Nails are an important part of our body; their health is usually a sign of health and beauty. However, many people are faced with the problem of nail brittleness and do not know what causes this occurrence or what solution can solve it. If you have such concerns, we suggest you do not miss reading this article, which examines the cause of nail breakage, related diseases, and prevention and treatment methods.
What is the cause of brittle nails?
Many factors can cause brittle nails. These factors include external factors such as strong detergents, frequent contact with water, use of artificial nails, etc., or internal factors such as lack of vitamins and minerals, skin diseases, stress, etc. Identifying their cause and taking the necessary measures to prevent broken nails is essential. Some of the most important reasons are:
vitamin deficiency
Vitamins are essential for the health of the body, and their consumption is necessary. If the required vitamins cannot be supplied, various body parts will suffer from many problems, nails being one of them. Your nails may become brittle if you lack vitamins such as vitamins A, C, D, and biotin because vitamin A makes nails dry and brittle.
Vitamin C also plays a vital role in strengthening nails and maintaining moisture. Hence, it’s deficiency damages nail health. Also, a lack of vitamin D, which may be caused by calcium deficiency, will cause the nails to become weak and brittle. Finally, lacking biotin (vitamin H) also leads to weak nails.
Getting thin
Nail thinning happens for many reasons, including the constant use of chemicals such as nail polish, lack of proper nail care, and lack of vitamins and nutrients in the body. We should take all of these seriously. When nails become thin, they break easily because they are less intense.
You can use the following methods to prevent nail thinning and brittleness:
- Intake of protein, iron, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and calcium;
- Using products containing panthenol, biotin, vitamin E, and keratin.
- Using nail strengthening materials such as olive oil or coconut oil on nails.
- Considerable use of nail polish and moisturizing base layers before applying nail polish.
- Wash hands with chemical solutions and hot water continuously.
Continuous use of nail polish
Another reason people face the problem of brittle nails is the continuous use of nail polish. If used repeatedly, nail polish protects the nail and keeps moisture under it.
This causes the nails to become weaker and break easily. Also, it increases the infection and fungus in the nails, which will cause them to become brittle and damaged.
Nail biting
Nail biting is a bad habit that some people have for various reasons, including mental problems. If you have such a problem, it is better to see a psychiatrist to diagnose the leading causes of this habit and treat you.
Use of detergents
One of the most important reasons for breaking nails is the continuous use of chemical and vital detergents, which women mainly use for daily house cleaning. Try to wear gloves when using them. Choose materials that have a low percentage of chemicals and avoid combining them with other detergents that may be dangerous.
age increasing
With the passage of time and age, the natural processes in the human body change. Cell production and repair power decrease as we age, making nails weaker. Reducing the production of natural oils in the skin can also cause dry and brittle nails. Aging may also decrease the body’s absorption of vitamins and nutrients important in nail health and strength. For this reason, increasing age increases the possibility of breaking nails.
Which diseases cause brittle nails?
In addition to external and internal factors, some diseases can cause brittle nails. For example, skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema cause the skin and nails to become brittle due to the changes they cause. Also, some non-skin diseases, such as hypothyroidism, can lead to brittle nails.
Ways to prevent breaking nails
Proper nail care is important to prevent them from breaking. Strengthening the nails is also very important, as it helps them survive against various factors, including fragility.
Eating different foods, especially vegetables and fruits that contain vitamins and minerals the body needs, also helps strengthen nails.
In general, the methods of preventing nails from breaking are:
- Using the extract and oil of some nutritious plants will be effective. Like coconut or olive oil, it helps soften your nails.
- When working with solid detergents, use gloves so that these substances do not come into contact with the skin of your hands and nails.
- Do not wash your hands too much; use skin and cuticle nourishing creams after washing them. This will make your nails soft and robust.
- Massaging black seed oil around the nail strengthens and softens it.
- Do not use beauty methods such as nail implants and their types as much as possible; if you want to do this, be sure to do it in a reputable clinic and by a skilled person.
- Do not use too much nail polish; if you do, try to ensure its products are from reputable and well-known brands.
Conclusion
In this article, we investigated the cause of nail breakage. We explained that nail brittleness is a common problem due to external, internal, or related factors or diseases. With proper preventive measures and treatment of related diseases, you can prevent your nails from breaking and strengthen them.
