Your nails -- or nail plates -- aid in your sense of touch, while also protecting the delicate tissue on your fingertips from harm. Healthy nails are smooth and strong, while pitted nails can indicate the presence of a disorder or disease. Left untreated, pitted nails can eventually disintegrate, leading to nail crumbling and loss. In some cases, specific vitamins can help treat pitted nails.
Cause of Nail Pitting
In many cases, pitted nails develop as a result of psoriasis, a skin condition that can affect the nail cuticle, as well as the cells that make up the nail. Individuals suffering from psoriasis may develop red skin around their nail bed and over their body, as well as abnormal skin flaking. This unhealthy skin cannot properly support nail growth, leading to the uneven growth that causes nail pitting. In addition, psoriasis can lead to other nail disorders, including a breakdown of the nail plate, or nail splitting, according to Drexel University College of Medicine.
Vitamin A and Psoriasis
Vitamin A, or retinol, can have an effect on nail pitting via its effect on psoriasis. Vitamin A proves essential for healthy skin, because retinol in your bloodstream promotes proper skin-cell development. Consuming retinol-based drugs can help to treat psoriasis by preventing the excess skin growth that causes roughness and flaking that can interfere with proper nail growth. The drugs can also treat a number of other disorders, including acne. Talk to your doctor about the potential benefits of treating nail pitting as a result of psoriasis.
Vitamin D and Psoriasis
Taking vitamin D might also help alleviate nail pitting as a result of psoriasis. The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that drugs containing vitamin D3 can also help control skin-cell development and prevent the excessive cellular growth that drives psoriasis. As a result, taking vitamin D might restore proper nail-bed functioning, allowing for the growth of smooth, healthy nails. Consult a physician about the potential benefits of pharmaceutical grade vitamin D in treating nail pitting.
Other Nutrients and Nail Health
While vitamins A and D might help relieve nail pitting, other vitamins can contribute to other aspects of nail health. Many nutritional deficiencies -- such as omega-3 fatty acid or biotin deficiencies -- can lead to the development of brittle, breakable and weak nail plates. In general, you can help support healthy nail growth by maintaining a balanced diet rich in a range of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. If you suffer from a skin or nail disorder, seek medical attention to address the underlying cause and seek appropriate treatment.
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