An abundance of half-truths purport to be the sole cause of thin, brittle, peeling nails. The health of your nails can tell you a lot about the health of your body whenever you notice pronounced changes in nail color, shape and surface texture. However, the main reason your fingernails peel and become brittle, flexible and thin may be more common than you thought.
Most Common Cause
The medical term for peeling, thin, splitting nails is onychoschizia, says the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, or AOCD. It's more common in women than men. The most frequent cause of onychoschizia is nails that are repeatedly saturated with water and then dried off again. Common household tasks -- such as dishwashing, watering the lawn and scrubbing the sink or tub -- take a toll on your nails. Brittle, peeling nails often get worse whenever you're exposed to low humidity or dry heat, such as during the winter, says the AOCD.
Detergent Damage
Repeated wetting and drying with exposure to chemicals makes peeling nails worse. But the chemicals in dishwashing detergents and other cleaning agents that come into contact with your nails are only part of the problem. According to the AOCD, acetone-based nail polish removers can also weaken your nails.
Diet and Nails
It's true that in some cases, nutritional deficiencies -- such as a lack of iron -- are behind onychoschizia, although this is rarely the case, says the AOCD. If you have a balanced diet, you shouldn't need to make adjustments in your diet or take special supplements for nail health. The age-old home remedy of soaking your nails in gelatin or eating gelatin-based foods won't make nails stronger, either, notes MayoClinic.com, although the AOCD puts gelatin on the "might be helpful" list along with calcium and colloidal minerals. The best dietary supplement for nails is biotin, and MayoClinic.com and the AOCD recommend a 2.5mg dose. This supplement should not be taken if you're pregnant.
Health and Your Nails
Internal disease can also affect the health of your nails -- but again, this probably isn't the cause of brittle, peeling nails. However, if you notice a marked change in how your nails look, it's best to consult your treating physician. According to MayoClinic.com, some of the things that should be brought to your doctor's attention are when they turn white, yellow or become opaque. Distinct pits or indentations in your nails, nails that grow out in a curled presentation and separation of the fingernail from the nail bed are indicators that you may have a medical problem that requires more extensive treatment.
Restore Fingernail Health
The simplest way to prevent nails that peel and split is to protect your hands whenever you expose them to water. The AOCD suggests using cotton-lined rubber gloves whenever you perform household chores. After your fingernails are exposed to water or chemicals, moisturize them with lotion that contains lanolin or alpha hydroxy acids. Keep your nails trimmed short and file off rough and irregular edges with a fine nail file or emery board every day. Ease up on the manicures, too. MayoClinic.com suggests painting your fingernails no more than once a week. Use an acetone-free polish remover between home manicures.
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