Fingernails and toenails, like hair, form from protein and act as a protective covering for your digits. Several factors come into play that can affect nail growth. Some of these factors may leave you with deformed or brittle nails, or in some cases, no nails at all. While some conditions cannot be prevented, taking care of your overall health as well as your nails can help your nails grow normally.
Congenital Conditions
Though most people have fingernails and toenails, a rare few are affected by congenital conditions, called ectodermal dysplasia, in which their nails are severely deformed or completely absent, according to the Merck Manual. When a person is born without nails, the condition is called anonychia. Sometimes a congenital defect prevents the nails from growing straight; a triangular-shaped nail bed that is accompanied by partial thumbnails is called nail-patella syndrome. Thickened, clawlike nails that are not the result of external factors are referred to as pachyonychia congenita.
Infection
Fungal and bacterial nail infections can contribute to an abnormal growth pattern, making nails fragile, crumbly and brittle. The Merck Manual estimates that as many as half of all nail deformities are the result of nail infections. Nails that are infected can break easily, and they may need to be removed to allow for healing before a new nail can grow in its place. Nails that are infected often show areas of discoloration in addition to a stunted or unusually slow rate of growth, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Inadequate Nutrition
Nutritional deficiencies can be a factor affecting nail growth. The World's Healthiest Foods reports that a diet rich in protein, zinc and iron promotes nail health. Vitamin B can help nails from becoming brittle, which impedes normal growth. Proper hydration is also important for normal nail development. The nail bed depends on moisture in order to grow healthy nails.
Chronic Illness
Chronic illnesses can interfere with nail growth. Psoriasis, an autoimmune disease mainly affecting the skin, can also attack the nails. Nail psoriasis is characterized by nails that crumble, pitted areas and discolorations throughout the nail. Lichen planus, a chronic disease also affecting both skin and snails, can cause nails to split. Overactive or underactive thyroids may also contribute to the splitting of the nails between the bed--the light-colored, moon-shaped areas at the bottom of your nail--and plate, the part people generally refer to as the fingernail or toenail.
Injury
Physical injury to fingers or toes can cause a lack of growth in the nail. According to the NIH, the damage can either be temporary or permanent, based on the severity of the injury. Overuse of nail products, such as polishes or polish removers, may weaken the nails and cause them to break and peel off.
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