Unevenly chipped nails can ruin the aesthetic of your fingers, especially when you’re all for shiny, long nails. No matter what you do to protect them, one or two nails get split or broken, forcing you to trim off all the edges.
Read the following blog to find the common causes of brittle nails and what you can do to prevent them. Moreover, discover tips that can improve your nail health, such as taking multivitamin and biotin capsules, protecting nails with manicures, avoiding frequent nail extension, and more.
Causes of Brittle Nails
Friction and dryness are common reasons for brittle and chipped nails. In some cases, underlying health disorders or nutritional deficiencies may also weaken nails, making them prone to splitting. These possible causes are listed below in detail:
- Frequent Washing:
Constant washing of nails can dry your nails, making them more prone to chipping.
- Ageing:
Nail growth slows with age, increasing nail exposure to dry air, the environment, and sanitisers.
- Thyroid Disorders:
A 2019 study found that poor nail health may indicate thyroid disorders. Hence, brittle nails may be linked with an under- or over-functioning thyroid gland.
- Psoriasis:
It is an immune disorder that attacks the body’s cells. This skin-related disorder can extend to nails and nail beds, causing brittle nails.
- Fungal Infection:
Fungal infection in the nails can cause them to become yellow and thicker and weaken.
Tips Treat and Prevent Brittle Nails
Some of the causes of brittle nails are beyond our control. Every once in a long while, you may spot a tiny crack leading to chipped nails. However, a few nail care and nourishment tips can prevent and reduce the occurrence of brittle nails. A few of them are:
- File and Shape Nails Gently
Uneven rough edges on the nail can get stuck on the fabric, leading to painful splicing. If you do a lot of manual work, friction makes your nail edges uneven. Use a good file to shape your nails and smooth out the edges.
- Moisturise Your Nails
Use a good moisturiser to hydrate your nails after washing your hands, doing laundry, cleaning, etc. Moreover, avoid using very hot water and wear rubber gloves while doing the dishes.
- Take Multivitamins
Vitamin A and E capsules and biotin can improve health and help grow stronger nails. Intake of vitamin E reduces yellow discolouration of nails, hydrates nail beds and cuticles and may reduce brittle nails. Even the vitamin E capsule price is quite affordable, making it an easy solution for brittle nails.
- Get Manicure Done
Manicures protect your cuticles from getting too ragged. A well-done manicure cleans your nails, smoothens them, and nourishes them. It also reduces the chances of infection and supports nail strength.
To Sum Up
Brittle nails can happen due to improper nail care or underlying health conditions. These include overwashing hands, age, thyroid, psoriasis, fungal infection, etc. While nail chipping can happen to anyone, brittle nails can be treated and prevented by moisturising, regularly filing them, and taking multivitamins. Biotin, vitamin E gummies, and vitamin A capsules are highly beneficial products that increase nail strength.