Brittle Fingernails – Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Brittle fingernails

In modern society, well-groomed fingernails are increasingly seen as an essential part of one’s appearance. However, the aspect of health should not be neglected in the context of one’s own self-portrayal. For example, brittle fingernails can be a first sign of an underlying disease.

What are brittle fingernails?

Brittle fingernails are often seen as a phenomenon that affects more and more people. In modern medicine, a fingernail is basically referred to as a milky sheet of keratin. As a rule, a healthy fingernail is relatively insensitive. It can therefore also withstand greater loads.

On the other hand, brittle fingernails are very soft. As a result, the fingernails of the affected patients break off relatively quickly. In addition, brittle fingernails do not grow particularly quickly.

causes

Basically, brittle fingernails can appear as a result of excessive hand hygiene. The natural fat content of the nails is often significantly disturbed by the ingredients of the soaps used. Even special creams can only normalize the fat content of the fingernails again in very few cases.

In this case, the affected patients repeatedly complain about relatively dry nails. Brittle fingernails can also appear as a result of incorrectly applied cosmetic products. Since various nail polish removers in particular are repeatedly enriched with acetone, the fingernails can become brittle.

In addition to the factors already mentioned, diet is also responsible for the occurrence of brittle fingernails. In order to reliably prevent brittle fingernails, you should always pay attention to a balanced diet . The vitamin biotin in particular is largely responsible for the growth of fingernails. In modern medicine, stress and hormonal fluctuations are also seen as other causes of brittle fingernails.

diagnosis and course

If there is a first suspicion of brittle fingernails, a specialist doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. Only he can tackle a holistic nail diagnosis. However, since brittle fingernails are not a complex clinical picture, a professional nail salon can also be visited for the diagnosis.

The affected patients usually notice brittle fingernails relatively late. The slow growth of the fingernails, among other things, is responsible for the sometimes late diagnosis. Only if brittle fingernails are diagnosed as early as possible is there a relatively high chance of complete healing.

treatment and therapy

Brittle fingernails basically require the development of a targeted therapy. Various products can be purchased both in the pharmacy and in the drugstore. If brittle fingernails have been diagnosed, concentrated biotin can be used to treat the symptoms, among other things. The vitamin is usually offered in the form of capsules.

However, therapy with biotin not only alleviates the symptoms. Following therapy with biotin, the body can absorb and process vitamin H more easily. Vitamin H is largely responsible for supplying the fingernails with nutrients and trace elements . According to a recent study, brittle fingernails can become noticeably harder as part of therapy with biotin.

However, the therapy should extend over a period of at least three months. As an alternative to therapy with biotin, treatment with special nail hardeners can also be considered. The special paints can be purchased in cosmetic studios as well as in drugstores. During the therapy, the brittle fingernails are noticeably hardened with small diamond pigments.

In addition to the chemical preparations, the natural preparations in particular are enjoying growing popularity. Brittle fingernails are best treated with a warm hand bath in olive oil. The warm oil makes the nails particularly supple and also gives them a special shine. If desired, the warm oil can be mixed with a small pinch of fine sand. The fine sand acts like a natural scrub. In order to prevent brittle fingernails from appearing in the first place, a particularly high degree of attention is paid to the aspect of prevention.

prevention

Brittle fingernails are best prevented by not using nail clippers. If nail clippers are used anyway, even the smallest cracks can lead to brittle fingernails.

The often recommended chopsticks made of rosewood should also not be used as part of a manicure. If your own fingernails need to be cleaned, we recommend using a soft fingernail brush.

In addition, the fingernails should be trimmed at regular intervals. After cutting, the fingernails can be processed with a relatively soft glass file. Brittle fingernails can also be effectively prevented by using a special nail oil.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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