Ava Monroe
Brittle nails are typically thin, weak, and fragile. They can be either dry or soft and may look worn down. They are often associated with ageing, but can also be caused by other factors such as health conditions, frequent exposure to cleaning products, excessive hand-washing, or cold, dry weather.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Thin, weak, fragile |
| Appearance | Split, bend, break, chip, tear, crack, peel, discoloured, pitted, jagged edges, rough surface, pale, dull, opaque |
| Growth | Slowed |
| Cause | Ageing, hormone changes, abnormal levels of keratin, water, lipids, or proteins, thyroid disorder, Raynaud's syndrome, anaemia, frequent exposure to cleaning products, excessive hand-washing, cold weather, dryness, nail polish |
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What You'll Learn
Ageing
Brittle nails are a common problem associated with ageing. Nails become more brittle as we age, especially in postmenopausal women. Their growth also slows down starting at age 25. Our nails may appear paler, duller, or more opaque as we age. Weak nails are a type of brittle nail. They are more likely to bend than break like brittle nails. They may flake off into peeling layers instead of cracking toward the nail fold. People may also call this condition “eggshell nails” or hapalonychia.
Brittle nails are typically thin, weak, and fragile. They can be either dry or soft, and they may look “worn down”. When your nails become brittle, it might take longer for them to grow and heal. Brittle nails also sometimes accompany other signs of nail problems, such as discolouration, pits, jagged edges, or a rough surface. Weak, splitting nails are most commonly attributed to idiopathic (a condition of unknown cause) brittle nails or "brittle nails syndrome". It may be triggered by abnormal levels of keratin, water, lipids, or proteins in the nails and often occurs with advancing age.
Brittle nails can also be caused by other factors, such as frequent exposure to cleaning products and excessive hand-washing, which can weaken the nails over time. In some cases, nails may be brittle because of a health condition—such as Raynaud’s syndrome or a thyroid disorder—or either too much or too little moisture. When the weather is cold, brittle nails may result from dryness.
If you are concerned about the health of your nails, you should talk to your healthcare provider. A dermatologist can advise you on ideal nail care tips.
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Health conditions
Brittle nails are typically thin, weak, and fragile. They can be either dry or soft, and they may look "worn down". They are more likely to bend than break like brittle nails. They may flake off into peeling layers instead of cracking toward the nail fold. People may also call this condition "eggshell nails" or hapalonychia.
Brittle nails occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, they are a typical sign of aging or the result of polishing your nails too often. When the weather is cold, brittle nails may result from dryness. Weak nails can also result from other health issues.
Some health conditions can cause weak or brittle nails. They include:
- Raynaud's syndrome. This disorder causes circulation problems in the extremities. When the smaller arteries in the hands and feet narrow, they might feel numb or cold. Not surprisingly, this can affect nail health.
- Hypothyroidism. Low thyroid levels can cause more than just brittle nails. You might also notice fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, thinning hair, memory problems, depression, and constipation.
- Anemia. Low iron levels can cause your nails to become brittle. You may also have fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, cracks in the sides of your mouth, or frequent infections.
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Nail care
Brittle nails are typically thin, weak, and fragile. They can be either dry or soft, and they may look "worn down". They can be prone to splitting, bending, breaking, chipping, tearing, cracking, or peeling. They can also be accompanied by other signs of nail problems, such as discolouration, pits, jagged edges, or a rough surface.
Brittle nails can occur for a variety of reasons. They are often a typical sign of ageing, especially in postmenopausal women, but they can also be caused by other health conditions, such as Raynaud's syndrome, a thyroid disorder, or anaemia. They can also be caused by environmental factors, such as frequent exposure to cleaning products, excessive hand-washing, cold weather, and exposure to cold, dry air.
To protect and heal brittle nails, you can try the following:
- Shaping your nails regularly
- Applying lotion
- Taking biotin supplements
- Wearing gloves while doing household chores, especially those that involve exposure to cleaning solutions or dishwater
- Avoiding excessive nail polishing and the use of nail polish removers, which can contain harsh chemicals
If you think your nails are brittle because of another health concern, talk to your healthcare provider. A dermatologist can also advise you on ideal nail care tips.
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Weather
Brittle nails are typically thin, weak, and fragile. They can be dry or soft, and they may look "worn down". They are more likely to split, bend, break, chip, tear, crack, or peel. Brittle nails are often associated with ageing, and they may appear paler, duller, or more opaque. They can also be caused by hormone changes, especially in postmenopausal women.
In addition to weather, other factors that can contribute to nail brittleness include frequent exposure to cleaning products, excessive hand-washing, and the use of nail polish and removers. Health conditions such as Raynaud's syndrome, hypothyroidism, and anemia can also lead to brittle nails.
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Abnormal levels of keratin, water, lipids, or proteins
Brittle nails are typically thin, weak, and fragile. They can be dry or soft, and they may look "worn down". They are more likely to split, bend, break, chip, tear, crack, or peel. They may also be accompanied by other signs of nail problems, such as discolouration, pits, jagged edges, or a rough surface.
Brittle nails are most commonly attributed to abnormal levels of keratin, water, lipids, or proteins in the nails. This can be triggered by a variety of factors, including:
- Advancing age: Nails become more brittle as we age, especially in postmenopausal women. Their growth also slows down starting at age 25.
- Hormone changes: Our nails may appear paler, duller, or more opaque as we age.
- Health conditions: Some health conditions, such as Raynaud's syndrome or a thyroid disorder, can cause brittle nails.
- Moisture levels: Both too much and too little moisture can contribute to brittle nails. Exposure to cold, dry air can also be a factor.
- Chemicals: Frequent exposure to cleaning products, nail polish, and nail polish removers can weaken the nails over time.
- Nutrition: Low iron levels, associated with conditions such as anaemia, can cause brittle nails.
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Frequently asked questions
Weak, brittle nails are typically thin, fragile and prone to splitting, bending, breaking, chipping, tearing, cracking or peeling. They can be either dry or soft and may look 'worn down'. They may also be accompanied by other signs of nail problems, such as discolouration, pits, jagged edges or a rough surface.
Weak, brittle nails can be caused by a variety of factors, including age, hormone changes, frequent exposure to cleaning products, excessive hand-washing, cold weather, dryness, and the use of nail polish and removers. In some cases, they may be caused by an underlying health condition, such as Raynaud's syndrome, a thyroid disorder, or anaemia.
There are several things you can do to protect and heal weak, brittle nails, including shaping them regularly, applying lotion, taking biotin supplements, and wearing gloves while doing household chores. If you think your nails are brittle due to a health concern, it is recommended that you speak to a healthcare provider.
