If your nails are brittle, soft and break before they get long, they may be lacking moisture, says Herbert Luscombe, M.D., professor emeritus of dermatology at Jefferson Medical College. Most cases of brittle nails can be solved using home remedies. In rare cases, brittle fingernails may be the sign of a more serious illness, like a vitamin deficiency. Consult a doctor if your brittle fingernails are accompanied by any additional health symptoms.
Step 1
Stop biting. If you bite your nails, do everything in your power to keep them out of your mouth. Instead of evening out a snag with your teeth, use a nail file or nail clippers to smooth the edges of your nail. Cut or file your nail straight across to keep it strong.
Step 2
Cut a hangnail instead of biting it or peeling it off. If you get a hangnail, cut it immediately with nail scissors. Trim the hangnail at a slight angle, so the skin is pointing slightly away from the nail, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
Step 3
Apply moisturizer to your nails regularly. Moisturize your nails every time you wash your hands or use nail polish remover. Nail polish remover may contain acetone, which dries out the nails. The Mayo Clinic recommends using a nail polish remover that does not contain acetone.
Step 4
Take biotin supplements. Biotin helps strengthen the nail so it can grow longer, says Richard K. Scher, M.D., professor of dermatology and head of the Nail Section at Columbia University-Presbyterian Medical Center. Take 2.5 mg of biotin a day to strengthen your nails if your doctor agrees.
Step 5
Wear rubber gloves when doing housework, cleaning or washing dishes. Rubber gloves will help protect your nails from harsh chemicals that may make them more brittle.
Tips and Warnings
- File your nails in one direction instead of sawing the nail file back and forth.
- Consult a doctor if your nails look yellow, swollen, infected or strange.
Things You'll Need
- Nail file
- Nail clippers
- Nail scissors
- Moisturizer
- Biotin supplement
- Rubber gloves
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