General Information About Brittle Nails

If you have brittle nails, it is not associated usually with any type of medical condition, but are a common condition. Brittle nails can occur in about twenty percent of people with it happening more in women than in men. These types of nails will usually peel or break off in a horizontal layer and start at the free end of the nails. Some of the symptoms of this condition include nails that easily break and their inability to grow out, and nail tip peeling.

One thing that can cause brittle nails includes aging which slows down the growth of the nail and makes them brittle, yellowish, and dull. This can happen because the natural oils and the flow of moisture to the bed of the nail declines as you age. The brittle nail condition can be made worse by too much or too little moisture.

Some things that encourage dry and cracked brittle nails are dish detergent, dry heat, harsh chemicals, and nail polish remover. The nutrition that is needed for brittle, dry nails need to include a healthy diet and the desire to stay away from junk foods that are high in fat content. If your diet is deficient in calcium or you have inadequate B-complex vitamins this can also contribute to dry brittle nails. You should also make sure that your healthy diet is rich in vitamin C, omega-3, and folic acid.

People with dry brittle nails will see that this condition seems to be worse in the winter time because of the dry heat in the house and the intense washing of your hands to stay healthy. If you just have just a mild case of brittle dry nails, you can use a cosmetic moisturizer to help keep your skin and nails from feeling too dry. When you use this type of moisturizer it can act as a barrier to keep the water from evaporating from your nails.

You should also make sure that you are eating calcium enriched diary foods especially yogurt and milk. You should also include plenty of dark green leafy vegetables, sardines, nuts, and almonds.

Try to keep from biting your nails and make sure that you keep your nails short. To help prevent you from biting your nails, use a dark colored polish to paint your nails because when you bite your nails you will find yourself chipping your nail polish. Try not to use nail polish remover more than once a week because it contains acetone that dry your nails.

‹ Previous Page