Ava Monroe
Aging is one of the most common reasons for cracked nails. Nails undergo various changes with age, including modifications in colour, contour, growth, surface, thickness, and histology. Nails can become thicker, thinner, or remain the same. The texture of the nail plate tends to become progressively more friable with age, resulting in fissuring, splitting, and striations. Discolouration is also common, with a yellow to grey hue being the most frequently observed alteration. Additionally, older adults are more susceptible to brittle nails, which are characterised by splitting, peeling, or visible breakage. This can be due to a decrease in keratin production and nail growth, as well as nutritional deficiencies in iron, protein, biotin, calcium, fatty acids, and vitamins B, A, C, and D.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nails become | Thicker, thinner, or remain the same |
| Nail colour | Yellow to grey discoloration with dull, pale, or opaque appearance |
| Nail texture | Normally smooth nail plate texture becomes progressively more friable with age, resulting in fissuring, splitting, and longitudinal superficial or deep striations |
| Nail disorders | Onychomycosis, onychoclavus, subungual hematoma, splinter hemorrhages, and malignancies of the nail apparatus |
| Nail infections | Caused by yeast or molds; more common in toenails than in fingernails |
| Nutritional deficiencies | Low iron, protein, biotin, calcium, fatty acid and vitamin B, C, D, and zinc levels |
| Underlying health conditions | Hypothyroidism, Raynaud's syndrome, fungal infections, psoriasis, anemia, cancer |
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What You'll Learn
Nutritional deficiencies
Advancing age is associated with various changes in nail plate thickness, texture, and colour. Nails may become thicker, thinner, or remain the same with age. Nails may also become more brittle and prone to splitting, cracking, and breakage. This can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, such as:
Iron deficiency
Iron is essential for producing healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all tissues in the body. A lack of iron can lead to a condition called anemia, which can cause cracked nails. Pregnant individuals, as well as those with conditions like ulcers or cancer, are at a higher risk of developing iron deficiency anemia.
Protein deficiency
Nails are made of a protein called keratin, which provides protection to the fingers and toes. When nails split, the keratin layers separate, leading to a peeling or cracking appearance. A deficiency in protein can weaken the nails, making them more susceptible to splitting and breakage.
Biotin deficiency
Biotin, a type of B vitamin, plays a crucial role in nail health. A lack of biotin can lead to brittle nails that are prone to splitting and cracking. However, this is a rare occurrence.
Calcium deficiency
Calcium is important for maintaining strong and healthy nails. Insufficient calcium intake can lead to nail changes, including splitting, brittleness, and thinning of the nails.
It is important to consult a healthcare professional if you suspect any nutritional deficiencies or underlying health conditions contributing to nail changes. They can advise on appropriate supplements or lifestyle changes to improve nail health.
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Nail infections
While nail changes are common with advancing age, nail infections are not inevitable. However, older adults are more susceptible to certain types of nail infections, such as onychomycosis, which is caused by a fungal infection. This condition is characterised by nail thickening, splitting, discoloration, and lifting, with the nail becoming easy to break. It typically affects toenails but can also occur on fingernails.
Fungal nail infections are often contracted in communal spaces like gyms, locker rooms, and shared showers, where the fungus that causes athlete's foot can spread from person to person. The fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, making it important to keep your feet clean and dry. You can prevent nail fungus by wearing shoes or sandals in such communal spaces, regularly changing your socks, and choosing breathable shoes made of materials like leather, canvas, or mesh.
To treat a fungal nail infection, you can consult a pharmacist or your GP. Treatment typically involves using antifungal nail medicine or taking antifungal tablets prescribed by your doctor. In severe cases, the infected nail may need to be removed.
In addition to fungal infections, older adults may also experience other types of nail infections, such as nail psoriasis, which can result in nail discoloration and separation from the nail bed. Maintaining proper nail care practices, such as keeping nails short and disinfecting nail clippers and grooming tools, can help prevent the spread of nail infections.
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Nail colour changes
Changes in nail colour are common in older people. Nails may become thicker, thinner, or remain the same with age. The most common colour change observed in elderly people is a yellow to grey discoloration with a dull, pale, or opaque appearance. This is sometimes accompanied by longitudinal ridges, rough nails, transverse ridges, and lamellar splitting.
A peculiar colour change observed in around one-fifth of people over 70 is "Neapolitan nail," which is characterised by an absent lunula and three horizontal bands of white, pink, and opaque colours. Lunular visibility decreases with age, and the lunula was visible in only 23 out of 31 cases in people aged 60–70.
Nail discolouration can also be a symptom of a fungal infection, such as onychomycosis, which is the most common nail infection, affecting 10-20% of adults, particularly the elderly. It is caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, or moulds that invade the nail, leading to nail thickening, discoloration, and onycholysis (separation of the nail from the nail bed).
Other factors that can contribute to nail discolouration include nutritional deficiencies, such as low levels of iron, protein, biotin, calcium, fatty acids, and vitamins B, A, C, and D. Certain underlying illnesses, such as anaemia, hypothyroidism, and Raynaud's syndrome, can also affect nail colour.
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Nail texture changes
As we age, our nails undergo various changes in texture, thickness, colour, and contour. One of the most common changes is the development of brittle nails, which can lead to splitting, peeling, or breakage. This occurs due to factors such as a decrease in keratin production and nail growth, nutritional deficiencies, and underlying health conditions.
The texture of nails tends to become progressively more friable with age, resulting in fissuring, splitting, and longitudinal striations. Nails may also thicken or thin, with some individuals experiencing onychauxis, an age-related thickening of the nail plate. Additionally, the smooth nail plate can transform into a rough and uneven surface.
Colour changes are also prevalent, with nails often exhibiting a yellow to grey discoloration, along with a dull, pale, or opaque appearance. A condition called "Neapolitan nail" is observed in a small percentage of older individuals, characterised by an absent lunula and horizontal bands of white, pink, and opaque colours.
The biological changes associated with ageing can impact the nails in multiple ways. For example, a decrease in cholesterol, which is the main lipid in nails, can contribute to nail fragility. Reduced blood circulation, which commonly occurs with age, can also lead to conditions like brittleness and peeling.
Underlying health conditions can further influence nail texture changes. For instance, individuals with diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, or immunodeficiency may have an increased risk of onychomycosis, a common nail infection that can cause nail thickening and discoloration. Additionally, certain vitamin deficiencies, such as a lack of biotin, can result in cracked or brittle nails.
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Nail disorders
Ageing affects the body in many ways, and nail disorders are common in older people. Nails are made of a protein called keratin, which protects your fingers and toes from damage. With age, the body's keratin production decreases, and nails can become thinner and more prone to breakage. Nails can also thicken with age, and changes in nail plate thickness might occur, resulting in a decrease in longitudinal curvature and an increase in transverse convexity.
The most common nail changes observed in older people include discolouration, with a yellow to grey hue, and a dull, pale, or opaque appearance. This is sometimes called "Neapolitan nail", and it is observed in around one-fifth of people over 70. Other changes include prominent longitudinal ridges, rough nails, transverse ridges, and lamellar splits.
Brittle nails are a common condition related to ageing, affecting around 20% of the population, with an increased incidence in women and older people. It is characterised by increased fragility of the nail plate, and can manifest as onychoschizia or onychorrhexis. Onychoschizia is caused by an impairment of intercellular adhesion between the corneocytes that make up the nail plate.
Other nail disorders that may be observed in older people include onychauxis, onychocryptosis, infections (especially onychomycosis, a fungal infection), onychoclavus, subungual hematoma, splinter haemorrhages, and malignancies of the nail apparatus.
Underlying health conditions can also contribute to nail disorders in older people. Nutritional deficiencies, such as low iron, protein, biotin, calcium, fatty acid, and vitamin B levels, can lead to nail thinning and breakage. Conditions such as hypothyroidism, Raynaud's syndrome, and psoriasis can also affect nail health. Additionally, living in a dry or cold environment can contribute to nail problems.
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Frequently asked questions
Age is one of the most common reasons for nails to crack. As you get older, your nails can become more vulnerable to fungal infections and nutritional deficiencies, which can cause nail cracking.
Nail changes associated with ageing include modifications in colour, contour, growth, surface, thickness, and histology. Nails may become thicker or thinner, with a decrease in longitudinal curvature and an increase in transverse convexity. The nail plate texture can also become more friable, resulting in fissuring, splitting, and striations.
Common nail disorders in older people include brittle nails, onychauxis (thickening of the nail plate), onychocryptosis, infections (especially onychomycosis), onychoclavus, subungual hematoma, splinter haemorrhages, and malignancies of the nail apparatus.
To prevent and manage nail cracking, older adults can limit the use of alcohol-based sanitisers, wear insulating gloves in cold and wet weather, and keep their nails short and filed in a single direction. They should also address any nutritional deficiencies, such as low iron, protein, biotin, calcium, fatty acids, and vitamins B, C, and D.
