Brittle nails
Beauty tips for beautiful nails
After brittle nails come beautiful nails – thanks to the right care.
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Say goodbye to thin, soft and brittle nails – these simple tips will make your nails shine again.
Which woman does not know it, splintering, brittle fingernails? An annoying topic that demands a lot from some people. It is particularly painful when you get caught on your own clothing and the nail tears or splinteres.
Even if you would like to hide your brittle fingernails: You don’t have to, because these tips will help you to overcome brittle nails – including optimal hand care.
Goodbye brittle nails: How to properly care for your nails
To give your nails the care they need, we recommend these tips. You can easily implement them in order not to suffer from thin and brittle nails in the first place, or use the tips sensibly if your nails are already brittle.
- One balanced nutrition is probably the most important thing for strong nails. Nails are made of keratin, which is obtained through a balanced, protein-rich diet. The following foods could therefore be on your menu: tomatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, pumpkin seeds, eggs, fish, bananas, carrots, broccoli and meat.
- If you suffer from a vitamin or mineral deficiency, the additional intake of dietary supplements such as biotin, Zinc- and iron tablets.
- nail care: Pay attention to a rich care by for example agran oil. Aggressively biting or ripping the cuticles does not make unsightly nails better, quite the opposite. The best thing against brittle nails: use a nail file to trim nails instead of one nail scissors. One litter Glass- or sand sheet file is particularly suitable for this.
- Special paint: This nail polish contains silicic acid and sulfur and provides the nails with the nutrients they need. The nail polish helps brittle nails, reduces nail splitting, improves the appearance and promotes nail growth.
- Waterproof and breathable Gloves prevent constant contact with water and thus avoid soft and brittle nails. However, if you have come into contact with water and chemicals, you should keep your hands clean moisturizing ointment cream.
- healing clay helps against brittle nails, especially as a hand pack or bath.
- After the bath, your hands are also happy about one nourishing cream.
- Almond-, apricot and olive oil are particularly suitable for regular nail care because they strengthen the nail strength.
- Silica D 12 recommended against brittle nails from homeopathy.
- Schuessler salts Number 3, 5, 8 or 10 can also help. Talk to an experienced naturopath in advance about the selection and dosage.
Brittle nails: what types of nail breakage are there?
You are not alone with this beauty problem, many people suffer from brittle nails from time to time. Depending on the species, experts distinguish between onychoschisis and onychorrhexis.
Onychoschisis is when the nail splits horizontally and in layers from the edge. If the nails splinter longitudinally, i.e. vertically, this is called onychorrhexis.
How do brittle nails develop?
There are many causes of brittle, brittle nails. Possible triggers are:
- vitamin deficiency: If you mainly have thin and brittle nails, a vitamin deficiency could be the main reason. Perhaps you are missing vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, biotin or folic acid? They cause dry and brittle nails. Otherwise, an overdose of vitamin A can also make fingernails thin and brittle.
- mineral deficiency: A calcium or zinc deficiency can also be behind your brittle nails. If there are symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, pallor, feeling cold, cracks in the corners of the mouth or ringing in the ears, anemia may be present due to iron deficiency.
- chemicals: Frequent exposure to detergents, dishwashing and soap products that contain chemicals are another possible reason for brittle fingernails. Frequent use of solvent-based nail polish removers are also not good for nails.
- Artificial fingernails: The horny layer of your nails is additionally damaged by wearing artificial fingernails, making your real nails soft and thin. At least as unsightly is that between the artificial nail and your nail there is a small cavity in which fungi and bacteria can nest.
- skin diseases: Diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, nail fungus or lichen planus can be considered as triggers.
- thyroid disease: An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) or parathyroid gland (hypoparathyroidism) can also be a possible cause.
If symptoms such as disheveled hair, rapid tiredness, weight and blood pressure changes, heart palpitations and sweating are added to this, diseases of the endocrine system can be the cause. - change of seasons: Warm heating air in connection with the cold air in winter dry out our nails, they become brittle and brittle. Nails cannot regulate their moisture content themselves, if they are brittle at first, they tear quickly and the nails break off.
When should you see a doctor about brittle nails?
Surely you have already asked yourself if and when you should see a doctor if you have brittle nails. In most cases, brittle nails are harmless. However, if you are unsure, you can always consult a dermatologist. If the nails have long since become brittle, discolored or if the nail plate is even separating from the nail bed, the opinion of a dermatologist is advisable. A nail fungus or a skin or thyroid condition could be the cause.
What can the doctor do about brittle nails?
In a detailed conversation, the doctor can first get an idea of the patient, in which he asks the patient about their eating habits, possible contact with chemicals and other complaints.
investigations
The doctor can use a blood count to diagnose whether the brittle nails are caused by a deficiency symptom. A measurement of hormone levels in the blood and an ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland can be carried out to examine an underactive thyroid gland in detail. If, on the other hand, nail fungus is suspected, the doctor will take a sample of the nail and examine it under a microscope.
Treatment
If your brittle nails are due to an underlying disease, medical treatment will help you to make your nails strong and beautiful again. If it is an iron, calcium or zinc deficiency, you need certain preparations that counteract this. In the case of a skin disease such as nail fungus, special nail polishes or ointments with antifungal substances are effective. There is always a suitable treatment for every nail problem!