Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms of Brittle NailsCauses of Brittle NailsHow to Treat Brittle NailsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms of Brittle Nails
Causes of Brittle Nails
How to Treat Brittle Nails
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Summary
Nails often get brittler as a person gets older.Brittle nailsare more prone to damage, such as splitting or peeling. This condition is also called onychoschizia.
Brittle nails are often a typical part of aging. However, there are also several products and health conditions that can damage and weaken your nails.Learn more about brittle nails, including symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
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How Common Are Brittle Nails?Brittle nails affect up to 20% of the population. They are more common among women and people over 50 years old.
How Common Are Brittle Nails?
Brittle nails affect up to 20% of the population. They are more common among women and people over 50 years old.
Brittle nails are typically thin, weak, and fragile. You might notice that it’s easier for them to split, bend, break, chip, tear, crack, or peel. 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 asdiscoloration, pits, jagged edges, or a rough surface.
What Are Nails Made Of?Nails are made out of a protein called keratin, which also helps to form our hair and the outermost layer of our skin.
What Are Nails Made Of?
Nails are made out of a protein called keratin, which also helps to form our hair and the outermost layer of our skin.
In many cases, nails naturally become more brittle as we age. However, this is sometimes an indication of an underlying problem affecting your nail health.
Other possible causes of brittle nails include:
There are several ways you can protect your nails against getting brittle and less healthy over time. These steps include:
On their own, brittle nails typically aren’t a sign of a serious health condition. If your symptoms are bothering you, a board-certifieddermatologistcan help to advise you about how to improve your nail health.
If you notice that your nails are getting brittle and weak or are starting to break more easily, you’re not alone. Brittle nails are a common problem associated with normal aging.
In some cases, your nails may be brittle because of another health condition–such as anemia, a zinc deficiency, Raynaud’s syndrome, or a thyroid disorder–or exposure to either too much or too little moisture. Frequent exposure to cleaning products and excessive hand-washing can also weaken your nails over time.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Brittle splitting nails.MedlinePlus.Brittle nails.Chessa MA, Iorizzo M, Richert B,et al.Pathogenesis, clinical signs and treatment recommendations in brittle nails: A review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;10(1):15-27. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-00338-xMedlinePlus.Nail abnormalities.National Health Service.Raynaud’s.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is nail psoriasis, and how can I treat it?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Artificial nails: dermatologists’ tips for reducing nail damage.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Brittle splitting nails.MedlinePlus.Brittle nails.Chessa MA, Iorizzo M, Richert B,et al.Pathogenesis, clinical signs and treatment recommendations in brittle nails: A review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;10(1):15-27. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-00338-xMedlinePlus.Nail abnormalities.National Health Service.Raynaud’s.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is nail psoriasis, and how can I treat it?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Artificial nails: dermatologists’ tips for reducing nail damage.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Brittle splitting nails.MedlinePlus.Brittle nails.Chessa MA, Iorizzo M, Richert B,et al.Pathogenesis, clinical signs and treatment recommendations in brittle nails: A review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;10(1):15-27. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-00338-xMedlinePlus.Nail abnormalities.National Health Service.Raynaud’s.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is nail psoriasis, and how can I treat it?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Artificial nails: dermatologists’ tips for reducing nail damage.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Brittle splitting nails.
MedlinePlus.Brittle nails.
Chessa MA, Iorizzo M, Richert B,et al.Pathogenesis, clinical signs and treatment recommendations in brittle nails: A review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;10(1):15-27. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-00338-x
MedlinePlus.Nail abnormalities.
National Health Service.Raynaud’s.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is nail psoriasis, and how can I treat it?.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Artificial nails: dermatologists’ tips for reducing nail damage.
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