Soft, brittle, or splitting nails may be a sign of an underlying disease or deficiency. What are the causes of brittle nails? Tips and remedies to regain healthy nails.
The weakened nails are manifested by a split and soft in appearance, they can be brittle. These symptoms may be a sign of illness, deficiency, excess stress or other underlying causes. Identifying them helps to heal the nails. What a deficiency cause brittle nails? How to treat them? What are the treatments against brittle nails? Advice.
Definition: what are brittle nails?
Nails are mostly made up of keratin. The growth is about 5 mm per month for the nails of the hands. It is slower for toenails. Nails are part of the appendages (composed of nails, hair and teeth). Damage to the nail matrix can permanently deform it. The nail, like the hair, is made up of several layers of keratin, a fibrous protein that protects them from daily physical or chemical attacks. Nails in poor health are therefore nails whose keratin is weakened.
What are the signs of brittle nails?
Several symptoms can appear on the nails. They can be soft and break easily. They can split, distort or even have stains or streaks. Aging naturally weakens the nails.
What are the causes of brittle nails?
► The porous nature of the nail makes it particularly sensitive to water that causes keratin plaques to swell and separate them from each other. The nails therefore become soft and split.
► The chemical products such as detergents attack and deteriorate the top layer of the nail which becomes brittle.
► Some people stressed have a habit of biting their nails, which promotes their duplication.
► Infectious attacks such as fungal infections can cause spots and streaks on the nails. They then thicken and may change color. THE chronic smoking also causes staining of the nails.
► The pregnancy can also change the appearance of the nails.
“Watch out for some nail prosthesis techniques which, repeated too often, weaken the natural nails” warns Dr Anne-Christine Della Valle, general practitioner.
What deficiency causes brittle nails?
The states of fatigue are often accompanied by deficiencies in iron, zinc and B vitamins manifested by brittle nails.
What diseases damage the nails?
Diseases that can manifest as nail damage are hypothyroidism, anemia or anorexia. Cancer treatments are also responsible for weakening the nails.
► The yeastrich in vitamin B8, is an excellent solution for strengthening soft and brittle nails.
► regular nail massages with castor oil will also bring visible results fairly quickly.
► “THE food supplements based on zinc and vitamin B8 allow a good reinforcement of the appendages” says Dr. Della Valle.
► Protect your hands by wearing gloves when using household products.
► Occasionally apply varnish hardener are tips that will allow you to spare your nails in order to prevent them from becoming soft.
► The longer the nails, the more fragile they become and tend to split. To maintain them well, remember to file them regularly with cardboard filessofter and more respectful of the structure of the nail than nail clippers.