If your nails are splitting or crumbling around the edges because they are dry and brittle, you may have onychoschizia, says the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Brittle fingernails are not usually caused by a serious illness, but occur because the nails are not absorbing enough moisture from their environment. If your nails are opaque or have horizontal ridges in them, it may be the sign of a vitamin deficiency or a health condition. If your doctor approves, you can treat your brittle nails at home to make them strong again.
Step 1
Wear rubber gloves while doing housework or the dishes, says the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Exposing your nails to household cleaners or dish soap may dry out the nails, making them more susceptible to breakage.
Step 2
Drink one glass of milk and eat a hard-boiled egg every day to add more zinc to your diet, suggests Readers'Digest.com. Zinc will help strengthen your nails and decrease breakage.
Step 3
Take 2.5mg of biotin daily, says MayoClinic.com. Biotin is a vitamin that increases nail thickness and is available for purchase at drugstores and health food stores.
Step 4
File any snags in your nails gently every day with a nail file so they don't weaken the rest of the nail.
Step 5
Coat your nails with nail polish at all times to give them a strong foundation. Applying a coat of nail polish adds thickness to the nail to prevent breakage and crumbling.
Tips and Warnings
- Moisturize the nails several times a day with hand lotion.
- Consult a doctor if your nail breakage is accompanied by any other medical symptoms.
Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Milk
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Biotin supplement
- Nail file
- Nail polish
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