Why do fingernails break and what to do about it? Causes and treatment of brittle and thin nails Thin flaky nails what to do.

There are many reasons why nails can become soft. Let's get acquainted with the main ones.

Trauma to the nail plate.
Long-term exposure to harmful chemicals, low-quality varnishes, etc.
Wrong manicure.
Problems with the stomach and intestines.
Arthritis.
Peripheral vascular diseases.
Heredity.
Problems with the thyroid gland.
Poor nutrition, lack of vitamins and minerals, in particular vitamins A and B, iron, calcium, sulfur.

As you can see, soft nails are not just a cosmetic problem, but also a serious sign with which your body is trying to tell you about certain malfunctions in its functioning.

One of the basic rules for strengthening and restoring nails is feeding them with nutrients. Mix equal parts lemon juice, beeswax and any vegetable oil (even sunflower oil will do). Carefully rub the resulting natural cream into your nails and cuticles. It is very important not to just apply this mixture, but to massage your fingers for a long time (at least 10 minutes).

You can also make a nourishing mask that you need to keep all night. Only olive oil is suitable for its preparation. It must be mixed in equal parts with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Before application, this mixture should be slightly warmed in a microwave oven or in a water bath. After you lubricate your nails and cuticles with a warm mask, put on your hands for spa treatments made of natural fabric. In the morning, rinse your hands well without using soap.

In order for nails to be strong, they must receive sufficient nutrition. Traditional methods at home will help you solve this problem.

You can also visit a nail salon and undergo paraffin therapy for your hands. This is a very useful procedure that will help you restore your nails. At the moment it is incredibly popular, so almost all salons offer it. And, of course, do not forget that on weakened and soft nails you need to get a high-quality manicure especially often - at least once every 3 weeks.

Feel free to use the tips described above. If you are not allergic to the products used, all of these methods for restoring your nails will be extremely beneficial for you. Have a little patience and soon you will be able to flaunt the most luxurious manicure.

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What girl doesn’t dream of her hands looking well-groomed and beautiful? This is not the last thing that men pay attention to, so you really want to always keep your hands in perfect order, and a perfect manicure is the first thing you should do for this. However, it is worth saying that not everyone’s nails have a correct and beautiful shape, but that would not be so bad, because modern cosmetology literally works wonders. In fact, nails can be thin, brittle, constantly peeling and breaking off, and then the appearance of your hands is more reminiscent of a schoolgirl after an exam, rather than a socialite or businesswoman. You need to devote enough of your super-precious time to understand why your fingernails break and peel, and therefore look for the reason for this, not at all a joyful phenomenon.

Simple truths: Why do women's toenails break? the body itself will answer

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It is clear that fingernails, as well as toenails, are an integral part of the human body, and it is worth understanding that peeling or brittle nail plates are a clear sign that the clearly tuned “mechanism” of our body is somewhere in It malfunctions in some places. Moreover, many are surprised, because at a young age and in good health, a girl’s nails can constantly disappoint with their qualities, which are far from outstanding.

Then the question arises, what could bad nails indicate and is there any way to combat it? In fact, you can easily and simply find answers to all questions if you delve a little deeper into the study of anatomy, and not like in an institute, but simply at the school curriculum level. Moreover, the question of why women’s fingernails break is so relevant that it is worthwhile for us to dwell on it in more detail.

Worth remembering

If your nails have recently begun to peel and break, and at the same time, you have begun to feel itching and tingling in the area of your fingers or toes, then there is a serious problem that will have to be addressed immediately before it develops into something more. All these signs, as well as redness, peeling, and even an unpleasant, characteristic odor, directly indicate a fungal disease, which should be gotten rid of as soon as possible.

Excessively brittle fingernails: the reason may be hidden in many factors

Every day, and moreover, throughout absolutely the entire human life, we are influenced by many factors, which can influence indicators such as dryness and brittleness of hair and nails, the condition of the skin, which can be either oily or dry, and so on. . Moreover, all these factors-indicators n6a can be conditionally divided into two main subcategories:

Photo from the site: my-derma.com.ua

Endogenous factors can affect the fragility and brittleness of nails, and these are internal problems in the body. It is this option that indicates that something is wrong, and it is worth thinking about proper nutrition, regular exercise, as well as consuming vitamins, trace elements and minerals in sufficient quantities.
However, there are also exogenous factors, that is, those reasons that can affect the nail plate, as well as everything else, external influences. For example, environmental pollution, the presence of lead in fruits and vegetables grown within the city, constant stress, and so on, the list could go on for a very long time. For example, your favorite dishwashing detergent, which you use daily without wearing rubber gloves, can have a detrimental effect on your nails.

In order to finally figure out exactly what factors-indicators were the cause, you will have to think carefully, and maybe even turn to a specialist nutritionist or a specialized doctor to check the proper functioning of the organs. However, whatever one may say, if your fingernails break, the reason may be hidden inside your own body, and also directly indicate that it is time to start “fixing” systems that are not working correctly. Moreover, the endogenous aspects are much more serious, because external stimuli are easy to eliminate, but internal ones can really become a real problem.

Why do toenails break? and hands: looking for suitable factors

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An incorrect diet, as well as incorrectly selected components, that is, in fact, your diet, can cause your fingernails to break and it is quite clear what to do about it. You just have to introduce the necessary foods into your diet, which will be discussed further, and acquire vitamin complexes and mineral supplements that will help the body “build” the nails correctly.
Bad, peeling, and brittle nails, the causes of which are unknown, which look more like tissue paper may indicate the presence of diabetes, you should definitely go to your family doctor so as not to miss the moment when the disease can still be dealt with.
Some teenagers who have just entered puberty may also experience symptoms such as brittle and brittle nails.
Abrupt changes in climate zones, frequent trips and flights can also adversely affect the condition of nails.
For workaholics, even for those who do not put any physical effort into work, the simple question of why nails peel and break indicates constant stress. They say that depressed people also never have well-groomed nails, so you should be more cheerful.
As already mentioned, an unhealthy lifestyle, coupled with tobacco products and alcoholic beverages promoted everywhere, is also one of the factors that adversely affects the condition of nails.
Hormonal as well as a wide variety of endocrine disruptions can also lead to excessive brittleness of nails.

Thus, it turns out that brittle and thin nails, the cause of which may be hidden inside your body, can be put in order only if it is found. Most often, after being treated for an existing disease, many girls were relieved to discover that the condition of their marigolds noticeably improved, and then completely recovered. It turns out that brittle nails, the causes and treatment of which we will consider today, do not have one evil “enemy”, by destroying which you will immediately become the owner of silver claws.

It is worth balancing the workload, spending more time in the fresh air and relaxing, normalizing your diet, and only then paying attention to nail care products, as well as their treatment. In the same way, there can be brittle toenails and the reasons for this lie in the same “places” that we talked about.

Core question: nails peel and break - what to do how to fight and win

It is clear that if the fragility and brittleness of nails is in any way connected with various diseases, then it simply cannot be done without treatment, and it is unlikely that it will be possible to restore nails with external care. Only by qualitatively improving your body and eliminating all traces of the disease can you achieve an excellent result, although even here you will have to try quite a bit. Moreover, everything is simple and understandable, since nails break, there is something missing in the body or there is an excess of these substances, which is also not at all good.

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Yours nails are thin, soft, brittle, what to do?? Eliminate the lack of minerals and trace elements

First of all, even experienced specialists check whether your body receives enough various vitamins, microelements, as well as other useful substances, especially if there are no serious health problems. Do you want to know what to do when your nails peel and break? All you need to do is simply give the body what it may be missing.

Calcium, which is a real building material for bones, nails and hair in the body, therefore its deficiency will also definitely affect the condition of the nails. It is worth making sure that there is plenty of it, and everyone knows foods rich in this amazing substance. Fermented milk products, for example, cottage cheese and cheese, broccoli, spinach and sesame seeds, chicken eggs, cabbage, peas, nuts - all these are natural sources of calcium and must be consumed.
It is also important to provide an influx of magnesium, which is involved in the production of human DNA. It is found in buckwheat and rice, whole grain wheat, bananas, spinach, and so on.
Also, to the question of how to treat thin and brittle nails, there is another answer. Surprisingly, your body definitely needs sulfur, and not the kind in hell, but the most ordinary kind, although it has a smell, to be honest, it’s still the same. It is sulfur that is found in almost all proteins of the human body. To obtain a sufficient norm, you need to consume daily sufficient quantities of fish and meat, poultry and a variety of seafood, which6, moreover, are full of iodine. Bread, milk, cheese and radish - all this will become a source of health for your marigolds.
How to strengthen your nails so they don't break? Give your body phosphorus, which takes an active part in almost any process in the body. You can replenish it by consuming meat and eggs, seeds, nuts and fish.
It is also very important to give your body silicon, which makes up cartilage and connective tissue, hair and nails. You can “get it” from carrots and young nettles, onions and radishes, from green lettuce leaves, as well as from forest mushrooms and champignons.

Among other things, if your fingernails are brittle, special vitamin complexes will tell you what to do, the instructions for which should contain precise dosage instructions and purpose. For example, excessively brittle and peeling nails can be a consequence of a lack of entire groups of vitamins, such as the already mentioned notorious vitamin C, “sunny” D, a whole set of group B (B5, B3, B1), women’s vitamin E, and also “carrot happiness”, vitamin A. Moreover, usually vitamin capsules also contain gelatin, which is also very useful for nails.

Nails peel and break: what to do how to fight and when to expect results

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If you finally understand that no matter what you give your body as food, no matter how hard you try to protect your hands, as well as nails, from contact with a harmful environment, for example, with caustic household chemicals, the problem remains . There are still very brittle nails, and it is completely unclear what to do. There are a couple of folk care products that will definitely help cope with the problem, at least they definitely won’t do any harm.

For one hundred grams of olive oil you will need to add about ten drops of fresh lemon juice. After generously lubricating your nails with the resulting solution, put cotton gloves on your hands. This procedure is best done at night, and it doesn’t hurt to leave the mixture until the morning.
If you don’t have lemon on hand, you can use apple cider vinegar, then even if your nails are brittle and peeling, you won’t have to ask what to do. You will have to dilute the oil and vinegar one to one.
Any vegetable oil, be it olive, sunflower or sesame, needs to be warmed up a little, and then add five to ten drops of iodine, depending on the quantity. By taking baths every morning and evening for just twenty minutes, in just three days you will see the results for yourself.

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It is worth understanding that external problems will be quite easy to solve, but if a disease has crept into your body and is cunningly waiting for the right moment, you should definitely think about it. Problems with nails may indicate some kind of disease, so you should not neglect such signs. Consult a doctor, and if everything is in order, only then calmly proceed to simple and high-quality care.

A beautiful manicure is impossible without healthy nails. But sometimes even girls who take care of themselves and are careful about their hands face such a problem as brittle nails. In fact, its causes may turn out to be much deeper than it seems at first glance, and indicate some problems in the body. Today we’ll talk about why nails on women’s hands break.

Internal causes of brittle nails

Poor quality nails can be caused by a deficiency of certain vitamins and microelements in the body. Most often, the problem lies in a lack of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, iodine, silicon, etc. Since most of the nutrients come through food, we advise you to reconsider your diet a little.

Calcium

Contained in dairy and fermented milk products, egg whites, spinach, sesame seeds, legumes, figs, broccoli, etc.

Essential for bones, connective tissue, a healthy nervous system, and muscle contraction.

Silicon

Contained in radishes, carrot radishes, turnips, lettuce, mushrooms, and also in nettle leaves.

Necessary for the formation of cartilage, hair, nails, bones, connective tissue, blood capillaries.

Magnesium

Found in whole wheat grains, cereals, rye bread, legumes, bananas, spinach and nuts.

Essential for hormonal stability, normal cardiovascular function and DNA production.

If you are not sure what element your body is missing and whether brittle nails are related to this at all, just in case, diversify your diet, give up diets and global restrictions, and, if desired, get examined by a doctor. Ready-made vitamin complexes will also help restore useful elements in the body.

The causes of brittle nails may be hidden in the following diseases and abnormalities:

Failure of metabolic processes;
Experienced severe inflammatory diseases;
Taking certain medications (antibiotics);
Problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
Reduced immunity;
Overwork, severe or chronic stress;
Psoriasis;
Fungus.

External causes of thin fingernails

Regular mechanical damage to the nail plate can result in thin nails. We are talking about an incorrectly done manicure or extensions. To prevent thin nails from being filed, what to do:

Use a glass or ceramic nail file (approximately 240 grit);
Polish your nails only with a soft, non-scratching buff. For thin nails it can even be replaced with suede;
File your nails only in one direction: for example, only from right to left.

Extensions and gel polish applied to nails should, in theory, not cause any harm to the nails. In fact, such cases are not at all uncommon. This is due to the unprofessionalism of the nail service technician, the use of products containing harmful components, improper removal of unnatural nails, and carrying out this procedure too often - the nails should take a break from heavy coatings for at least a week.

Another reason for brittle fingernails is regular contact with aggressive environments and cleaning liquids, including nail polish removers containing acetone and the varnishes themselves. Try to do all work that can harm your nails and skin with gloves, and after finishing the work, lubricate your hands with cream.

Exposure to low temperatures also has a detrimental effect on the condition of your nails, so do not forget to take care of them during the cold period.

Once you have figured out why your nails are breaking, you can move on to treating them. However, remember that if the reasons are hidden in the internal workings of the body, cosmetic treatment methods will not solve the problem.

Treatment of brittle nails

Home cosmetic procedures aimed at eliminating brittle nails are as follows:

Baths

The simplest and most effective remedy for brittle nails is to take a small amount of warm water that is comfortable for your hands into a cup, add 1 tablespoon of sea salt or bath salts to it, lower your hands and take water procedures for 20 minutes.

Remember how your nails began to strengthen and grow faster after visiting seaside resorts? The described recipe will give the same effect, but at much lower cost.

Oils

Oils have a lot of beneficial substances that nails need. In addition, their use for nails is very simple and effective: apply the mixture to the cuticles, rubbing and massaging each finger, put on gloves and walk as long as possible until everything is absorbed.

By mixture we mean various combinations of oils: olive, sunflower, peach, jojoba, wheat germ, etc. And also adding liquid vitamins to them. They can be found in capsule form in almost any pharmacy at a very low price.

Vitamin A for nails can be rubbed either in pure form into the cuticle or in combination with vitamins E, D. Vitamins in capsules are also very convenient because they can be added to all your favorite cosmetics: creams, gels, shampoos, etc. .

Before using vitamins, it is necessary to carry out an allergy reaction: drop a couple of drops on the back of your hand or wrist, wait a couple of hours and evaluate the result: whether there is a rash, itching or other unpleasant sensations.

Now you know what to do with brittle fingernails, how to pre-assess your health based on them, and you can prevent the situation from getting worse.

Stay beautiful!

Well-groomed and beautiful nails are a sign of the owner’s well-being and self-care. If they become uneven, weak, this fact gives both men and women self-doubt and indicates that malfunctions have appeared in the body’s functioning. Fragile plates are not only a cosmetic and aesthetic problem, but directly affect human health, so it must be solved immediately.

dull color;
roughness;
splitting of ends;
significant slowdown in growth;
splitting the plate into flakes.

What does a nail consist of?

The plate is made up of keratin horny scales tightly adjacent to each other. Between them there are layers of water, it is needed for elasticity, gives shine and a pleasant color. Growth occurs as follows: in the base (matrix - the white crescent adjacent directly to the skin) the division of germ cells occurs, which push the old ones forward. If microgaps or cracks appear between the plates, this leads to nails breaking and peeling.

External factors:

Incorrect manicure or pedicure technique.
Regular use of varnishes that contain formaldehyde.
Extension.
Violation of the technology for correction and removal of artificial nails.
Using nail polish remover with acetone, diluting old varnishes with it.
Frequent use of alkaline cleaning products without protecting hands with gloves. Typical for women housewives.
Injuries.
Regular prolonged exposure to cold or low humidity conditions.
Professional deformations. Characteristic of musicians, especially guitarists and representatives of other professions, who use the nail plates when working.

Internal factors:

One of the main causes of brittle nails is an unbalanced diet. This happens when there is a lack of protein, vitamins A, D, E, and microelements such as sulfur, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, and calcium in the food.
Pathologies of the endocrine system, biliary tract, gastrointestinal tract or liver. When they occur, improper distribution of microelements in the body occurs and metabolism is disrupted.
Anemia.
Dermatological diseases that affect the nail or adjacent tissues. This includes fungus, lichen planus, eczema, and psoriasis.
Hormonal imbalance in the body. It can also occur in men, especially during puberty, but is more common in women. Often occurs during menopause.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. In these situations, priority in the distribution of nutrients and microelements is given to the child.
A consequence of intoxication with harmful elements, especially heavy metals.

In addition to these reasons, this condition can be caused by depression, bad habits or nervous pathologies: biting the plates, destroying their integrity. This requires visiting a psychotherapist.

What to do and how to treat it?

If a person realizes that he has brittle, unhealthy nails, then any therapy should begin with a trip to the doctor. First, you should visit a mycologist or dermatologist. In some cases, consultation with an endocrinologist, gastroenterologist or immunologist is required. The specialist will advise you to do a blood test - biochemical or for hormones, which is most often relevant not for men, but for women. If the cause is a disease of the internal organs, it must be treated first.

1. Normalization of nutrition.

Whatever the cause of the problem, treatment should include nutritional correction. Be sure to eat protein foods regularly. This is meat (it is preferable to take white meat, poultry), dairy products (they are also rich in calcium), eggs, fish. Don’t neglect vegetable protein, which is found in vegetables, especially lentils, peas, and beans.

If your fingernails break, it will be obvious to any specialist what your body is missing: vitamins A and E, as well as ascorbic acid. Regularly eat vegetables, fruits, berries, and unrefined vegetable oils.

Among the large number of products, cottage cheese stands out as a source of high-quality protein, sesame, rich in calcium, nuts and spinach, which is preferably eaten raw.

The lack of vitamins and microelements does not stop immediately. It takes a considerable period of time, after which the body will be able to cope with the causes of the trouble.

2. Vitamin complexes and dietary supplements.

Any specialist will advise you to do the following: go to the pharmacy and buy certain vitamin preparations that you need to take regularly at home. The supply of nutrients from food is not so great as to help if the fragility of the marigolds is severe, so medical help will be required.

Treatment at home

It is possible to tidy up your fingernails and eliminate the cause of their separation by rubbing nourishing creams into them. They often contain valuable oils and vitamins, which will enhance the effect. You can purchase waxes in pharmacies or specialty stores. They are a good and more affordable alternative to similar salon procedures.

Replace your usual varnishes with medicinal ones. They contain growth activators, strengthening and nourishing components. They are often used for decorative purposes, doing their own manicure.

Brittle nails can be eliminated at home using special natural muds. To do this, the drug purchased at the pharmacy is diluted in a warm oven to a viscous state and a compress is applied to the hands for about 15 minutes. The plates must be completely covered with the mixture. Rinse in salted water, then apply nourishing cream. The procedure is carried out daily for a week, after a 10-day break the treatment is repeated.

You can also take care with the help of special baths. To do this, dissolve a couple of tablespoons of sea salt in warm water. Then you need to make an oil preparation: dissolve a couple of drops of essential oil - myrrh, bergamot, tea tree, ylang-ylang, patchouli, pine or cedar - in a teaspoon of almond or apricot oil. Dilute the resulting mixture in water. Place your hands in the bath and soak for 20 to 30 minutes. The duration of the procedure depends on how severely the fingernails are injured. After using the cream, massage each finger well. Treatment continues until complete recovery, its frequency is approximately 2 times a week.

Thin plates are successfully healed by applying healing oils. It can be sea buckthorn or olive, coconut or almond, jojoba oil. Any of the selected elixirs should be thoroughly rubbed into the nails and surrounding skin overnight as a treatment.

Prevention

Interact with aggressive agents only with gloves.
Protect vulnerable and thin nails from frost in winter.
Use ceramic or glass files. Process in one direction.
Nail scissors must be sharp.
Buy quality varnishes. Use protective equipment before applying them.
Fragility can be prevented with a balanced diet.

Depressing statistics from medical cosmetology tell us that every year the number of complaints about the deterioration of the condition and appearance of the nail plates on the hands and feet increases. Gradually, our nails become thinner, become so dry and brittle that it is almost impossible to grow long nails with the gel polish coating that is fashionable today. If no measures are taken in a timely manner, degenerative changes in thin and brittle nail plates will continue to progress. Over time, the homogeneous structure of the natural plate is disrupted by peeling and yellowed areas, and nail growth noticeably slows down.

But we hasten to please you! The problem of brittle and peeling nails can be solved quite quickly if you use a set of procedures to strengthen the plates and stimulate the growth zone of new layers of keratin in the matrix. In this material we will look at the causes of thinning and destruction of nail plates, and with the help of visual instructions and video lessons you will learn what you need to do to restore the health of your brittle nails at home.

But first we must eliminate all etiological factors that provoke deterioration in the appearance of the nail plates. First of all, review your diet, since a deficiency of vitamins A, B, C, E, as well as microelements (selenium, calcium, zinc, iodine, magnesium, iron, silicon, fluorine) makes it difficult to form dense layers of keratin with lipid layers in the growth zone matrix. Include dairy products, nuts, herbs (parsley, dill, sesame) in your daily menu, and also eat more fresh vegetables and fruits.

♦ REASONS

Frequent nail extensions, violation of coating technique.
Especially nails extended with gel cover the natural plate quite tightly and thereby prevent natural air exchange. After removing artificial nails, let your nails rest for at least 2-3 weeks. By the way, incorrect cutting of the gel coating can also seriously damage the structure of the natural plate. If the coating (acrylic, airbrush paint) can be softened and removed with a special liquid, be sure to use this method so as not to injure your nails with nail files. Please note that the liquid does not contain formaldehyde and acetone.

And one more important point - always apply a base coat under a decorative layer of varnish or gel polish. Strengthening biogel can be used as a base for very weak, thin nails;

Incorrect use of manicure tools.
Metal files can only be used for processing artificial nails. To grind natural nails and correct the shape of the free edge, use glass, ceramic, or laser files, and it is best to polish the surface of the plates with a buff. When performing a hygienic manicure, leave at least a few millimeters of free edge and use sharp, well-sharpened scissors to trim your nails;

Lack of nutrients during pregnancy and lactation.
Brittle nails in pregnant women are quite common. Make sure your diet is varied, additionally take a complex of vitamins and microelements;

Poor diet.
For the growth and normal development of nail plates, all the necessary substances must be supplied to the matrix so that dense layers of keratin with fatty layers are formed. If your nails have become soft or, on the contrary, very thin and brittle, then be sure to include dairy products, seafood and fish, vegetables, fruits, and herbs in your diet;

Diseases.
The cause of thinning and brittleness of the nail plates can be a chronic disease (thyrotoxicosis and other problems with the thyroid gland, anemia, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus);

Hormonal changes.
Often, nails split and become brittle in adolescents during puberty, as well as in women during menopause (menopause);

Hypothermia, frequent temperature changes.
In frosty, windy, chilly weather, be sure to wear mittens or warm gloves on your hands. During sudden temperature changes, rub a nourishing cream with protective properties into the skin of your hands and nail plates more often;

Constant contact with household chemicals and hot water.
When cleaning house or washing dishes, wear special rubber gloves.

♦ A SET OF HOME PROCEDURES FOR RESTORING THE STRUCTURE OF BRITTLE NAILS

First of all, we need to restore the normal functioning of the matrix, since it is here that new layers with keratin and layers of fat are formed from the germ cells, pushing out the old nail plate. An oil bath will help saturate the matrix with all the necessary vitamins and microelements, which easily penetrate through the porous structure of the nail plate. Procedures using special masks, beeswax and an alcohol solution of iodine 5% help quickly strengthen very brittle and dry nails.

❶ Preparation.
Before starting treatment procedures, sand the nails with a fine nail file and give the free edge the desired shape. Then push back the cuticle a little with an orange stick and treat the surface of the plate with a remover to remove keratinized pterygium scales. Polish your nails with a buff and treat with an antiseptic;

❷ Oil bath to saturate the matrix with vitamins and microelements.
Combine the base oils in a bowl: 2 teaspoons avocado, 1 tablespoon sweet almonds and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Heat a water bath to 40°C and heat the mixture of base oils in it.

Then add 6 drops of myrrh and lemon essential oils to the bowl (can be replaced with a combination of patchouli + lavender, grapefruit + bergamot or tea tree + eucalyptus). Dip your fingers into the bath for 10 minutes, and then wipe them dry with a napkin;

❸ Mask to strengthen thin and brittle nails.
Add 2 tablespoons of slightly warmed olive oil to the bowl, and then 2 teaspoons of sea salt.

Now add 1 teaspoon each of the following ground ingredients to the mixture - red pepper, ginger and cinnamon. Mix everything thoroughly, add 6-7 drops of liquid vitamins A and E.

Apply the mask to each nail plate and rub in with massage movements. Keep the mask on your nails for half an hour, and then wash off with warm running water and wipe your hands dry with a towel;

❹ Sealing nails with beeswax.
We apply beeswax (or cosmetic) to brittle nails, and then polish each nail plate in turn with a buff so that the wax is properly absorbed into all the keratinized layers. Sealing will help strengthen thin dry nails, get rid of yellowness and dark spots on the surface of the plates;

❺ Iodine to restore the structure of dry and flaky nails and improve their protective properties.
Using a cotton swab, apply an alcohol solution of iodine 5% to each plate, trying not to get it on the cuticle, so as not to cause irritation and redness of thin skin. Perform this procedure before going to bed, since the iodine must be kept on the nails until the morning;

❻ Cuticle treatment.
To complete the set of procedures, apply a special oil with moisturizing and softening properties to the cuticle of each nail.

☛ Course: We perform the entire complex 2 times a week in the evening. A few weeks later we do the same procedures, but only once a week for a month. Healthy

Many of us are faced with the problem of brittle and splitting nails. This forces us to hide our hands in shame and look for ways to eliminate this seemingly cosmetic defect. The condition of our nails can be negatively affected by various external or internal factors, and the appearance of such a symptom should not be left without due attention. Sometimes, to eliminate such a cosmetic defect, it is enough to just put on rubber gloves or refuse to use aggressive household chemicals, but in some cases, only a course of treatment for the underlying disease that provoked a change in the structure of the nail plates will help restore the health and beauty of your nails.

That is why, in order to eliminate such a problem, it is always necessary to accurately determine the cause of brittleness and splitting of nails, and only after that begin their restoration, and in some cases, treatment of the underlying disease. What reasons can lead to disruption of the structure of the nail plate? How can you get rid of them? How to restore the beauty and health of nails? You will find answers to these questions in this article.

What external causes lead to brittleness and splitting of nails?

Violation of the structure of the nail plate can be caused by the following aggressive external causes, leading to dry and brittle nails:

prolonged contact with water;
frequent exposure to low or high temperatures (dry and hot air, hot water, etc.);
aggressive exposure to ultraviolet rays;
contact with aggressive chemicals (household chemicals, nail polishes, nail polish remover, building materials, etc.);
use of low-quality nail files;
improper care of hands and nails;
improperly performed manicure or nail extensions;
mechanical injuries.

The external factors described above lead to overdrying of the tissues of the nail plate or its mechanical damage. As a result, the nail begins to peel, becomes dry and brittle.

What internal reasons lead to brittleness and splitting of nails?

Violation of the structure of the nail plate can be caused by various internal reasons that provoke a malnutrition of the nail tissue. These include:

poor nutrition or aggressive diets leading to insufficient intake of minerals and vitamins from food (deficiency of vitamins B5, B3, B1, A, C, E and D, silicon, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron);
period of active growth of children or adolescents;
stress;
chronic fatigue;
bad habits (smoking, alcohol, drugs);
onychomycosis (caused by Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton schoenleinii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermaphyton floccosum, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Alternaria, Aspergillus and other types of fungi);
hormonal disorders and endocrine diseases (functional disorders, etc.);
psoriasis;
diseases of the kidneys and digestive organs (intestines, etc.).

The reasons described above lead to disruption of the nutrition of the nail plate and changes in its structure. As a result, the nails begin to peel and break, and grooves, depressions, or areas of discoloration appear on them. In such cases, it is not possible to improve the appearance of nails with the help of external means, and you can get rid of the problem that has arisen only after eliminating the cause of its occurrence (i.e., treating the underlying disease, giving up bad habits, normalizing nutrition).

What do nails look like with some diseases?

Overdrying of the nail plates, caused by insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals or exposure to aggressive factors and chemicals, is manifested by delamination and increased brittleness of the nails. They lose their integrity, become dull and grow poorly. In such cases, a person needs to eliminate aggressive external factors, normalize nutrition and properly care for nails.

With the development of diseases of the internal organs, in addition to delamination and increased fragility, the condition of the nail plates can change as follows:

the appearance of dents and depressions on the nail - when;
yellowish tint of the nail - with;
cyanosis or paler color of the nail - in diseases associated with circulatory disorders;
shiny, brittle and soft nails without a hole (sometimes with tubercles) - with hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;
thickened, peeling nails with transverse grooves in the form of stripes - with hidden or recently suffered infectious diseases;
a yellowish nail with white spots and bumps on the surface - with diabetes;
yellow spots on the nails - with lung diseases;
concavity of the nail (surface like a spoon) – with;
a nail with a small scattering of white (pearl-like) convex tubercles - with a hidden viral infection;
discoloration to yellow, gray and blackish, porosity, delamination and peeling of the nail (up to its loss) - with fungal diseases.

Based on the signs described above, the doctor may suspect one or another disease of the internal organs and prescribe a number of additional studies that will help determine the true cause of the change in appearance and delamination of the nail plates. After this, the patient is prescribed a course of treatment for the underlying disease, which will not only eliminate dysfunction of organs and systems, but also guarantee an improvement in the appearance of the nails.

General recommendations for eliminating splitting and brittle nails

When nails become split and brittle, it is important to eliminate external aggressive factors that may affect their health:

When coming into contact with aggressive detergents or other chemicals, soil, building materials, hard or metal sponges, use rubber gloves.
Avoid prolonged contact with water.
Limit exposure to high and low temperatures (wear gloves, use protective creams, etc.).
Careful use of graters for cooking.
Wearing comfortable shoes.
Carefully trim your nails with high-quality nail scissors. The optimal shape for nails is oval or rectangular.
Use only high-quality nail files (it is better to purchase glass ones). When filing nails, movements should be directed from the corner of the nail to the center. You should not file the sides of the nail plates.
Learn how to do a manicure correctly or contact only an experienced specialist.
Do not use low-quality nail polishes and nail polish remover containing acetone.
Do not paint your nails constantly (it is advisable not to apply polish more than once a week). Give your nails a complete “rest” from polish 1-2 days a week.
Before applying brightly colored varnishes, apply a special base for colored varnish.
Avoid frequent procedures such as acrylic nail extensions and shellac-type coatings. It is better to avoid such procedures altogether if you have brittle and split nails.

To more effectively restore nail health, these recommendations must be supplemented with the following measures:

normalization of nutrition;
replenishing the lack of minerals and vitamins;
proper nail care;
salon treatments (if possible).

How to balance nutrition when nails are brittle and split?

With increased brittleness and splitting of nails, you definitely need to think about the quality of your diet. It is an unbalanced diet and the abuse of strict diets for weight loss that often lead to the fact that the body receives an insufficient amount of those substances that are needed for the normal development of the nail plate.

To prevent and eliminate splitting and brittleness of nails, introducing into your daily diet foods that are rich in the following substances:

Keratin: eggs, sea fish, poultry and meat.
Calcium: cheese, dairy products, sesame seeds, egg whites, spinach, legumes, white cabbage and cauliflower, nuts and figs.
Magnesium: buckwheat, oats, beans and soybeans, nuts, whole wheat grains, brown rice and spinach.
Silicon: radish, radish, lettuce, nettle shoots, mushrooms and leeks.
Sulfur: oats, buckwheat, seafood, meat, poultry, eggs, cheese, milk, legumes, garlic, onions, radishes and radishes.
Phosphorus: seafood, meat, fish, eggs, seeds, nuts and unrefined grains.
Iodine: seaweed, seafood, sea fish, feijoa.
Zinc: liver, meat, poultry, legumes, pine nuts and peanuts, wheat, oats, barley and buckwheat.
Iron: liver, lentils, pistachios, buckwheat and barley, whole wheat, oats, cashews, peanuts, corn, dogwood and pomegranate.
Vitamin B5: kidneys, beef liver and beef, eggs, sea fish, milk, brewer's yeast, legumes, rye flour, mushrooms and nuts.
Vitamin B3: liver, chicken meat, peas, porcini mushrooms and champignons, eggs, nuts, corn, whole wheat and oats.
Vitamin B1: pork, liver, nuts (pine, peanuts, pistachios, walnuts, cashews), lentils, cereals and pasta.
Vitamin A: liver, butter, garlic, wild garlic, broccoli, processed cheese and feta cheese, sour cream, viburnum, seaweed and seafood.
Vitamin C: bell pepper, rose hips, black currants, kiwi, sea buckthorn, oranges and broccoli.
Vitamin E: nuts, dried apricots, sea buckthorn, whole wheat, rose hips, spinach, viburnum and sorrel.
VitaminD: eggs, liver, sea bass, butter, sour cream and cream.

How to compensate for the lack of vitamins and minerals with split and brittle nails?

For faster nail restoration, it is recommended to take special vitamin and mineral complexes, which contain the “building material” necessary for the formation of normal nail plates. Only a specialist can determine the lack of a particular vitamin or mineral, and that is why the selection of such drugs should be carried out by a doctor or in consultation with him.

The most popular and effective vitamin and mineral complexes for restoring the structure of nails are the following drugs:

Vitasharm (Veropharm, Russia);
Perfectil and Perfectil Plus (Vitabiotics, UK);
Revalid (Biogal, Hungary);
Lady'S formula (PharmaMed, Canada);
Healthy hair and nails (PharmaMed, Canada);
Ageless Skin (PharmaMed, Canada);
Volvit (Kusum Healthcare, India);
Biotin (NOW Foods, USA);
Medobiotin (Medopharm Arzneimittel, Germany);
Calcium D3 Nycomed (Nycomed Pharma, Switzerland), etc.

The duration of taking such vitamin-mineral complexes is determined individually and depends on the degree of deficiency of vitamins or minerals. Before taking the drug, it is recommended to carefully study the instructions and follow all rules of administration.

How to properly care for split and brittle nails at home?

Despite the fact that splitting and brittleness of nails is a purely medical problem, proper cosmetic care and therapeutic procedures can make a significant contribution to the restoration of their structure. There are many recipes for strengthening nail plates that you can use at home and prepare yourself from foods, medications and oils.

Healing bath for nails with vegetable oil and green tea

Mix vegetable oil (olive or sunflower) and green tea (1:4 ratio) in a bowl. Heat the resulting solution to a comfortable temperature and place your hands in it for 15-20 minutes. It is better to do the procedure before bedtime. Dry your hands with a paper towel and put on cotton gloves.

The oil and tea solution can be reused. It must be stored in the refrigerator (but no more than 3 days). The procedure is carried out daily for 10 days.

Salt baths for nails

Dissolve a tablespoon of sea salt in a glass of very warm water and dip your fingers into the resulting solution. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes. The course of treatment is 10-14 days.

Gelatin baths

Dissolve ½ tablespoon of gelatin in ¾ glass of warm water, heat it and dip your fingers in the resulting solution for 20 minutes. Carry out the procedure 3 times a week for a month.

Bath of infusions of pine needles and green tea

Pour 200 ml of boiling water over a teaspoon of chopped pine needles and leave for 20-30 minutes. Add ½ cup of strongly brewed green tea to the infusion. Heat the resulting solution and dip your fingers in it for 20 minutes. The procedure is carried out every other day for 1-2 months.

Applications with burdock oil, iodine and lemon juice

Add 8 drops of iodine and a teaspoon of lemon juice to 200 ml of burdock oil. Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Perform the procedure before bedtime. Moisten cotton pads in the resulting oil solution and secure them to your fingertips with an elastic band or thread (without squeezing your finger). Wear cotton gloves and do not take them off until the morning. Wash off the oil solution with soap and water. Apply applications 2-3 times a week for a month.

Applications based on olive oil, lemon juice and vitamin A

Take 10 ml of olive oil and add 10 drops of lemon juice and vitamin A to it. The procedure is best done before bed. Lubricate the nail plates with the resulting oil and wrap them with cling film. Wear cotton gloves and do not take them off until the morning. Such applications should be performed 4-6 times a month.

Applications of vitamins A and E

Purchase capsules of the drug AEvit at the pharmacy. Open the capsule, apply the oil solution to the cuticles and nails. Rub in with massage movements. Carry out this procedure daily (preferably before bedtime). The course of treatment is 20-30 days.

Applications of olive oil, iodine and lemon juice

Add 4 drops of lemon juice and 3 drops of iodine to 20 ml of olive oil. Mix, apply to the nail plate and rub in. Leave for 10-15 minutes and remove any remaining product with a paper towel. Such procedures can be carried out daily for a month.

Cranberry juice applications

Apply cranberry juice to your nails and rub in with massage movements. Carry out the procedure daily before going to bed. The course of treatment is a month.

Instead of cranberry juice, you can use lemon, black or red currant juice.

Applications from cactus juice

Apply cactus juice to the nail plates and rinse off after 10 minutes with warm water. Perform the procedure 2 times a week for 10 days.

Sealing nails with wax at home

Carefully file your nails with a glass file (movements should be directed from the edge of the nail to the center). Make a healing bath for your nails (for example, in a solution of sea salt) and rub vitamin oil or other caring agent into the cuticle. Melt beeswax and mix it with vitamin oil (in a ratio of 1:4). Rub the resulting composition into the nail plates using a soft suede polisher.

What salon treatments are useful for brittle and split nails?

To restore nails, the salon can offer a number of procedures:

Paraffin therapy. Paraffin is heated in a special electric heater, to which substances beneficial for nails and skin are added. After cleansing, hands are dipped into the heated mixture, removed and the resulting “gloves” are left for 20 minutes. The paraffin film is carefully removed and the hands are lubricated with a moisturizer.
Strengthening nails with soft biogel. The biogel contains substances that strengthen the nail platinum, which after application remain on the nails for a long time and protect them from microcracks.
Sealing nails. To perform this procedure, formulations are used that include vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for nails. The nail is first polished and only after that a special paste is applied to its surface. This procedure is effective for 14 days. After completing it, you cannot do a manicure.

In addition to the procedures described above, salon clients may be offered services for applying professional nail masks. Such therapeutic measures are always highly effective, but do not require a one-time application, but a course of treatment.