Weak or Brittle Nails: What Your Body May Be Telling You
Brittle, splitting or easily broken nails are common and usually not a sign of something serious. They can become more fragile with age, and frequent exposure to water, cleaning products, nail polish, manicures or physical trauma can contribute.
Possible causes to consider
1. Too much water or cleaning chemicals
Repeatedly wetting and drying your hands can weaken nails. Wearing gloves when doing dishes or cleaning can help.
2. Nail products and manicures
Gel manicures and artificial nails can contribute to brittleness, peeling and cracking, particularly with repeated use.
3. Fungal infection
A fungal infection may make nails brittle, thick, discolored or misshapen, especially toenails.
4. Iron deficiency
Thin, fragile or spoon-shaped nails can sometimes occur with iron-deficiency anemia. But brittle nails alone don’t prove that you have an iron deficiency.
5. Thyroid or other medical conditions
Nail changes can occasionally accompany thyroid disorders, psoriasis, diabetes and certain heart, lung or liver conditions.
What you can do
- Keep nails reasonably short.
- Moisturize your hands, nails and cuticles regularly.
- Wear gloves when your hands are frequently exposed to water or cleaning products.
- Avoid biting, picking or aggressively pushing back cuticles.
- Give your nails a break from repeated gel/artificial manicures.
- Don’t automatically start iron, biotin or other supplements simply because your nails are brittle.
