Though brittle nails are a common occurrence with age, sometimes there are other factors involved. Certain medical conditions such as kidney and liver disease, cold dry weather, and repeated moisture and dryness can all cause your once healthy...
Brittle nails are fingernails or toenails that break or split easily. The nails might also flake off or look very thin. Brittle nails are unsightly and can be painful if they break off close to the quick, also called the nail bed. In most cases,...
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...
Brittle nails that split, crack or break easily ruin your chances of maintaining a stylish manicure. A number of factors and habits can cause brittle nails. If your toenails are strong and unblemished while your fingernails are brittle, the...
Your fingernails are affected by your health and aging, just like the rest of your body. While brittle nails with ridges may be unsightly, in most cases, those conditions usually do not indicate serious health problems. Spending more time caring...
The nails in your fingers and toes are important functional parts of your body. Brittle nails have a tendency to break or tear easily, which can be very painful. The appearance and strength of your nails are directly related to the types of food...
Soft and brittle nails are two separate conditions that sometimes have similar causes. When nails are overly dry, they can become hard and prone to cracking and breakage. Conversely, if you can easily bend your nails and they feel soft and weak,...
If your nails break and crumble at the corners, your fingernails are brittle. Brittle fingernails are more likely to break than healthy nails, and may split in the middle. In most cases, brittle nails are no cause for concern, says the Mayo...
Dry, brittle nails can be caused by illness and health conditions such as hypothyroidism. They can also be caused by applying chemicals to the hands that strip the surface of the nails and dry them out. Vitamin deficiency and malnourishment can...
Brittle nails that peel and crack can have you reaching for the acrylics, but your own natural nails can be beautiful with the right care and treatment. Dry nails that suffer exposure to chemicals or less-than-adequate nutrition become weak and...
Nails often become brittle as people age, but you can help strengthen them by taking good care of your nails and making sure you get the nutrition you need. Brittle nails may break, split or peel, which is unsightly and can irritate your skin and...
Your nails can be a good indicator of your health, and they are important for protecting and supporting the tissues in your fingers. Short, brittle nails are a common complaint, but there are things you can do to achieve healthy nails. Typically...
The appearance of nails can change because of normal events such as aging; however, MedlinePlus notes that abnormal conditions of the nails include changes in color, texture, shape or thickness caused by injury, infection, disease or poisoning....
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, illness, injury or disease may cause brittle nails. However, brittle nails may simply be attributed to aging or bad habits. If your nails peel or chip easily, ensure that you take the proper...
Brittle fingernails are a nuisance because they tend to break or peel, leaving the hands looking unsightly. The protein layers that make up the nail determine the strength and thickness. Some people are genetically predisposed to thinner, more...
If your nails are splitting or crumbling around the edges because they are dry and brittle, you may have onychoschizia, says the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Brittle fingernails are not usually caused by a serious illness, but...
If you have brittle nails, you may be suffering from the most common form of anemia: iron deficiency. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 percent of all women, 50 percent of pregnant women and 3 percent of men lack the right...
Brittle hair and nails can be a cosmetic frustration, but they can also have a more serious significance. If your hair and nails suddenly start breaking off, you may have developed a nutritional deficiency or other disease that is affecting their...
Brittle and splitting nails, a condition called onychoschizia, occurs more commonly in women than in men. Since the water content of nails can vary, anything that changes these levels can lead to nail problems. Split and brittle nails can occur on...
Having brittle nails can make you self-conscious about the appearance of your hands. In severe cases, they can cause bacterial infections, especially if they are cracking. Be sure and see your doctor if your brittle nails are accompanied by other...
If your nails frequently are thin and weak or break, crack, split or peel easily, the University of Michigan Health Systems explains that you may have a condition known as brittle nails. While medical problems such as lung conditions, infection...
Brittle nails can be a cause of worry because they can break and split easily, leaving you with ugly-looking hands. Your nails could be brittle because of dryness, nutritional deficiencies, infections or certain diseases. Whatever the cause, there...
If your nails break and split every time they start to grow, they may be soft and brittle. SallyHansen.com recommends that people with brittle nails develop a regular manicure regimen to gradually strengthen them over time. There are plenty of...
Your fingernails play an important role in the overall integumentary system of your body, which also includes the skin, hair and glands. Your fingernails protect the sensitive nail beds at the ends of your fingers and make daily tasks--peeling...
The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology states that up to 20 percent of the population suffers from dry, brittle nails, or brittle nail syndrome. The problem is more common in women and can cause difficulty if you experience pain or if...
Decreased thyroid production can lead to brittle nails. Women who are over 50 have the highest risk of developing thyroid problems. Hypothyroidism may not cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages, or symptoms might be subtle or easily blamed...
Although brittle nails do come with the natural aging process, you may experience them due to a rare case of malnutrition. Even though vitamins can help to strengthen nails, brittle nails are more likely caused by other things than a lack of...
Taking care of your nails with proper manicure methods and moisturizer can go a long way towards keeping them healthy, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. On the other hand, brittle nails and dry cuticles can be an indication of more serious...
Brittle nails, characterized by weak, thin or splitting nails, affect about 20 percent of the population, with women twice as likely to get the condition as men, notes a 2005 study by Dr. Peter van de Kerkhof, from the Department of Dermatology...