Nail Hardener's Impact: Protecting Your Skin's Health

Nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate to prevent them from splitting and breaking. However, they can cause nail splitting and fissuring on the end of your nails. Beware! Nail hardeners have a lot of formaldehyde-type ingredients that cause the initially 'hardening' of the nails but then they cause nail splitting.

Nail hardeners cause nail splitting

Nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate to prevent them from splitting and breaking. Queenie Nguyen, a nail expert, says that nail hardeners work by binding the keratin protein in your nails more tightly and hardening your nail plates, making them less flexible. Dr. Bailey also states that nail hardeners have a lot of formaldehyde-type ingredients that cause the initially 'hardening' of the nails but then they cause nail splitting. Beware! The softer and more brittle your nails are, the more susceptible they are to damage with nail hardeners. Soft and brittle nails are also more susceptible to developing dryness and fissures from nail polish removers used to take off the nail hardener polish.

Onychoschizia, commonly known as nail peeling or nail splitting, is a condition that causes horizontal splits (across the width of the nail) in the nail plate. Onychoschizia may be seen along with another common nail condition called onychorrhexis, which involves longitudinal (across the length of the nail) splits or ridges in the nail plate. These conditions alone or together are sometimes simply called “brittle nails.” Frequent wetting and drying of the hands is the most common cause of brittle nails. Brittle nails may also be caused by nail cosmetics (hardeners, polish, polish removers/solvents), nail procedures, and occupational exposure to various chemicals (alkalis, acids, cement, solvents, thioglycolates, salt, sugar solutions).

Effective split nail repair and nail splitting treatment involves a multifaceted approach. This approach is aimed at addressing the underlying causes and promoting nail health and resilience. One of the first steps in treating brittle splitting nails is adopting proper nail care practices. These practices include keeping the nails clean and well-trimmed, avoiding harsh chemicals, and moisturizing the nails and cuticles regularly. Additionally, using protective measures, like wearing gloves when performing tasks that involve exposure to water or chemicals, can help prevent further damage. Over-the-counter treatments, such as nail strengtheners and hardeners, can provide temporary relief. These fortify the nails and reduce splitting.

To help improve brittle nails and nail splitting and peeling, reduce how often you wet and dry your nails. Wear plastic or rubber gloves over thin cotton gloves while doing all housework, including food preparation. Keep the nails trimmed short. Apply thick moisturizers (eg, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream) or petroleum jelly (eg, Vaseline) to improve nail hydration. Nail-hardening agents containing formaldehyde may increase nail strength, but they should be used cautiously, as they can cause brittleness and other nail problems. Apply these hardeners only to the free edge (growing end) of the nail. Acrylate-containing hardeners are also effective, but they may cause an allergic reaction in the skin. Use nail hardening products if necessary. Don’t bite or pick around your nails. Refrain from using acetone-based nail polish remover. Wear gloves while doing household chores. Don’t rip or pull your hangnails. Whether vertical or horizontal, split nails can be caused by things like infections, injuries, moisture, or skin conditions like psoriasis.

Ingredients in nail hardeners are toxic

Nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate to prevent them from splitting and breaking. They create a protective barrier on the nail itself while treatments nourish the nail from the inside out. Hardeners are usually more effective in the short term (like when you have a nail splitting down the middle, for example). Treatments, on the other hand, can be used as often as you’d like and work better for long-term nail health.

However, nail hardeners contain damaging ingredients like formaldehyde, formalin, and methylene glycol, which can cause the nail to become more brittle and prone to breakage. Low levels of formaldehyde occur naturally in a variety of foods, such as fruits, but those levels aren’t dangerous. The FDA, which oversees the cosmetics industry, does not prohibit or regulate the use of formaldehyde in cosmetics — except in nail polish. Since it can be toxic, a formaldehyde limit was imposed on nail polish. The problem is in the quantity: nail hardeners include formaldehyde concentrations of up to 5%, while nail polish can go up to 0.5%.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a commonly used plasticizer — it makes products more flexible. Toluene is used to evenly suspend color. Both DBP and toluene are part of the "toxic trio" of nail polish ingredients. The toxicity of these substances is still debated, but there is significant evidence to raise big question marks. If you want to be as safe as possible, you’re best off simply avoiding products with any of these substances. Biotin is another tried-and-true nail-enhancing ingredient, proven to help promote healthy nail growth. According to Dr. Lipner, a good nail strengthener might also include ingredients like calcium, nylon, and sulfhydryl protein, which can crosslink keratin without having toxic and detrimental effects on your nails.

Nail hardeners create a protective barrier

Nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate — the visible part of the nail — to prevent them from splitting and breaking. Queenie Nguyen, a nail expert, says that nail hardeners work by binding the keratin protein in your nails more tightly and hardening your nail plates, making them less flexible.

Beware! Nail hardeners have a lot of formaldehyde-type ingredients. It's these ingredients that cause the initially 'hardening' of the nails but then they cause nail splitting. Dr. Bailey says that nail hardeners are never recommended. Instead, nail hardeners recommend moisturizing nails. Dry and splitting nails benefit from the same care that you would give to dry and chapped skin. This means using a moisturizer to trap water.

Soft and brittle nails are also more susceptible to developing dryness and fissures from nail polish removers used to take off the nail hardener polish. Soft and brittle nails are also more susceptible to damage with nail hardeners.

Nail hardeners bind keratin

Nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate — the visible part of the nail — to prevent them from splitting and breaking. Queenie Nguyen, a nail expert, says that nail hardeners work by binding the keratin protein in your nails more tightly and hardening your nail plates, making them less flexible. Keratin is a type of protein that is found in everything from your nails to your hair to your skin.

Beware! Nail hardeners have a lot of formaldehyde-type ingredients. It's these ingredients that cause the initially 'hardening' of the nails but then they cause nail splitting. Queenie Nguyen says that nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate — the visible part of the nail — to prevent them from splitting and breaking. Nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate — the visible part of the nail — to prevent them from splitting and breaking. Queenie Nguyen, a nail expert, says that nail hardeners work by binding the keratin protein in your nails more tightly and hardening your nail plates, making them less flexible. Keratin is a type of protein that is found in everything from your nails to your hair to your skin.

Beware! Nail hardeners have a lot of formaldehyde-type ingredients. It's these ingredients that cause the initially 'hardening' of the nails but then they cause nail splitting. Queenie Nguyen says that nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate — the visible part of the nail — to prevent them from splitting and breaking. Nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate — the visible part of the nail — to prevent them from splitting and breaking. Queenie Nguyen, a nail expert, says that nail hardeners work by binding the keratin protein in your nails more tightly and hardening your nail plates, making them less flexible. Keratin is a type of protein that is found in everything from your nails to your hair to your skin.

Beware! Nail hardeners have a lot of formaldehyde-type ingredients. It's these ingredients that cause the initially 'hardening' of the nails but then they cause nail splitting. Queenie Nguyen says that nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate — the visible part of the nail — to prevent them from splitting and breaking. Nail hardeners are short-term treatments that work to harden your nail plate — the visible part of the nail — to prevent them from splitting and breaking. Queenie Nguyen, a nail expert, says that nail hardeners work by binding the keratin protein in your nails more tightly and hardening your nail plates, making them less flexible. Keratin is a type of protein that is found in everything from your nails to your hair to your skin.

Nail hardeners are short-term treatments

Dr. Bailey Skin Care says that nail hardeners are never recommended. Instead, moisturizing nails is recommended. Dry and splitting nails benefit from the same care that you would give to dry and chapped skin. This means using a moisturizer to trap water.

Nail hardeners are usually more effective in the short term (like when you have a nail splitting down the middle, for example). Treatments, on the other hand, can be used as often as you’d like and work better for long-term nail health. Ingredients such as wheat protein and keratin are two common and effective options to look for.

Despite all these threats to nail health, there’s a simple solution to protect your nails and restore their natural beauty. Incorporate a nail strengthener into your hand and nail care routine and you will soon be rewarded with strong, beautiful nails. For the natural way to stronger nails, reach for Sienna’s ethically made, vegan and cruelty-free nail strengthener. Instead of toxic ingredients that affect your health, harm your nails and the environment, their formula is based on the natural healing and strengthening powers of sugarcane, cassava, cotton, and corn.

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