Can brittle nails indicate any health crisis?

Read this if you have brittle nails!

By: Debjani Arora | | Published: November 30, 2017 3:34 pm

There are a lot of people who face this problem too often yellow, ugly nails that turn brittle and break. There are women who just detest this. But this problem is not just confined to women even men face this problem. Nails might just break and make the finger look ugly, but aesthetics is not the issue, sometimes it could lead to a finger injury too as the cuticle can also tear away. Most women as asked to stay away from beauty products that damage the nails chemically loaded nail polish, acetone in nail removers, subjecting nails to repeated nail art. But that still doesn t explain why men face brittle nails. If cosmetic products are really to be blamed for the same then probably brittle nails would not bother men much. Here are some kitchen remedies to take care of brittle. Also Read - Biotin deficiency can cause hair loss: How can you add this nutrient to your diet

Also Read - Low haemoglobin count? Try these natural ways to improve your levels

This is why we did some research to know if brittle nails are just a passing thing or are indicative of some serious health issue. And guess what we did find out that brittle nails are a sign of ill-health, though nothing dangerous, here are two things that they indicate the most: Also Read - How does vitamin deficiency affect your skin?

Vitamin deficiency: There can be a lot of reasons for brittle nails and one of them could be vitamin deficiency which is too common in urban Indians these days. Brittle nails are characterised by weak nails that are flaky and crumble. Lack of vitamin in the body dehydrates the nail plate and contributes towards brittleness. Treatment of brittle nails is often difficult as most often dermatologist cannot ascertain a particular condition. Preventative measures like oral supplementation of vitamins (especially biotin) can be useful in improving nail strength [1]. Here is how your nails can be a precursor to various health problems.

Hypothyroidism: Dysfunctions of the thyroid gland can affect the health of your skin and hair. Hypothyroidism in particular, where the thyroid gland doesn t make enough thyroid hormone make the hair go dull and coarse and the nails thickened brittle and slow growing. This could be another reason for brittle nails [2].

Apart from this brittle nail could also be a seasonal thing. Like, in winters people suffer from brittle nails more than in summers. The reason being the drop in temperature which robs the skin of its moisture does the same to the nails too, making them brittle and weak. But brittle nails in winters aren t related to any underlying health crisis. The best way to know if your brittle nails is a seasonal thing check, If it is only your fingernails that are brittle and toenails are strong then it is lack of moisture that is making your fingernails break and it is not influenced by any external factor or cause, says Dr Narmada Matang, Dermatologist, Neo Skin Clinic, powai.

Reference:

[1]1: Iorizzo M, Pazzaglia M, M Piraccini B, Tullo S, Tosti A. Brittle nails. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2004 Jul;3(3):138-44. PubMed PMID: 17134428.

[2] Safer, J. D. (2011). Thyroid hormone action on skin. Dermato-endocrinology, 3(3), 211-215.

Image source: Shutterstock

Published : November 30, 2017 3:34 pm

Read Disclaimer