Brittle Nails

Brittle nails are often caused when the nails dry out. They are surprisingly porous and are almost one-fifth water and even a slight change in moisture content can cause problems. Fortunately, prevention and treatment are simple and straightforward.

If you are finding your nails are splitting, flaking or crumbling, it could be because they have dried out. Nails are very porous and can quickly lose their water-content in certain conditions. Healthy nails contain about 18% water, however they can lose flexibility and become brittle if this figure drops by just 2%. This can be a result of the nail growing too quickly or not fast enough, dry environments, detergents, nail polish remover, disease or diet.

 

Preventing your nails from splitting can be achieved by applying a base coat of nail polish before painting your nails can be a good idea, also wearing shoes that allow you to wiggle your toes. Keeping brittle nails trimmed can reduce how much damage they suffer. Use proper toenail scissors or clippers, taking care to cut straight across and not down into each corner. The best time to do this is after a bath or shower when your nails are soft.

To prevent water-loss from your nails, you could supplement them with products such as the Intensive Hand Cream sold at Nats Nails & Beauty. This is best done immediately after a bath or shower, when the nails should be soft. Nail polish can also help prevent your nails from drying out by forming a barrier between them and their surroundings.