We explain why your nails break and how to avoid it.
Nails are part of our skin, just like hair. They are made up of keratinized cells, which are constantly renewed from their first appearance until our death.
Especially in women, whose nails can be an important part of their personal image, brittle nails are a serious problem that can be difficult to treat .
In this article we will talk about brittle nails, why this phenomenon occurs and what we could do to reduce it.
nail structure
Nails are structures formed from cells of our skin . At the base of the nail (where the nail begins, also called the proximal part. The opposite end, which we will cut when it is too long, would be called the distal end) we will find a population of germ cells, which are responsible for constantly multiplying so that our nail can grow continuously.
Nail growth is approximately 0.1 mm per day, which translates to about 2 or 3 mm per month , depending on various factors. This growth is uninterrupted from the first appearance of our nails until the moment we die. Approximately every 6 months our nails are completely replaced, although as it occurs so slowly it is difficult for us to notice.
The nail itself is made up of keratinized epithelial cells. This means that the cells that go on to form the nail lose their nucleus and their cellular activity, while they flatten and increase their proportion of keratin, a filamentary protein that gives our hair and skin greater protection and hardness.
Nails are made up of about 25 layers of cells placed one on top of the other , reinforced by intermediate filaments that run lengthwise, adding strength and flexibility. The health of this digital appendage depends on multiple factors that we must consider to keep our nails in good shape.
- We recommend: “Skin types: what is yours and how to take care of it?”
What causes brittle nails?
There are several factors that can affect the integrity of the nails , reducing their endurance and leading to cracking and peeling that can affect us both cosmetically and in the loss of function of this appendage.
1. Hydration level
The optimal level of water in the nails is 18% . This water accumulates in the lower part of the nail, which is in contact with the finger. Keeping your nails short prevents this moisture from evaporating too quickly, which can make your nails brittle.
If nail hydration levels drop below 16%, our nails will tend to break more easily. But hydration levels above 25%, typical of those people who need to wash their hands constantly for occupational reasons , make our nails too soft, which also increases the risk of breakage and malformations.
2. Lack of nutrients
Virtually all types of malnutrition can have an effect on the health of our nails , although there are some nutrients that are common culprits in nail disorders when our levels of them are inadequate. Among them we can count:
- Vitamin A, which hardens nails and promotes their growth.
- Vitamin B6, which favors the assimilation of proteins.
- Vitamin B12, which assists in good circulation that favors the health of the nail.
- Vitamin C, which helps prevent infections.
- Vitamin H, also known as biotin.
- Iron, closely related to nail health.
- magnesium
- sodium
- Copper
The hardness of the nail is also contingent on the levels of sulfur that we have in them . The weight of sulfur in a healthy nail is approximately 10%, due to the amount of sulfur-associated proteins that help maintain the integrity and hardness of the appendage. A lack of sulfur or an incorrect metabolism of it favors brittle nails.
3. Infections and other disorders
Skin diseases such as psoriasis, endocrine diseases such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, or fungal or bacterial infections of the nail can increase its fragility and/or slow down its growth, depending on the part of the nail that is affected.
These diseases must be treated at the root if we want the health of our nails to recover , since recovery will be complicated if there are underlying systemic problems that prevent the correct development of the nail.
4. Occupational factors
Trauma, exposure to certain chemical agents or hydration levels are factors that negatively affect nail health, but are difficult to avoid by many professionals, such as doctors, photographers or swimmers .
Repetitive and constant pressure on the tips of our fingers, such as those experienced by tailors and cobblers, can also cause malformations in the nail. Mechanical forces can affect the germinal areas from which the cells that will form the nail arise, changing its final shape. These changes in the shape of the nail are usually closely related to a decrease in its resistance.
This is also the reason why onychophagia, the habit of biting the nails, ends up deteriorating their health , causing breakage and increasing their fragility.
Brittle nail treatments
There are many ways to improve the health of our brittle nails. On the one hand, in some cases the first step to take is the treatment of diseases that damage the health of the nail, or the avoidance of occupational risks (such as wearing protective gloves to avoid contact with aggressive soaps, water or harmful chemicals).
On the other hand, when nail health problems are not caused by other diseases or occupational factors, we should look at our diet. Nails are a strong indicator of our health, being very sensitive to the lack of some type of nutrient, especially those that we have discussed earlier in the article.
Daily consumption of biotin (vitamin H) for more than two months seems to be related to an increase in nail thickness of 25% , which is related to less brittleness of the nails and fewer injuries and peeling of the nail. Unfortunately these effects are lost within 10 weeks of stopping biotin supplementation.
Biotin was used to improve hoof health in horses. Biotin deficiency in humans can occur because we do not ingest it in sufficient quantities, because of the consumption of raw eggs, or because of changes in the intestinal microbiota, such as those caused by antibiotic treatments.
In addition to our diet, if we have brittle nail problems, it is quite likely that they are not sufficiently hydrated. Nail polish is surprisingly effective in preventing the evaporation of water from the nails , which could temporarily solve our hydration problems. In addition, it adds a hard protective layer to the nail.
The problem with prolonged use of enamels is the need to remove them with aggressive chemicals, which can further damage the nail and facilitate fungal or bacterial infections. Using essential oils from broccoli, argan or coconut seems to have a positive effect on the health of our nails, but more research is needed on this.
Bibliographic references
- Cashman, M.W., & Sloan, S.B. (2010). Nutrition and nail disease. Clinics in Dermatology, 28(4), 420–425. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.03.037.
- Iorizzo, M., Pazzaglia, M., M. Piraccini, B., Tullo, S., & Tosti, A. (2004). Brittle nails. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 3(3), 138–144. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00084.x
- Holzberg M. Nails. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, eds. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 108. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK211/.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
