lemon juice 1-2 times a week. It is necessary to regularly rub into the nail plate and surrounding skin. nail bed, lemon juice, table vinegar, cranberry juice. If possible, after 1–2 days you need to make warm baths of sea or table salt. “Thimbles” made from beeswax, which is heated in a water bath and the fingertips are dipped into it. For achievement lasting effect for 1-2 months it is useful to take complexes of vitamins and minerals for hair and nails, such as Rivolit, Nutricap, Merz, Zinc, selenium, silicon, sulfur as part of dietary supplements.

To strengthen the nails themselves, you can use paraffin baths and strengthening varnishes. Calcium varnishes will help brittle nails. If the nail is already broken, it is enough to cover the crack with a special material for sealing nails, and apply a regular base coat or polish on top. special gel for artificial nails.

Recipes for treating and strengthening brittle and thin nails

Recipes against brittle nails:

  • Baths of heated vegetable oil with the addition of liquid vitamin And lemon juice. It is advisable to do it 2 times a week.
  • Every other day, do lemon “baths”. You need to cut the lemon in half and dip your fingertips into each half for 10 minutes. Course – 2 weeks.
  • Twice a week, give your nails an evening bath of heated olive oil with the addition of 3-5 drops of iodine. Dip your fingers in the oil for 15 minutes, then wipe them and avoid contact with water for several hours.
  • Vegetable oil baths and apple cider vinegar, mixed in equal parts.
  • Nourishing ointment for nails based on wax. Boil the egg hard. Take out the yolk and mash it. Add 4 g of beeswax, melted in a water bath, to the yolk and add Peach oil until the mixture thickens to the consistency of an ointment. Use ointment every evening.
  • Sometimes brittle nails are associated with a lack of certain microelements and vitamins in the body. In such cases you need to eat more fresh vegetables and cottage cheese. And from plants you can make a tea that strengthens nails: nettle - 1 part, shepherd's purse - 1 part, creeping wheatgrass rhizome - 2 parts, gray alder fruit - 1 part, black elderberry flowers - 3 parts. Pour 1 teaspoon of the collection with a glass of boiling water, leave in a thermos for 6-8 hours, strain, take 1/2 cup 3-4 times a day for 10 days.
  • Make an infusion of elm leaves and give your nails daily baths.
  • Equal parts vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar. Course 2-3 weeks, daily, 10 minutes. Then apply universal nail cream
  • Pour vegetable oil into a glass, mix with a few drops of lemon juice. And every evening, before going to bed, hold your hands in it. To make the product even more effective, do not wash it off, put on cotton gloves and leave it on all night.

Tips for strengthening thin, brittle nails at home

When you boil potatoes, do not pour out the broth. After finishing all your household chores, hold your hands in it for 5-10 minutes. And then lubricate with cream.

Unfortunately, peeling nails are a problem familiar to many. Salt baths are very useful to strengthen them. You just need regular sea salt, without all kinds of aromatic additives that are fashionable today. Dissolve in warm water teaspoon of salt (without a slide) and hold your hands for 20 minutes. The procedure is repeated for 10 days in a row. After a month it can be repeated. Well, for prevention, it’s enough to take a salt bath once a week.

Thin, easily broken nails will become stronger if you rub lemon juice or vegetable oil into them. Also try, at least temporarily, not to deal with washing powders.

Sometimes brittle nails are associated with a lack of certain vitamins in the body. In such cases, you need to eat more fresh vegetables and cottage cheese. And from plants you can make a tea that strengthens nails: nettle - 1 part, shepherd's purse - 1 part, creeping wheatgrass rhizome - 2 parts, gray alder fruit - 1 part, black elderberry flowers - 3 parts. Pour 1 teaspoon of the collection with a glass of boiling water, leave in a thermos for 6-8 hours, strain, take half a glass 3-4 times a day for 10 days.

If your nails are peeling, wipe them daily with a special lotion. At night, lubricate your hands and nails with any nourishing cream.

The ideal natural hand care product is regular lemon. Lemon juice improves the structure of nails, perfectly softens the skin around them and, in addition, has a whitening effect. Cut a lemon in half and soak your nails in the pulp, then massage them for a few minutes by rolling the lemon halves inside. Cut off the softened cuticles.


Special keratin additives have a strengthening effect on nails. It is recommended to apply lotions and creams with such additives after each hand washing or at least twice a day. Warm baths with various softening additives relieve stress from your hands.

Particular attention should be paid to the cuticle. For a long time it was removed mechanically, but now there are more soft ways, allowing you to avoid wounds and, consequently, infections. Cuticle cutting is not recommended. It is better to use a special gel, cream or oil before the bath to soften the cuticle, and then gently push it with an orange wood stick to the edges of the nail. Another remedy for treating the skin at the base of the nail is special liquid for the cuticle, which inhibits the growth of epithelial cells.

For fragile and weak nails, there are special creams that strengthen the nail plate.

Lumpy, broken, split nails look ugly. Nevertheless, this is often caused not by a serious general illness, but by the most ordinary housework, their usual - but endless - contact with alkaline agents. Therefore, protection in the form of gloves is as necessary for nails as for the skin of the hands.

Even if you apply a colorless base varnish or liquid fixative to your nails, they will have at least some kind of protective film that will protect them from delamination.

To get rid of this problem, you need to find the cause of its occurrence.

Nails can be called a natural formation that has a dual function: protective and aesthetic. On the one hand, the nail plates protect the fingertips from adverse physical effects, on the other hand, they decorate them. Often we even subconsciously evaluate another person by the condition of their hair, skin and nails. Neatly trimmed, well-groomed nails without visible damage definitely add several points in other people’s assessment of us. However, problems with nails can occur. Then the nail plate often does not look aesthetically pleasing and cannot fully perform the protective function assigned to it.

A variety of defects in the nail plate are possible: changes in color, thickness and structure, etc. A fairly common nail problem is hapalonychia.

What is hapalonychia?

Hapalonychia is softening nail plates, which leads to their excessive fragility. Along with softening, thinning of the nails is also often observed. Both the thickness and softness of the nail depend on the state of the matrix from which the plate is formed. Hapalonychia occurs when various reasons the structure of the tissue of the nail plate changes, becoming more loose and brittle.

Hapalonychia true and acquired

This disorder can develop due to endogenous (internal) and exogenous (external) factors. In this regard, this disorder is divided into:

  • True hapalonychia, developed as a result of endogenous factors
  • Acquired hapalonychia, the impetus for its formation was exogenous factors.
Most often, the appearance of true hapalonychia is caused by:
  • Chronic diseases such as arthritis.
  • Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Hereditary predisposition.
  • Peripheral vascular diseases.
  • Diseases thyroid gland.
  • Poor nutrition, which leads to a lack of vitamins and microelements necessary for the normal condition of nails. Softening of the nails often occurs if the body does not have enough vitamins A and B, as well as calcium, iron and sulfur.
Factors contributing to the appearance of false hapalonychia include:
  • Long-term exposure to aggressive chemicals on the nail.
  • Trauma to the nail plate.
  • Improper care nail care, in particular improper manicure.
Find and eliminate the cause!

If you notice that your nails have become too soft and brittle, you need to find out the cause of this disorder. This is very important because the ways to deal with the problem will differ depending on what exactly triggered its occurrence. To find out, you should consult a doctor. He will help you find the cause and think through a set of measures aimed at eliminating this nail defect.

It would not be amiss to analyze the reasons for the appearance of such a defect in the nail plates yourself:

  • Consider whether your nails have been in contact with harmful substances . They may have suffered from frequent contact with detergents. To avoid this, do everything homework gloved. They will protect your nails from aggressive substances.
  • You may have recently injured your nail plate. In this case, over time the nail will grow back and everything will return to normal.
  • You often paint your nails and use false nails. These procedures can harm the structure of the nail plate. Varnishes and false nails made from low-quality materials can cause negative action, in which nails may change color, become thinner, soften and become more brittle. The first thing to do in this case is to give up these manicure manipulations for a while. You can also use special cosmetical tools to restore the structure of the nail plate.
  • Pay attention to nutrition. If you eat few vegetables and fruits, and abuse fatty, overly sweet, refined foods, then it is likely that nail problems arose as a result of a lack of vitamins and microelements. Problems with nails caused by diet are often seasonal, because in winter and spring we especially often “deprive” ourselves. If you suspect that poor nutrition is the cause of problems with your nails, adjust the menu.
  • Find out about the condition of nails from relatives. If your ancestors had hapalonychia, then there is a high chance that you will have it too. This doesn't mean you have to sit idly by. But when taking measures to restore the condition of nails, it is worth making an adjustment “for genes”.
  • Pay attention to whether you have chronic diseases. Many indolent chronic diseases affect metabolism and provoke dysfunction in different parts body. If you know that you have such a chronic disease, then pay attention to its course. Get tested, do others diagnostic studies to find out the state of health in this moment. If abnormalities in the nail plates are caused by a chronic disease, then it must be treated first.

Take care of your nails and be healthy!

Your hands often indicate your age, and your nails can do this too. If you look at the nails of babies and children, you can see that their color and texture most likely do indicate good health. As we age, the health of our nails may vary, but we can definitely strengthen them and improve their appearance at any point in life.

So, how and with what to strengthen your nails? We are happy to tell you that there are many natural and effective ways to improve the health of dry, brittle nails with or without streaks and bumps. But before we look at treatments, let's first look at the causes, symptoms and risk factors.

What are brittle nails?

Your fingernails and toenails are made of layers of a protein called keratin. Healthy nails are smooth and strong and have a healthy coloration. Sometimes healthy nails may become brittle, brittle, thin, dry, stained or discolored.

Brittle fingernails are usually noticed much earlier than brittle toenails, but fingernails and toenails can become brittle for a variety of reasons. Brittle nails, also called onychorrhexis, are estimated to be quite common. In fact, it is estimated to affect around 20% of the population. Women tend to struggle with brittle nails more than men. When you have thin, dry, brittle nails, they are in a weakened state and tend to crack, peel, and break off.

Signs and symptoms of brittle nails

If you've ever wondered, "Why do my nails break so easily?", it may be because they are fragile. When your fingernails are brittle, there are several signs and symptoms to look for:

  • nails tend to crack at the ends
  • peeling at the tips of the nails
  • easy deterioration, cracking or chipping
  • longitudinal grooves (stripes)
  • difficulty growing long nails

Causes and risk factors

What is the cause of brittle nails? Brittle nails may simply be the result of aging, repeated or prolonged exposure to water and chemicals (such as cleaners), using nail polish remover, and/or wearing nail polish for long periods of time. In many cases, all of these reasons can easily be accomplished at the same time.

Very brittle nails can also be caused by:

  • fungal nail infection (onychomycosis)
  • a skin condition that can affect the nails (lichen planus)
  • nail psoriasis
  • reactive arthritis (less common cause)

When a person has a thyroid disorder, they may experience symptoms such as brittle nails and hair loss. Thyroid problems are more common in women, and hypothyroidism is especially known for causing brittle nails. Hypothyroidism means that the thyroid gland does not produce enough of the hormones it should, and this can cause your metabolism (metabolism) to slow down. According to an article published Harvard Medical School When metabolism slows down, then the body sweats less. Since sweat is the body's natural moisturizer, less sweat can lead to dry skin and brittle nails.

When it comes to nail health, people often look for search engines on the Internet - “what vitamins do nails lack?” Does this mean your brittle nails may be caused by a vitamin deficiency? According to , internal diseases or vitamin deficiencies are indeed often associated with brittle nails. However, if a vitamin deficiency is responsible for your brittle nails, then which vitamins are you missing? In fact, most often the body experiences not a deficiency of vitamins, but a deficiency of one famous mineral, called "iron". So this means that people with iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia may be more likely to have brittle nails. Another interesting advice American Osteopathic College of Dermatology is that if your fingernails seem weak, but your toenails seem completely healthy and strong, then it is more likely external cause brittle nails.

In addition to iron deficiency, there are other risk factors:

  • frequent hand washing
  • sunburn
  • chapped hands
  • prolonged exposure to cold, dry weather
  • exposure to chemicals such as nail polish remover
  • repeated damage or trauma to the nail

Have you noticed what all these risk factors can lead to? Apart from physical damage, all of these factors can easily lead to moisture deficiency.

Sometimes the nails may be brittle, thin and dry, and may have grooves and bumps. Vertical grooves tend to be more common with age and can also be the result of injury. In other cases, grooves and bumps can also indicate other health problems occurring within the body.

Standard treatment

There are certain similarities between traditional methods and natural treatments for brittle nails. There are no fundamental medical reasons(eg, thyroid problems), the most common routine prevention and treatment for brittle nails is to reduce exposure to water and irritants, and moisturize your nails and hands on a regular basis. Additionally, wearing protective gloves when nails must be exposed to water for long periods time can help protect them. A great example of using gloves where it can really help is when washing dishes.

8 Natural Treatments for Brittle Nails

If you have brittle fingernails, what should you do and what methods can really help? Here is a selection effective solutions this problem.

1. Reduce exposure to water

Regular washing of dishes, wet cleaning and cooking really tires your hands and nails. The good news is that you can always invest in a quality pair of protective gloves, which can help prevent and repair brittle nails. Wearing gloves while doing household chores, especially those involving hot water and soap, can really go a long way in keeping your nails from drying out, cracking, and becoming brittle.

2. Stay hydrated

Among the remedies for brittle nails, special attention should be paid to water. While you can avoid exposure too large quantity water on your hands, you definitely shouldn't neglect drinking water internally. Hydration of the body by drinking enough water as well as moisture-rich foods healthy products, such as watermelon and cucumbers, is in a great way moisturize your nails, skin and hair from the inside out.

3. Use natural hand cream

You can also strengthen brittle fingernails by moisturizing them every time you wash and dry your hands. To make this easy to remember, try keeping any natural hand moisturizer by your sink so you can quickly and easily apply it every time you wash your hands.

4. Avoid using caustic nail polish remover

Most nail polish removers contain chemical substances which tend to dry out fingernails and toenails. Nail polish remover often contains highly toxic chemicals, including acetone, formaldehyde, toluene and phthalates. Not only do nail polish removers negatively impact the health of your nails, but they can also harm your reproductive system and cause organ toxicity. They can also irritate the skin, eyes and lungs.

Fortunately, there are now many alternative natural nail polish removers that you can purchase in online stores. It is natural nail polish removers that can quickly cure your weak, brittle nails (if, of course, you paint your nails and use traditional nail polish removers).

5. Broccoli seed oil

Nail treatments can be very simple. To give your nails and cuticles a truly healthy, natural boost, try using broccoli seed oil. Made from young broccoli sprouts, this oil is rich in essential fatty acids that are great for skin, hair and nails. Simply apply a smaller drop of broccoli seed oil directly to each nail and rub it into the nail and cuticle. It's a good habit to do this at night before bed so you can wake up with more hydrated nails and cuticles in the morning. Coconut oil and argan oil are other topical therapeutic oil options that can be used similarly to broccoli seed oil to treat brittle fingernails.

6. Biotin

If your nails are brittle and flaky, try biotin (vitamin B7 or vitamin H). According to research, taking biotin supplements can help treat weak, brittle nails. Biotin's ability to strengthen weak nails was identified after biotin was given to horses to improve the condition of their hooves. In fact, it is not necessary to consider taking biotin supplements. It is very easy to get enough of it from food. Here is a list of foods that contain significant amounts of biotin:

  • almond
  • sweet potato (yam)
  • tomato

7. Vitamin E

Remedies for brittle nails include: nutrient and an antioxidant like vitamin E. Vitamin E capsules are not expensive and can be effective way help your nails. The thick liquid that comes out of the vitamin E capsule is the ideal remedy for brittle nails. You just need to puncture one of the capsules and apply a little oil directly to each nail. This is a light but very powerful and rejuvenating treatment for brittle nails.

8. Avoid using false nails

According to American Academy of Dermatology: “Do not wear artificial nails to hide nail problems as they can make the problem worse. Artificial nails Not recommended for people who are prone to fungal infections or have brittle nails.”

Precautionary measures

Some changes to your nails don't mean anything serious, but in other cases certain changes may require medical care. According to Mayo Clinic You should consult your dermatologist or doctor if you see any of the following:

  • Changes in nail color, such as discoloration of the entire nail plate or dark stripe under the nail.
  • Changes in the shape of the nails, such as curling.
  • Thinning or thickening of nails.
  • Swelling or pain around the nails.
  • Separating the nail from the surrounding skin.
  • Bleeding around the nails.

Final Thoughts

More often than not, brittle fingernails are just a nuisance. However, it could also be a sign that something is wrong with your health. Dry, thin, brittle nails can be caused by iron deficiency and thyroid disease, so it's important to consider whether you have any other health problems and, if you do, you should definitely see a doctor.

If your brittle fingernails are simply the result of old habits, such as using chemical nail polish removers and not wearing rubber gloves on your hands when doing household chores, you now know exactly how, starting today, you can improve the condition by strengthening nails using the above methods. As we get older, our nails can be another indicator of how many candles were on our last birthday cake, but with some attention (mainly in the form of moisture), our nails can actually recover and be healthy throughout our life. life.