Brittle nails break, crumble and peel easily, leaving your finger and toes less protected and, therefore, more susceptible to infection. The medical term that includes brittle nails is onychoschizia. Women are more likely to experience brittle nails than men, in part due to prolonged exposure to fingernail polish. Curing brittle nails can be achieved through keeping your nails moisturized and healthy.
Step 1
Protect your nails from the continuous cycle of becoming wet and then drying, such as when washing dishes. This process can damage your nails and cause them to become fragile and brittle, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD). Wear rubber gloves while washing dishes or performing household tasks in which your hands get wet.
Step 2
Apply a moisturizing lotion containing lanolin to your nails, include the nail bed--the half-moon shaped area at the base of your nail--to introduce moisture and treat brittleness. Brittle nails can result from over-drying of the nails and surrounding areas of the fingers or toes. If your nails are extremely fragile and dry, soak them in warm water for five minutes before moisturizing.
Step 3
Shape your nails carefully by using a fine nail file on a regular basis. The AOCD explains that rough edges and snags around the nails can make your nails more likely to split. Keeping your nails in a rounded shape can help maintain normal nail consistency.
Step 4
Take biotin, an over-the-counter (OTC) Vitamin B supplement, to strengthen weak, splitting or brittle nails. Biotin may need to be taken long term to see results, according to The World's Healthiest Nails website. The AOCD suggests taking up to 3mg biotin daily.
Step 5
Consult a doctor if your brittle nails do not improve with lifestyle and dietary changes. You could have a fungal or bacterial nail infection that is causing the splitting, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These types of infections are cured through prescription medications.
Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Moisturizing lotion
- Nail file
- Vitamin B supplement
- Prescriptions
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