Brittle fingernails are nails that break or crack more easily than normal. Depending on your circumstances, you can develop brittle nails that are either abnormally dry or abnormally soft. Potential underlying causes for brittle fingernails vary from person to person, but may include advancing age, frequent wetting and drying of your hands and certain significant medical conditions.
Basics
The presence of brittle or splitting fingernails is formally known as onychoschizia, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, or AOCD. The condition frequently has an external cause, although in some cases you can develop brittle nails if you have an iron deficiency or medical conditions such as tuberculosis, malnutrition, endocrine system disorders or an autoimmune disease called Sjogren's syndrome. Typically, if you have brittle fingernails and healthy toenails, internal disease is not the cause of your condition. In many cases, brittle nails occur as a part of the normal aging process, Medline Plus notes.
Brittle, Dry Fingernails
If you have brittle, dry fingernails, the most common cause is frequent wetting and drying of your hands, which can lead to a significant lack of nail moisture, the AOCD reports. In these circumstances, factors that can worsen your condition include living in a low-humidity environment and the dry heat associated with indoor environments in wintertime. Prevent brittle, dry fingernails by wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands from moisture. If your nails are already brittle, treat them with lotions that contain either lanolin or alpha hydroxy acids.
Brittle, Soft Fingernails
You can develop brittle, soft fingernails by overexposing your nails to moisture, according to the AOCD. You can also develop nails of this sort if you regularly expose your hands to chemicals, such as cleaning fluids or detergents. Skinsight.com says other potential sources of chemical exposure include nail polish, nail polish removers, cement, alkalis or acids, sugar solutions, salt and compounds called thioglycolates. If nail polish is the source of your problem, applying a polish that contains nylon fibers may improve your nail strength. If nail polish removers are the source of your problem, switching to an acetone-free product may help reduce brittleness.
Prevention and Treatment Options
You can help avoid brittle fingernails by filing your nails with a fine-grooved file and maintaining a gently curved nail arc, the AOCD advises. If you get your nails buffed, avoid using back-and-forth motions across the surface of your nails. In many cases, you can reduce brittle nail symptoms by taking daily doses of the vitamin biotin for at least six months. Other potential treatments include gelatin, colloidal minerals and calcium; however, these options are not typically as effective as biotin. If you are pregnant, avoid taking biotin products.
Considerations
You may develop brittle nails if you take medications that contain vitamin A, experience a traumatic physical injury or have skin diseases such as psoriasis or lichen planus, according to Skinsight.com. In some cases, onychoschizia occurs together with a lengthwise splitting or ridging of the fingernail plates called onychorrhexis. In combination, the two conditions are known as brittle nail syndrome. Consult your doctor for more information.
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