Just like any other part of the human body, nails too can suffer from a number of medical conditions. Brittle nail is fairly common and is a natural aging process. Dry, splitting, and cracked nails can be quite unsightly and need to be addressed timely so as to avoid major damage.
There can be a number of causes of brittle nail syndrome such as nutritional deficiencies, lack of moisturizer, harmful chemical bases products, side-effects of medications, infections, etc. Listed below are some of the ways that can help your brittle nails restore good health:
1. Protect your hands
People often take good care of their face while ignoring their hands completely. It is utmost important to protect your hands specially, from harsh weather and harmful chemical based products. Always wear gloves during winters or when doing the dishes. Excessive hand-washing rips off the natural moisture leaving your hands dry and nails brittle. Unless there is an important occasion, it is advisable to keep nails short and clean. Long nails are more prone to damage and infections owing to hygiene issues. Other than these generic causes of nail brittleness, there are certain medical conditions that can cause brittle nails. Poor blood circulation may also result in dry and brittle nails. Fungal infections are also fairly common. Amongst senior citizens, fungal infections may be due to the side effects of oral medications. It is best to discuss with your physician to address the underlying problem effectively.
2. Use super moisturizers
Most of the times, brittle nails are a result of grossly dry nails. Lack of moisturizer leaves your hands dry, cracked, flaky and your nails hard and brittle. Regular moisturizing should be a ritual followed religiously. A lot of creams called Super moisturizers are available in stores today that are especially designed to nourish brittle nails. These specially formulated creams come loaded with vitamin E, avacado oil and shea butter, all of which are known to moisturize skin most effectively. Creams like Aquaphor and Trind Nail Balsam are pretty good in sealing in the moisturizer. Once in a while, you should also try tried and tested home remedies to help you regain the lost moisture and luster. A mix of egg yolks and milk is a simple and super home remedy to achieve best results.
3. Use Organic and fortified nail polishes
Most women can’t do without nail polishes. That is something that teenagers as well as older women equally love. However, to choose the right nail polish is in your own hands. Beauty and grooming should not come at the expense of your health. Random nail polishes contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, etc. These chemicals may cause allergic reactions in some individuals and are harmful for the overall condition of nails generally. You must avoid wearing nail polishes on a daily basis and reserve them for special occasions. Moreover, you should try to use organic and fortified nail polishes available in the market today these days. Organic nail polishes are chemical-free formulations and fortified nail polishes are laden with vitamins and minerals that nourish your nails. These nail polishes are a little costlier as opposed to their ordinary counterparts but they are worth their price.
4. Prefer natural products
Besides nail polishes, it is also advisable to use natural nail polish removers, nail hardeners and other such products. Brittle nails are already too hard and nail hardener would only make the matter worse. It is best to use home remedies direct from your kitchen for your hand care ritual occasionally, instead of relying on commercial products all the time. Gram floor, oats, grounded almonds, honey, milk, fresh cream, lemon are some of the most common products available readily at home that can keep your hands and nails well exfoliated and moisturized. You should also be careful about cuticles. Cuticles are important for overall nail health and excessive trimming is known to cause more infections.
5. Use vitamin supplements and biotin
Poor dietary habits and faulty lifestyle play an important role in determining our outer appearances. Nutritional deficiencies and certain medical conditions can ruin the health of your nails. Sufficient amount of iron, zinc, calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B complex, niacin, is cited crucial for nail health. Biotin, present in Vitamin B complex is especially important for strengthening nails. Biotin is found in oatmeal, bananas, mushrooms, nuts, soy and some animal organs. People not consuming ample nutritive diet must consider taking a multivitamin and other supplements on a daily basis. They must consult their physician to know what would suit them the most depending upon their state of health and bodily requirements.
Thus, some healthier choices with respect to nail-care products and some dietary changes can effectively resolve the problem of brittle nails.