Why do nails peel and break. Why do fingernails break? Applications of vitamins A and E

Brittle nails look untidy. They exfoliate, break up into scales, varnish does not adhere to them. Because of this, a person is faced with self-doubt, trying to hide his hands from the views of others.

There are complexes, problems of a psychological nature. Fragility of nails indicate violations occurring in the body. Dystrophic changes in the structure of the nail plate are caused by various factors.

To cure nails from brittleness, to strengthen them, it is necessary to start treatment.

Expert opinion: “Often nails become brittle due to skin diseases: we are talking about eczema, psoriasis, fungus. These pathologies destroy the nail plate, leading to serious damage. If the nails suddenly began to look unhealthy, dull, they break up into scales, there may be diseases of the digestive system, biliary tract. A medical examination is needed.”

There is a disease for various reasons. They are both external and internal.

The main causes of brittle nails are:

Wrong manicure technique.
The use of varnishes, which contain a lot of formaldehyde.
Building.
Removing nail polish with acetone.
Prolonged stay in the cold, refusal of gloves in winter.
Using alkaline cleaning products without gloves.
Unbalanced diet, lack of vitamins.
Anemia.
Hormonal imbalance.
Intoxication.
Disturbed metabolism.

Along the sides

In most cases, the nails on the sides break due to improper manicure, when the master incorrectly holds the nail file, touches the plate on the sides, injuring it. But this is not the only reason.

Cases are known where damage to the nail on the sides due to work with chemical solutions, alkalis. Especially often because of this, housewives, employees of cleaning agencies, who have to work with hazardous substances, suffer from this.

To avoid unpleasant consequences, you must always work with gloves.

REFERENCE. There is damage to the plate on the sides also due to inaccurate trimming of the nail. If you perform this action too quickly and carelessly, you can damage not only it, but also the skin around it.

Along the edges in width

This violation indicates internal pathologies. To find out the exact cause, you will have to visit a doctor. The plate is destroyed along the edges in width due to a lack of vitamins, during pregnancy, lactation.

The body is deficient in nutrients.

It is possible that the problem lies in the disturbed metabolism. Good nutrition, consumption of food rich in vitamins and minerals will help save health.

This will not only fill the body with the necessary elements, but also restore the correct metabolism.

in the middle

Such destruction occurs most often due to stress, unrest and anxiety. Often this happens in the spring due to a lack of vitamins. However, there are more serious reasons: we are talking about anemia, diseases of the liver, biliary tract. The exact cause is determined by the doctors at the hospital. It can be very serious, so you can not delay.

at the base

If destruction occurs at the base, then the problem is much more serious than it seems at first glance. The fact is that this happens with skin diseases, fungal diseases, intoxications of the body.

Girls who actively use gel polish may encounter such a situation with a high degree of probability. Practice shows that an allergic reaction occurs quite often to such products.

It can lead to this result. A similar situation arises when using low-quality varnishes, which contain toxic substances.

IMPORTANT. It is very difficult to cure a nail damaged at the base, it is necessary to eat foods rich in calcium, give up varnishes for a while, and take medicines in the presence of serious diseases.

What are nails missing?

The most common cause of brittle nails is a lack of vitamins B5, B3, B1, A, C, E and D.. The disease also occurs with a deficiency of iodine, silicon, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, phosphorus, iron. You can find these substances in vegetables, fruits, dairy products and meat. Healthy food will help to fill the lack of vitamins and minerals.

In addition to changing the diet, including healthy foods, it is recommended to take vitamin complexes:

Biotin.
Medobiotin.
Calcium D3 Nycomed.
Revalid.
Vitasharm.

Thanks to proper nutrition and the intake of vitamin complexes, the condition of the nails will improve significantly: they will look healthy, stop breaking, exfoliating and collapsing. To achieve the desired result, take vitamins regularly.

Possible nail diseases in which they exfoliate and break

There are many nail diseases that lead to brittleness and destruction of the plate.

One of the most famous is onycholysis. This is a pathology that leads to peeling of the plate from the nail bed.

If you do not start treatment, the death of the nail is possible. The disease is characterized by loss of pink color, brittleness, the formation of a void under the plate, loss of sensitivity.

The disease develops due to a lack of vitamins, skin diseases, antibiotics.

Onychocryptosis- in the common people, an ingrown nail is also accompanied by brittle nails, delamination. Most often this happens due to inaccurate trimming of nails, tight shoes, developmental anomalies. At advanced stages, surgical methods are used to treat the patient.

Onychomycosis, better known as nail fungus, is also accompanied by their fragility and loss of healthy appearance. During the period of illness, harmful microorganisms multiply rapidly in the place of localization.

The fungus is taking over more and more space. Not only the nail suffers, but also the skin around, which is accompanied by severe pain, the appearance of roughness. The plate weakens and loses its integrity.

Paronychia- This is a disease of the cuticle, which leads to the destruction of the plate at the base, as well as along the edges. The tissues become inflamed and painful. The cause of inflammation are infections, or injuries, careless manicure.

Nails on the nails of the hands break - what to do

The first step is to properly care for your nails. Cleaning around the house is done with gloves, and when using the cream, it is important to lubricate not only the skin of the hands, but also the nails. This is especially important in winter, when it is cold outside, and gloves have to be removed from time to time: low air temperature negatively affects the nail plate, thins and dries it. The cream will help moisturize.

Further, we must not forget about caution when doing household chores, which often lead to injury to the nails. The same goes for manicure: if a person is going to do it himself, you must be extremely careful.

If a trip to the master is planned, it should be an experienced person who knows how to properly perform the process. Varnishes are used only high-quality, from trusted manufacturers.

Too cheap varnishes should alert: they often contain harmful, toxic substances. If you need to use a nail file, you should remember that the nails are not filed along the edges: this injures them.

ATTENTION. The menu needs to be revised. It is necessary to give up alcohol, sweet carbonated drinks - they wash out calcium. Salinity, smoked meats and semi-finished products fall under the ban. The diet includes liver, butter, eggs, dairy products, vegetables and fruits. Decoctions of dandelion, sorrel and burdock are very useful.

Daily it is recommended to rub olive oil into the nails and the skin around them. It contains a large number of useful substances that will quickly restore the health of nails. If there is no olive oil, you can use vegetable oil, but then lemon juice and liquid vitamin A are added to it in equal amounts. The mixture is applied to the nails for ten minutes, then washed off. Enough 2-3 procedures per week.

It is very useful to apply lemon juice to the nail plate. It is applied carefully, without touching the skin around, otherwise there will be a burning sensation. Leave the juice of this fruit on the nails overnight. This daily procedure in a week will bring significant results.

Lubricate the nails 2-3 times a week with burdock oil. This is a storehouse of vitamins, which is necessary for the nail plate. You can leave this oil overnight to increase its effectiveness.

Folk remedies and recipes for strengthening brittle nails

Experts advise use baths with sea salt. To do this, mix 500 ml of warm water and two tablespoons of salt. The hands are dipped into the mixture, held for 10 minutes, then rinsed slightly, wiped dry. It is useful after the bath to smear the nails and the skin around them with cream.

A bath in gelatin is no less effective. You need to mix a glass of hot water and a tablespoon of edible gelatin. The mixture should cool slightly, then proceed to the procedure, which lasts 15 minutes. Optimal frequency of the procedure: 2-3 times a week.

To relieve inflammation of the nail plate, strengthen it, relieve dryness, it is recommended to use decoctions of herbs: chamomile, St. John's wort, calendula. To prepare them, mix 500 ml of boiling water and two tablespoons of dry grass. The mixture is infused for at least two hours, then it is filtered. Hands are kept in the decoction for 10 minutes, it can also be consumed orally in half a glass twice a day. Herbal decoction will fill the body with useful substances, which will speed up the healing process.

It is very useful to rub a mixture of castor oil and iodine into the cuticle every day for a month.. It is recommended to rub the mixture before going to bed with massage movements. The effectiveness of this method is high, recovery will not be long in coming.

Useful video

Useful tips that will tell you what to do if your nails break on your hands

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Every woman strives to ensure that the manicure on her hands looks perfect. However, this is possible when the nails are absolutely healthy and have a flat and smooth surface. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Fragility and delamination of the nail plate can be symptoms of diseases of the internal organs, an unhealthy lifestyle, or exposure to hazardous chemicals.

There are many factors that have a negative effect on the nails, as a result of which they become brittle and prone to delamination. All these reasons can be divided into external and internal.

Internal causes of brittle nails

The internal causes that affect the health of the nails should be taken especially carefully, since these factors are an indicator of the general condition of the body, and the nail plate, as an indicator, signals various disorders.

Improper nutrition

Many girls, in pursuit of ideal forms, go on diets that lead to rapid weight loss. But such methods of accelerated weight loss, as a rule, are not balanced. Nutritionists warn that express diets lead to poor health. This also affects the condition of the nails.

An unbalanced diet leads to brittleness and lamination of nails.

The main reasons for the development of brittle nails due to malnutrition:

protein deficiency. The nail plate consists of many thin stratum corneum, which are held together by the protein keratin;

sulfur deficiency. The density of the nail plate is due to the presence of sulfur atoms in keratin. With a deficiency of this component, the nail becomes thinner and more vulnerable to external aggressive factors;

insufficient fat intake. The elasticity and shine of the nail plate are provided by the fatty layer. Almost all diets provide for a minimum intake of fat, so when losing weight, nails can become brittle;

in addition, the composition of the nail plate includes components such as calcium, selenium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus. If there are few foods containing the listed minerals (cottage cheese, fish, nuts, etc.) in the diet, then the nails will be prone to delamination and brittleness;

deficiency of vitamin B12, which is found mainly in animal products (liver, meat, fish roe, dairy products).

natural predisposition

With congenital delayed production of keratin, the nail plate cannot be strong. Also, if the body does not absorb the minerals and components necessary for the health of the nails, then the nail plate will not have an even, smooth and durable surface.

Diseases of internal organs and systems

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as diseases that are associated with the metabolism or activity of the cardiovascular, circulatory, endocrine systems, lead to the fact that the nails do not receive the required amount of useful components and oxygen. Consequently, they begin to exfoliate and break.

Hormonal changes

In a woman's life, there are periods when her hormonal background changes: puberty, pregnancy, menopause. Such changes can provoke a slowdown in metabolism or the development of diseases that affect the condition of the nails.

Stress

Strong emotional experiences lead to significant violations of blood pressure and, accordingly, the blood flow that supplies the nail plate.

Stress conditions negatively affect the health of the nail plate

External causes of brittle nails

There are many external factors that weaken the nails:

prolonged contact with chemical components. The use of washing powders, dishwashing liquid or products containing alcohol in everyday life causes drying of the nails and, consequently, their fragility and delamination;

prolonged exposure to hot water causes the nail plate to expand at a microscopic level. After drying, the nails narrow again. Such deformations contribute to the formation of microcracks on the surface of the plate and make it brittle;

mechanical damage. Improper removal of artificial coatings, scratches, bumps, friction cause significant damage to nail health;

the use of low-quality cosmetics. The application of formaldehyde-containing varnishes and the use of solvents, which include acetone, also destroy the integrity of the nail plate;

wrong care. The use of blunt tools for trimming or filing nails, irregular hygienic manicure, violation of the processing technique of the nail plate contribute to its delamination and brittleness;

regular overdrying and hypothermia.

Household chemicals lead to damage and delamination of the nail plate

How to heal your own nails

To improve the nail plate, experts recommend various procedures.

sealing

Sealing nails allows not only to strengthen them, but also to activate growth. For the procedure, beeswax is used, as well as cosmetics based on it. This beekeeping product is a storehouse of biologically active components. Therefore, it effectively helps to eliminate the tendency to lamination and brittleness.

To obtain a sealing agent, you should prepare:

beeswax - 0.5 tsp;
base oil (olive, coconut, jojoba or other) - 2 tsp;
essential oil (lemon, myrrh, etc.) - 2 drops;
purified water - 0.5 tsp.

Melt the wax in a water bath, then add the base oil to it, mix, pour water and add the selected essential oil. Remove the mass from the heat and continue to knead until the wax begins to cool. Transfer the mass to a jar.

In no case should esters be used in their pure form, they must always be mixed with base oil.

Now you can start preparing your nails for the procedure. First you need to remove the old coating, trim the edges of the nail plate with a nail file. Then you need to make a softening warm bath with the addition of sea salt (1 teaspoon per glass of water heated to 37 ° C).

Important! Nails should be filed before steaming, otherwise the nail plate will begin to exfoliate.

After steaming, the cuticle should be pushed back with an orange stick, and dead cells and burrs should be removed.

Apply the prepared product to the nail plate.

Rub the bee composition for 2-3 minutes. in each nail with a soft polish or suede buff. In this case, it is necessary to process the end of the free edge of the nail.

Video: sealing nails

Therapeutic baths

Baths are an effective method of healing nails. At the same time, their temperature should be 37–40 ° C. The duration of the procedure is 10-15 minutes. During treatment, baths are recommended to be done every day. The course consists of 10 procedures. It can then be repeated after four weeks.

After completion of the procedure, the hands should be wetted and a nourishing cream for hands and nails should be applied.

saline solution

Salt baths are the basis for the treatment of exfoliating and brittle nails.

Ingredients:

sea or table salt - 1 tbsp. l.;
purified water - 250 ml.

It is necessary to dissolve the salt in water and dip your fingertips into the composition.

Sea salt has a beneficial effect on the condition of the nail plate

The effectiveness of saline solution for treating nails will increase if you add 3-4 drops of 5% iodine to it.

Orange juice

Well strengthen the nail plate orange juice. To prepare the bath, you need to prepare:

water - 80 ml;
table or sea salt - 2 tsp;
orange juice - 80 ml;
iodine solution (5%) - 3 drops.

Heat water to 40 ° C, dissolve salt in it, add orange juice, iodine and mix.

Herbal infusions

For the treatment of exfoliating and brittle nails, instead of water, you can use herbal infusions from celandine or plantain. These herbs contain many vitamins, minerals and other biologically active components.

To prepare the infusion, you should take:

chopped dried herb - 2 tbsp. l.;
water - 100 ml.

Pour boiling water over the grass and let it brew for 60 minutes. Then strain the infusion and use in baths instead of water.

Oil treatments

Nails that are prone to splitting and brittleness are strengthened by using olive oil baths. Below are a few recipes using olive oil:

add 2 tsp to 100 ml of warm oil. lemon juice;

connect 2 tbsp. l. warm oil and 2 drops of iodine;

2 tbsp. l. combine olive oil with 2 drops of essential lemon oil;

in 100 ml of oil add 2 drops of vitamin A and 2 drops of vitamin E.

masks

Nails can be treated at home with masks.

Gelatin remedy

A gelatin-based mask is a popular and effective way to improve nail health.

Ingredients:

food gelatin - 1 tbsp. l.;
water - 1 glass.

Gelatin must be diluted in water and heated until it is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and cool the gelatin mass to 40 ° C. Nails should be dipped in the resulting product for 20 minutes. The procedure can be repeated every 4-5 days.

The healing properties of lemon

One of the easiest and most effective methods of healing nails is the use of lemons.

Before the procedure, the lemon must be cut in half and stick your fingertips into each of the halves. The duration of such a lemon mask is 10 minutes. You can strengthen your nails with fruit every 2-3 days.

The simplest and most effective remedy for strengthening nails is the pulp of a lemon.

Mask based on chamomile and mint

A nourishing herbal mask will replenish the nail plates with the missing components.

Ingredients:

mint - 1 tbsp. l.;
chamomile - 1 tbsp. l.;
boiling water - 250 ml;
flour - 2 tbsp. l.;
olive oil - 1 tbsp. l.

Pour boiling water over the herbs and boil for 20 minutes. Cool the resulting broth, after which it must be filtered. Add flour and olive oil to it. The resulting mixture must be applied to the nails and after half an hour remove the excess mask with a cosmetic disc. The procedure can be repeated after 2-3 days.

Mask with red hot pepper

Red pepper has long been used in home cosmetics as it causes a rush of blood to the site of its application. Along with blood circulation comes a large number of useful components. Therefore, a nail mask, which includes hot pepper, is the most popular.

Ingredients:

ground red pepper - 2 tsp;
purified water - 2 tsp;
hand cream - 3-4 tbsp. l.

Mix all the listed ingredients and apply the mass on the nails. The mask should be kept for 15-20 minutes. The procedure can be repeated no earlier than a month later.

Attention! If a strong burning sensation is felt during the procedure, the product must be washed off immediately. In the future, you need to reduce the content of hot pepper in the mask.

Red pepper causes a rush of blood to the nail plate, thereby helping to strengthen the nails.

Olive oil mask

Ingredients:

olive oil - 1 tbsp. l.;
iodine (5%) or lemon juice - 2-3 drops.

Add iodine or lemon juice to warm olive oil. Rub the mask into the nails and leave until the morning, it is recommended to wear gloves.

If iodine is added to the mask, then the procedure can be repeated once a week. In the case of using lemon juice, the product is applied to the nails twice a week.

Video: nail masks

Hand massage

As you know, any massage stimulates blood circulation, which leads to the activation of metabolic processes. Together with the blood flow, oxygen and useful components enter the massaged area, and the use of massage oils or creams makes the procedure even more effective. Therefore, regular nail massage helps to heal them.

Put your hands on the table.

With one hand stroke the other hand three times in the direction from the nails to the wrist. Then stretch the hand 5 times with the edge of the palm, moving in the same direction.

Repeat manipulations with the other hand.

Press on each nail with a fingertip 20-30 times.

Grab the nail with your fingers and pull it in the direction of growth. So repeat 20-30 times for each nail.

Bend your fingers slightly and drum on the table for 5 minutes.

Finish the massage by stroking the hands for 1-2 minutes.

It should be noted that regular massage gives good results. During the procedure, the nails can be lubricated with a moisturizer or oil. Massage can be repeated every day.

Hand massage after classic manicure - video

To keep your nails strong and long, you need to follow some recommendations:

adjust nutrition. The daily diet should be balanced. It is necessary to ensure the intake of the required amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, microelements;

ensure a good sleep (7-8 hours a day). A rested body becomes stress-resistant. In addition, all organs and systems begin to fully function, which is reflected in the health of the nails;

stay outdoors more often and lead an active lifestyle. These measures stimulate blood flow well;

when using household chemicals, always wear household gloves;

limit contact with hot water;

Before applying the main varnish, it is necessary to use the base base. It not only protects the nail plate, but also nourishes it with useful components;

do not use acetone to remove varnish;

during a manicure, use only high-quality tools, it is better to replace metal files with plastic, glass or ceramic ones (they protect nails from delamination);

regularly do home procedures to strengthen nails;

gloves must be worn during the autumn-winter period.

Nails can be healed at home. It does not require a lot of money, time and effort. It is necessary to regularly carry out procedures and follow the recommendations.

The reasons why the nails on the hands exfoliate and break, as well as strengthening nails at home and manicure procedures.

Hand care should be given no less time than face care. If you can make plastic surgery on your face or put “make-up” on it, then you can’t do anything like that with your hands! It is the hands that can be considered a “calling card” by which it is easy to determine the accuracy of a person, and often tell about his health! Particular attention is drawn to the nails. Many, having understood this fact, try to properly care for them from a young age so that the nails do not exfoliate and break!

Reasons for peeling and breaking fingernails

Due to their lack of education, the majority of people assume that the nails break and exfoliate only for those who take care of them incorrectly. In fact, this is just one of the few reasons leading to such a problem, all the others are hidden much deeper ...

It is conditionally possible to single out the following number of factors that lead nails to such a deplorable state:

Wrong nutrition.
Poor heredity and the presence of chronic diseases.
Impact of natural factors.
Features of labor activity.
Nail fungus.
Lack of proper care.

In a more accessible language, we can say that an improperly selected diet leads to a constant lack of minerals. The lack of vitamins and a sufficient amount of trace elements primarily affects the condition of the nail plates as a whole.

Bad heredity also leads to this, as a result of which a number of deviations have already been formed in a person at the gene level. Chronic diseases arise, the consequences of which often become breaking and delamination of the nail plates on the hands.

A sharp change in weather conditions - frost, wind, sun, with periodic exposure to unprotected hands can lead to delamination of nails. This can also happen from certain features of labor activity, for example, playing the guitar. When a person is constantly fiddling in a dirty mass and sorting through something with his “bare” hands, for example, manual sorting of seeds. Or work with chemicals without the use of protective gloves. This is caused by the use of low-quality nail polish removers, nail polish with a dubious composition.

A severely neglected condition of the nails requires frequent daily attention. In order to prevent, only three procedures are enough for a month.

When it is not possible to visit an expensive salon and order a treatment procedure, folk methods of treatment and prevention of delamination and fragility of the nail plate are often remembered.

Nourishing masks

Especially popular after massages and salt baths are nourishing masks prepared on the basis of fresh vegetables.

Take one potato root, wash and peel, chop into cubes. Add chopped cabbage leaves to it. Grind all this with a blender or skip in a meat grinder to obtain a single mass. For viscosity, add fresh sour cream, which, by the way, is rich not only in vitamins, but also in nutrients. Mix. Apply the resulting mass to each nail, wait a quarter of an hour, rinse.
Grind a peeled banana with a blender, add a chicken egg to it and apply the mixture on the nails. Wash off after about 10 minutes.
Grind fresh carrots as finely as possible to a mushy state, add a teaspoon of olive oil to it and apply it all to problem areas. Wash off after 20 minutes.
Rub your nails with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Apply cottage cheese combined with sour cream on the damaged nail plates.
After performing one or another restorative procedure, it would be good to cover the nails with a protective medicinal varnish or apply warm beeswax on them. To do this, the substance is first melted, and then, directly with a brush for applying varnish, they cover the nail plates with it.

Non-supporters of traditional medicine and those who do not have free time for long and laborious restorative procedures may well turn to the nearest pharmacy kiosk. There, to restore the structure of the nails on the hands, they will offer various varnishes, balms, masks and, of course, a vitamin and mineral complex.

The fact is that despite the cause of what is happening, most likely with fragility and delamination of the nail plate, the vitamin and mineral balance in the body is already disturbed. The body simply does not have enough nutritional components, in other words, strength, to quickly eliminate this problem, so it is advisable to drink a suitable dietary supplement or at least a vitamin-mineral complex in parallel with manicure procedures.

Also, do not forget that you need to constantly monitor your hands. In the cold season, protect them from frost and snow with gloves. In case of dryness, apply cream to the skin of the hands and nail plates. Periodically nourish the nails with various natural ingredients. Give your fingers a simple massage, and in the evenings, at least once a week, do salt baths. This is the only way you can achieve a complete ideal and do not hesitate to “demonstrate” your natural beauty of nails to others! You no longer have to hide your “unkempt” and “neglected” hands from the curious gaze of colleagues!

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Brittle nails are an unpleasant problem that plagues many people. Broken nail plates look impartial, so something needs to be done about it. If you are familiar with this firsthand, you must be curious to know why nails break and what can be done?

External causes of brittle nails

Quite often, the nails exfoliate and break on the hands under the influence of external damaging factors. Their number is huge, so consider the most common and common among them:

household chemicals;
use of low-quality cosmetics;
use of a metal nail file;
nail extension;
mechanical damage;
dry air;
frequent and prolonged stay in the water;
smoking.

The first and one of the main reasons why women's fingernails break is the constant use of household chemicals without gloves. Everyone washes dishes, floors and other surfaces with chemicals. All of them negatively affect the nail plates, leading to brittleness and delamination.

Cheap cosmetics and hygiene products also spoil nails. They become thinner, exfoliate, break. Acetone-based nail polish removers are especially unfavorable, so it's best to avoid them.

Filing nails with a metal nail file, and even in different directions, practically destroys the nails, making them weak and lifeless. Also, microcracks may appear on the plates due to constant work on the keyboard or playing musical instruments. Under the influence of nicotine in smokers, the nails often turn yellow, weaken and begin to break.

Internal factors

If the nails break, even despite gel polish and cosmetic procedures, the reasons are probably hidden inside the body. Moreover, sometimes the nail plates become brittle even in a child up to 2-3 years old. There are many internal causes of such problems in adults and children:

iron deficiency anemia due to lack of iron in the body;
disrupted work of digestion, liver, endocrine system, biliary tract (all this contributes to interruptions in metabolism, due to which minerals are not properly distributed in the body);
poor nutrition with a lack of vitamins and other nutrients (one of the common causes of brittle nails in children);
skin diseases and other disorders of a similar nature (eczema, red lichen, psoriasis, fungal skin lesions near the nails, etc.);
hormonal disruptions during menopause or during adolescence (due to a lack or excess of certain hormones, nails break badly);
intoxication of the body with heavy metals or medications;
the period of pregnancy, when vitamins and minerals entering the body are distributed between the mother and her fetus.

There are more rare pathologies and disorders, as a result of which the nails do not grow, break, exfoliate and become thinner. If you cannot cope with the problem on your own, go to the doctor.

Causes of a psychological nature

Sometimes people's nails break and crumble as a result of psychological disorders, among which stand out:

bad habit of biting nails and tearing cuticles;
tapping nails on the table;
prolonged stress;
insomnia;
depressive states.

The last three points negatively affect the immune defense, which affects the condition of the nail plates and overall health.

Brittle nails care

Weakened and thinned nails require especially careful care. If the nails break at the root, along the edge or along the edges, but the cause has not yet been identified, start protecting them and monitoring them accordingly:

Refrain from the extension procedure, and try to grow your own healthy nails. When applying Shellac, do not cut the nail too hard. It is better to use a nail file and a grinding buff with minimal abrasive.
Try to avoid prolonged contact with water and use gloves when washing dishes, as well as when using household chemicals in general.
Buy gentle nail polish removers that do not contain acetone. Before coloring nails, apply a protective agent to brittle nails, then varnish, and a fixer on top, which will give the nail additional strength. Also, once a month, go without varnish for at least 4-7 days, so that the nail plates are saturated with oxygen.

If, following these rules, the nails break, exfoliate and crumble, contact a specialist.

What do beauty salons offer?

To make nails grow faster and not break, you can resort to salon procedures. Their number is amazing, but among them are some of the most effective for the problem of fragility of the nail plates:

Waxing. The specialist treats the nails, impregnates with fortified oil and covers with wax cream. An invisible thin film is formed on the surface, which protects it from mechanical damage for 3-4 weeks.
Biogel. Biogel application involves the use of an elastic polymer based on rubber and proteins. The gel is applied to the prepared plates in several layers and fixed with ultraviolet light.
Hot manicure. First, peeling is carried out, after which the client of the salon immerses his hands in a bath with a nourishing cream, heated to 50-60 degrees. The tool accelerates blood circulation and expands the pores, due to which beneficial substances are absorbed into the nails.

Of course, a regular manicure done by a professional also helps in the fight against the problem of brittle nails, so do not neglect this simple and inexpensive procedure.

Pharmacy funds

Pharmacies sell strengthening products that help in cases where the nails break in the middle, along the edges, or right under the root. Mostly they include vitamin-mineral complexes, but there are also creams and ointments used externally:

Merz. A complex of vitamins containing the amino acid cystine. It activates the growth of nails and makes them stronger. The course of admission lasts a month, during which you need to take one tablet twice a day.
Migliorin. Swiss-made vitamins with lecithin in the composition. The recommended course of admission is 3 months.
SilvaSan. A complex of vitamins and minerals with omega-3 acids, magnesium, iron and many other components. The course lasts 2 months, and is taken one capsule per day.
Bishungite. This is a cream with shungite and clotrimazole. Helps in the prevention of fungus, strengthening and smoothing the plate, as well as softening the cuticles.
Libriderm Aevit. This cream contains shea butter, urea and panthenol.
Evelyn. A special nail polish that creates a strong strengthening effect. Apply it daily to the surface of brittle nails.

Diet changes for brittle nails

If nails began to break after gel polish or for any other reason, the reason is probably a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet. The situation can be corrected by contacting a nutritionist who will write out a detailed full-fledged menu for every day. It is also possible to fill the deficiency of valuable substances with vitamin and mineral complexes, but this is not always necessary.

The first component, due to the lack of which the nails break, is protein. It is indispensable for the human body, and is present in meat, fish, chicken, eggs and dairy products. If the nails become brittle, try to consume protein at the rate of 1-1.5 g per 1 kg of body weight per day.

Lack of magnesium is another reason. For an adult, 300-400 mg is considered the norm, but getting such an amount from food is problematic. For example, such a dose of magnesium is contained in 2 kg of meat. To fill the deficit, it is better to buy the appropriate drug in a pharmacy, and there are also good supplements in sports nutrition stores.

Calcium also affects the health and strength of nails. The body needs about 800 mg of this component per day. Most of it is in dairy and sour-milk products, so focus on it.

In addition, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and avoid fatty, fried and other unhealthy foods that lack vitamins and minerals. Moreover, useless food interferes with the normal absorption of valuable substances from other foods.

Folk remedies for brittle nails

What to do at home if nails begin to break? Try to adopt a few folk remedies. Start doing salt baths twice a week: dissolve 2-3 tablespoons of sea salt in 1 liter of warm water. Soak your hands in this solution for 15-20 minutes. To enhance the effect, add a few drops of lemon juice.

You can lubricate the nail plates with simple iodine. Repeat this twice a week before bed. Yellowness does not form on the surface of the nails - do not worry about this. During the night, iodine will have time to be absorbed, leaving no traces.

Lemon juice is considered an effective way to strengthen nails so that they do not break. Lubricate them with nail plates 3-4 times a week and let it be completely absorbed.

The simplest glycerin from the nearest pharmacy also helps with brittle nails. Lubricate the nail plates with it, and then put on cotton gloves. You can treat whole fingers and hands, as glycerin moisturizes and softens the skin, creating an additional beneficial effect.

Remember or write down what you need to do so that your nails do not break, and use our information when this unpleasant problem occurs!

Violation of the strength and integrity of the nail plates associated with the influence of external and internal factors. Brittle nails often break off, exfoliate, crack, present difficulties with growing and high-quality application of decorative varnish. To find out the causes of brittle nails, it is necessary to exclude chronic diseases, deficiency of vitamins and microelements in the body, fungal diseases. The treatment of brittle nails involves the elimination of etiological factors, therapeutic baths, paraffin therapy, strengthening nails, the use of nourishing creams for nail care, etc.

General information

Brittle nails - a defect in the nail plates associated with their weakness and increased fragility. The nail plates on the hands and feet originate from the area of the matrix located at the base of the nail. The white area of the nail root in the form of a crescent - the lunula is the visible part of the nail matrix. Nail growth is carried out by the division of germ cells in the matrix, which gradually push the old nail plate forward. The structure, shape, thickness and growth rate of the nail depends on the state of the matrix. The basic substance of the nail plate is keratin, and the hardness and density of the nail plate depends on the amount of cysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid. Between the layers of keratin are layers of water and fat, giving the nails shine and elasticity. In healthy nails, in addition to sulfur, there are other trace elements - calcium, phosphorus, chromium, zinc, selenium, the lack or absence of which negatively affects the condition of the nail plates, making them brittle and exfoliating.

Causes of brittle nails

Nails can become brittle for reasons of external and internal order. Nails have a porous structure and easily absorb moisture, various chemicals that the hands have to come into contact with. Therefore, brittle nails are found in people who, due to their professional activities, are in contact with solvents, acids, alkalis and other aggressive substances. In addition, brittleness and delamination of nails can occur due to frequent contact with household chemicals (washing powders, detergents and cleaners), prolonged hands in water, etc. Physical factors such as low ambient temperature in winter weaken the nails. year, the dryness of the air in the room. As a result of chronic hypothermia and drying, the nails become thinner and brittle.

A common cause of increased brittleness of nails is illiterate care: improper cutting of nails, the habit of biting nails with teeth. Frequent nail extensions, the use of cheap varnish and nail polish remover leads to the fact that harmful components (acetone, formaldehyde, etc.) penetrate deep into the nail, violating its structure and making it more vulnerable. In addition, mechanical stress from the outside can lead to cracking of the nail.

The problem of brittle nails can be associated with endogenous factors, among which the leading role belongs to the deficiency of trace elements and vitamins. The lack of vitamins A, D, E, calcium, selenium, silicon, zinc, iron affects the state of the nail plate especially unfavorably. Brittle nails can increase during pregnancy and lactation. This is understandable - at this time, the female body "shares" its resources with the baby's body, so it is extremely important that the mother's diet is of high quality and complete in composition. In addition, increased fragility of nails can be observed during hormonal changes - during puberty and menopause. The cause of brittle nails can be thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, anemia, gastrointestinal diseases, and stress.

Characteristics of brittle nails

The problem of brittle nails is familiar to many women. In this case, the free edge of the nail often breaks off over its entire thickness or delaminates, i.e., violations concern its upper (shiny) layer. At the same time, the nail plates are thin and grow slowly. Increased fragility of nails does not allow a woman to enjoy beautiful, long natural nails. Often, brittle nails are combined with deformation of their surface, changes in color and shape.

Splitting of the nails in the longitudinal direction (onychoclasia, onychorrhexis) often leads to a painful fracture of the nail plate. Vertical cracks originate from the free edge of the nail and propagate to various distances in the proximal direction. In this case, as a rule, the lesion concerns individual nails of the fingers or toes. With onychoshisis, the nails split in the transverse direction. Such a problem can occur with poor-quality manicure, playing stringed instruments, typing, etc.

In dermatology, brittle nails are considered as a manifestation of onychodystrophy, requiring the establishment of causes and competent treatment. With the problem of brittle nails, a woman can turn to a nail service master, but it would be more correct to visit a dermatologist first. Only a medical specialist will be able to properly understand the severity of the problem. Taking into account the growth rate of nails (on the hands of the hand 1-2 mm per week, on the legs - 0.25-1 mm per week), it is possible to calculate the approximate time of exposure to the pathological factor.

To find out the true causes of brittle nails, additional consultation with a mycologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist may be required. In order to obtain objective data, the patient may be assigned a spectral analysis for trace elements, scraping from the nail plates for pathogenic fungi, a blood test for thyroid hormones and other necessary tests. Fragility of nails should be distinguished from onychomycosis, changes in nails in skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus, congenital epidermolysis, etc.).

Treatment of brittle nails

A competent approach to treatment should begin with the elimination of the main cause of brittle nails. In all cases, it will be useful to temporarily refuse contact with chemicals, cover nails with decorative varnishes; Strengthen the protection and care of nails. Useful home remedies for brittle nails are warm hand baths (oil, salt) - this will help fill the nutrient deficiency in the nails. Daily care for brittle nails should be nourishing creams and balms with keratin, vitamins, proteins, which should be applied to the cuticle area, because in this place the nail is most susceptible to the intake of nutrients. However, the nutrition of nails should be carried out not only from the outside, but also from the inside. That is why, with the problem of brittle nails, it is necessary to take care of changing the diet, including foods rich in vitamins A, C, E, B5, etc., as well as additional intake of vitamin and mineral complexes.

When manicure treatment of brittle nails, you must adhere to certain rules. Nails should only be cut with sharp scissors; it is recommended to stop using wire cutters that put too much pressure on the plate, causing it to delamination and brittleness. For filing brittle nails, fine-grained glass or ceramic files are better suited, which do not injure the fragile nail plate so much. At the same time, filing movements should be performed in one direction, with a large amplitude, from the edge to the center. Before applying colored varnish, the nails as a base must be coated with a special protective and strengthening agent. All products used for manicure procedures should not contain substances harmful to the nail plate.

Specialized care for brittle nails can be carried out in the nail studio of a beauty salon. For brittle nails, spa manicure and Japanese manicure procedures, paraffin therapy, hand and nail masks are recommended. Useful therapeutic massage of the nail plate and cuticle area using a keratin complex, polishing nails with fortified creams or oils, sealing nails. Acrylic, gel, biogel are used to strengthen natural nails on the hands and feet. If a crack occurs in the nail plate, the nail is repaired with silk or fiberglass. As the plate grows, the site of damage is gradually cut off.