Brittle nails - causes and treatment. Treatment of brittle nails. Reception of vitamin and mineral complexes

Modern girls accustomed to take care of their appearance. Procedures such as manicures or hair styling have become an integral part of every woman's life. You can put an equal sign between beauty and health, but in the seething life of a large city there is not enough time for proper nutrition, walking on fresh air or full sleep. That is why many girls are faced with such a problem as brittleness and foliation of nails.

Beautiful and strong nails- the dream of any young lady, but no one is immune from their fragility. The reason for this is a lack of calcium, so the restoration of marigolds should begin with the enrichment of the body with vitamins. Apart from vitamin complexes, you should actively eat fish, dairy products, green vegetables and nuts. In addition, it is necessary to carry out external replenishment.

Many resort to nail extensions, but remember that this is only a temporary solution. Under gel or acrylic surface the nail practically does not breathe, which means that it is deprived of all nourishment and vitamins. After this procedure, the nails become especially fragile and brittle.

Answering the question of how to get rid of brittle nails is not so simple. There are two main methods of dealing with this problem:

If you want to improve the condition of your hair, Special attention worth paying attention to the shampoos you use. Frightening figure - in 96% of shampoos popular brands there are components that poison our body. The main substances, due to which all the troubles, are indicated on the labels as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, coco sulfate, PEG. These chemical components destroy the structure of the curls, the hair becomes brittle, loses elasticity and strength, the color fades. But the worst thing is that this muck gets into the liver, heart, lungs, accumulates in the organs and can cause cancer. We advise you to refrain from using products containing this chemistry. Recently, the experts of our editorial staff conducted an analysis of sulfate-free shampoos, where the first place was taken by funds from the company Mulsan Сosmetic. The only manufacturer completely natural cosmetics. All products are manufactured under strict quality control and certification systems. Recommended to visit official online store mulsan.ru If you doubt the naturalness of your cosmetics, check the expiration date, it should not exceed one year of storage.

  • artificial (various varnishes and coatings) or
  • natural (baths, ointments and oils)

The basic rule for the care of hands and nails

  • Daily application of nourishing creams containing vitamin A and E. B without fail you need to do it at night, because. this time is enough for the cream to be completely absorbed. In addition, in spring and winter, you need to apply the cream as often as the skin requires.

  • In addition, all types house cleaning associated with the use of cleaning products should be carried out with gloves. Nothing harms the nail plate as much as powders and an abundance of soapy water, this is especially true when repairing. Glue, building dust and endless cleaning lead to the fact that the restoration of marigolds becomes a very problematic and long process.

  • The varnish performs a protective function for the nail, protecting it from minor damage and microcracks. But frequent contact with the remover, as well as repeated application of varnish, can also affect health. nail plate. Therefore, this operation should be carried out no more than once a week.

  • Speaking about various varnishes, it should be noted that on the market professional cosmetics presented a large number of various means. There is probably no single answer to the question of what to choose: it all depends on individual features and preferences. However, in this case It is worth remembering that price equals quality. Cheap varnish is a waste of money and time, you should choose famous brand who has good recommendations.
  • From natural remedies for the nails better fit apricot oil. It is worth remembering that during the treatment you will have to completely abandon decorative varnishes. Every evening you need to lubricate your fingers apricot oil, which contains all the vitamins necessary for beauty.

  • There are a large number of different recipes, which include herbs and plants, the names of which seem to be something fabulous. It is absolutely not necessary to go to pharmacies, reading incomprehensible names on a piece of paper, it is enough to use those folk remedies that are the simplest, and, therefore, the most popular.

  • For these purposes, you can take sea salt, dissolve it in water and add a drop of iodine. In case of absence sea ​​salt used ordinary, cooking. This procedure must be repeated daily for a month, then - as needed.
  • In addition, lemon juice is very useful for nails. It not only helps to strengthen, but also helps to achieve the effect of whiteness. Instead of lemon, you can use currant or cranberry juice, because. they also contain vitamin C. The juice must be rubbed into the plates with a cotton swab.
  • For both skin and nails cosmetic purposes use olive oil. In the same way as apricot, it is rubbed into the fingers. For achievement maximum effect you can warm it up a bit.
  • Many connoisseurs traditional medicine suggest using an ointment prepared at home. To do this, you need to take boiled egg yolk, a few grams of beeswax, as well as apricot or Peach oil. The wax is melted in a water bath and mixed with the rest of the ingredients. The resulting mixture should be applied to the nails daily, at night.

Chamomile, gray alder or yarrow are ideal for these purposes. In addition, these infusions can be used internally. The result is toning and relaxation.

  • The following recipe is also known. 10 g of glycerin is mixed with hydrogen peroxide and rose oil. Apply the ointment daily, as usual.
    Gelatin also has healing properties. Per glass hot water you need a spoonful of gelatin. Fingers fall into the swollen mass and stay there for 10 minutes.
  • It should be noted that the greater effect of various masks and creams is achieved if the ointment is applied in a greasy layer, and cotton gloves are put on top. So, the skin and nails have time to absorb all the necessary substances overnight.
  • A drink that allows you to strengthen not only nails, but also energize the body as a whole is a decoction of horsetail. It contains silicon, which is also necessary for the body. You need to take at least 200 ml at a time.
  • Thus, the basic rules should be remembered. Only dry nails can be filed. If you do this when they are wet, lamination and brittleness cannot be avoided.
  • In addition, pens are constantly in need of protection, which ordinary rubber gloves can provide.
  • Hand cream is a constant companion of any girl. But the frequent use of nail polish remover is superfluous.
  • healthy eating and deep sleep in fresh air - the main components of beauty. Calcium, fluorine, vitamins A and E are the main friends of beauties.

Remember that beauty comes from within, and health is its faithful ally. Be healthy, be beautiful!

Brittle nails are a serious medical problem. And those people who tend to consider it only a cosmetic effect are very mistaken. No words, beautiful, strong, neat and clean nails beautiful shape- decoration of any hand, both male and female. It is also a sign of health, that the body receives all the necessary nutrients from which nails are built.

If they do not please you, when you try to cut your hair, they break, with any careless movement they ugly exfoliate - be vigilant, because this is a serious signal about imbalances in your body. And you need to make an appointment with the doctor. But even before a visit to the clinic, it is useful to get to know your nails better: what they consist of, what they love, and what they cannot tolerate under any circumstances.

So, get acquainted: nails!

The nail plate, growing out of the nail matrix, consists of a substance called keratin. Look at your nails: the semicircles at the base are the traces of the matrix. The formation of keratin in required quantity- an indicator of the well-being of the body, then the nails grow strong, elastic and do not cause concern and problems to their owners. If there is a shortage of keratin, everything happens the other way around: the nail plates become uneven, the nails bend, or even change color, which is a clear signal of trouble.

Causes of brittle nails

  • Don't feed them folic acid, vitamin C, protein, iron. All this leads to brittle nails. Proper, balanced nutrition Main way to beautiful and durable nails, then it would not even occur to build them up.
  • Another reason that causes problems with nails is increased nervous background, stress, anxiety, neurotic states. All these factors exacerbate nail problems. One more condition normal development and the condition of your nails is good hormonal background. Its fluctuations always affect the external appearance of a person: the skin turns pale, the hair grows dull, the nails become thin and brittle, and so on.
  • Violations in activity thyroid gland may also cause unhealthy state nails. Only complex drug treatment can bring relief from this disease, and from brittle nails, as a concomitant factor.
  • No matter how the modern media touts synthetic detergents for washing dishes, cleaning and laundry, their chemical origin is in no way consistent with the natural nature of nails. They suffer, so the simplest remedy must be adopted by all means - do homework gloved. At first glance, this may seem inconvenient. But this is just the beginning. Think about what your hands will turn into in a few years, how your skin will become thinner and wrinkled, how brittle your nails will become, and your hands will reach for gloves themselves.
  • Fans of bright manicure should be aware that the use of varnishes with bright pigments, as well as frequent use nail polish remover containing acetone has an adverse effect on the condition of the nails. They absorb moisture from the nail tissue, causing the nails to become brittle. Make it a rule to use these varnishes no more than once a week, and buy an acetone-free liquid for removing varnish.
  • A feature of nails can also be called the fact that excessive waterlogging is also undesirable. After lengthy water procedures some people may also notice that the nails have not changed in better side. So it needs to be fixed nourishing mask for nails using vegetable oils, see some recipes below.
  • Fileting nails in different directions with strong pressure can break the structure of the nail and cause them to break. It is preferable to use glass nail files, guide them carefully along the nail, in one direction.

As you can see, it is very important to identify the cause of nail diseases and take appropriate measures.

Fragility treatment

Since ancient times, there have been methods of strengthening nails in folk practice, some of them are very simple and effective. Get to know them.

Salt plus iodine - fragility will pass

Per 200 grams clean water take a tablespoon of table salt, add 10 drops of iodine. Stir, with a cotton swab dipped in this solution, wipe the nail plates several times a day.

Olive and lemon

tablespoon olive oil heated using a water bath. When the oil is hot enough, add a few drops to it. lemon juice and mix. The mask is ready! We rub it into the nails, then, for example, at night, put on cotton gloves.

The bee will share the medicine: beeswax for nails

Beeswax is the perfect natural medicine to strengthen nails. Not only should honey be consumed internally, nails should be rubbed with wax, this will make them much stronger and more elastic.

Sea baths for the benefit of nails

If you do not live on the coast, you are certainly less fortunate than those who can regularly take sea baths and thereby strengthen their nails. But there is nothing to do: we organize sea procedures at home. One tablespoon of sea salt (we buy a package in a pharmacy), dissolve in half a liter warm water. We immerse our fingers there and hold for about a quarter of an hour. You need to do this systematically, and you will soon feel the changes.

Diet with complete protein

To improve the condition of the nails, you need to introduce more complete protein into the diet. These are red meat, eggs, turkey meat, chicken, as well as fish from cold seas, which is high in fat. Eat these products daily and very soon your problems with appearance nails will be gone from you forever.

Products against brittle nails

The health of nails is greatly undermined by the lack of such important elements like magnesium and calcium. This is surprising: 80 percent of people have a magnesium deficiency in their bodies. And since this element is responsible for cell growth, bad nails is the result of his lack. Conclusion: want nice nails have – with magnesium food should you want! But it is hardly possible to eat a couple of kilograms of meat in a day or drink several liters of milk, so take vitamins, magnesium preparations from a pharmacy.

The same is true with calcium. There is a mass pharmaceutical preparations, which contain these two elements in the optimal combination - 2: 1. The drug should be chosen together with the doctor. And it makes sense to take at least four weeks. During this time, as a rule, the necessary supply of the necessary substances is accumulated, and in the future it is only necessary to keep them at this level, avoiding a shortage.

It is well known that nails add 1 mm in growth per week. If you want to make sure that calcium and magnesium preparations are effective, arrange a test for yourself: after 4 weeks of taking it, look: there should be a border between the growth of the old and new nails on the nails. Keep in mind: what is good for nails will help and strengthen your hair, skin, in a word, renew your whole body. Be healthy!

Brittle nails are most commonly caused by various diseases. These diseases can be of varying severity: from thyroid disease to a simple lack of calcium, vitamins A, E, F. In addition, the nails are afraid of overdrying, because the nail plates are 80% water and have a porous structure, so frost and water, the scorching sun and water can dry out the nails and make them brittle. Frequent coloring and the use of products that contain acetone and formaldehyde also lead to the fact that the nails become brittle, dry and dull. Heredity is also important, because fragility depends on the composition of the keratin protein.

In some cases, excessive brittleness and brittleness of the nails can be hereditary or indicate a thyroid problem. In this case, you can not do without the advice of a competent specialist. But, unfortunately, many reasons brittle nails are not hidden in it at all. So, in addition to heredity or diseases, we often harm the condition of our nails on our own, without even thinking about it.

Do you want to know how it goes? unbalanced diet, Not proper care for nails or its absence, frequent application of bright varnishes, stress is not in the best way affect the state of the nail plate, as a result of which it becomes thinner, and the nail breaks. Deficiency of calcium and trace elements, namely iron and silicon, leads to foliation and brittleness of the nail.

It has long been proven that detergents and products household chemicals damage nails, but for some reason, few of us put on gloves before washing dishes or cleaning. The same applies to fashionistas who are accustomed to the constant trendy, bright manicure. Nail polishes and products containing acetone and formaldehyde invariably damage the nail, preventing it from recovering naturally.

And if you add to this nutrition, devoid of a full-fledged norm of vitamins, breaking nails will become a logical phenomenon for you. Mention should also be made of bad habits, in particular smoking - nicotine destroys tissues, and brittle nails with yellow a prime example of this. And finally, let's mention age-related changes organisms, which in any case make themselves felt over time.

Treatment and prevention of brittle nails

To avoid brittle nails, take calcium and glucomed, after consulting with a specialist, because brittle and weak nails are evidence of a lack of calcium, too dry and brittle - an excess of calcium and a lack of vitamins. Vitamins E and F enhance nail growth. In addition, brittle nails are recommended to be lubricated vegetable oil, nourishing cream, make warm oil baths, rub oil with vitamin A into the nails - the vitamin penetrates the nail plate, and the nail is restored. At least for a while, contact with hands should be avoided. washing powders, detergents and cleaners.

Treatment of nails consists in the use of special strengthening agents, as well as in the prevention and elimination of the causes of this disease. To keep your nails strong and healthy, you need to follow some tips:

  • Use nail polish remover no more than once a week.
  • Avoid acetone-based products completely.
  • If the varnish began to chip off and peel off, first renew it, do not rush to remove the old layer of varnish completely.
  • Always wear gloves when you have to do housework.
  • Gloves are essential when you wash the dishes, clean the house, clean the sinks, do the laundry, i.e. when there is a risk of wetting nails and getting chemicals on them.
  • Use a good nail file. It is better if it is glass or emery, forget about metal at all. Movements when filing nails should only go in one direction.
  • Eat right. Your diet should include without fail calcium, proteins and iron. If you feel the need, connect multivitamins or special nutritional supplements.
  • Check with your doctor regularly. The condition of the nails can be caused by a number of diseases. Brittle and dry nails can hint at much more serious problems with health.

Remedies for brittle nails

On sale there are also specially designed products for the treatment of nails. In perfume shops, you can, for example, find Crystal liquid for nails. It is used for brittle, exfoliating nails 2-3 times a day or 1 time at night. Means for the treatment of nails are very convenient, they can even be applied to varnish. For example, nourishing balms, as a rule, are applied to the area near the cuticle - in this place the nail is most receptive to beneficial substances.

Familiar to most women, but not everyone seeks to understand the reason. Many people prefer to fight the consequences by covering their nails with “smart” enamels, rubbing creams into them or turning to beauty salons. Of course, these methods should be used, but it is better to first eliminate the causes of the problem, and then it will disappear, or at least noticeably decrease. So it will not be superfluous to find out what exactly affects the growth and health of nails.

Causes of brittle nails

In order for nails to grow, the body must synthesize the substance creatine - an organic carboxylic acid. Creatine absorbs moisture well, and the nail plate thickens, but for strength, the nail needs nutrients - vitamins and minerals, and we often lack them.

The structure of the nails is porous, and therefore they absorb everything they come into contact with. If you often change varnishes, and even buy them, focusing on the color and drying speed, and remove them with liquids with acetone, your nails will not last long.

Dry indoor air in winter is detrimental to nails, and in combination with periodic hypothermia, it has a simply destructive effect.

Household chemicals and bleach in the water “finish off” weakened nails, and we also file them in a hurry, or even bite them, introducing all kinds of infections. Is it true, healthy nails they endure all this stoically, but they are healthy people, while in our country the majority of the population has chronic diseases, the rest are considered “conditionally healthy”, and only a few are truly healthy.

So brittle nails are often explained by the most different pathologies internal organs and systems. This is a metabolic disorder - primarily protein metabolism, on which the formation of a healthy nail plate depends; malfunctions endocrine system caused by hormonal changes, anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems, etc. Circulatory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, overwork, neuralgia, constant stress, extreme diets, physical inactivity, strict vegetarianism, drug use, bad habits. Brittle nails can also be caused by a fungus, but this is a separate issue, and the treatment here is special. But most often there is more than one reason - for example, with aggressive external influences on nails and availability chronic disease a person has little rest and inadequate nutrition, although in general it seems that the state of health is satisfactory.

Nutrition against brittle nails

If you want to restore health and strength to your nails, you can apply different ways, But good nutrition"from within" remains the most important factor. Provide your nails with at least the essentials before complaining about brittleness and the inability to do a beautiful manicure. Most acutely, nails feel a lack of vitamins A, E, C, group B, iron and calcium; you need to know which foods contain more of them.

Vitamins A and E "work" in the body together, affecting the process of assimilation of each other. Vitamin A, which prevents fungus and dry nails, is found in many products of animal and vegetable origin: milk, cream, butter, sour cream, etc., eggs, pork liver, oily fish, carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, rose hips.






Brittle nails are characterized by dryness, discoloration and the formation of tubercles on the nail plate or their delamination. Therefore, the treatment of this problem will depend on the specific cause of their fragility.

In medicine, this problem is called onychorrhexis. It “also known as brittle nails, is the brittleness of fingernails or toenails, which can be caused by excessive contact with detergents or water, nail polish remover, hypothyroidism, anemia, anorexia nervosa or bulimia, or occur after oral retinoid therapy."

Causes

Nails can become brittle and brittle for a number of reasons, some of them related to daily care behind the hands and too frequent manicure, and the other with health problems.

Environmental impact

One of the common factors that cause brittle nails is chemical exposure. Aggressive substances may be contained in cleaning products, or detergents. The sensitive cells in the nail plate readily absorb them, resulting in reduced nail quality, dehydration, and flaking. nail bed. The peeling process may start unexpectedly.

Overexposure to water

Too frequent contact with water adversely affects the quality of the nails on the hands and feet, leading to their dryness and brittleness, as well as the cuticles and skin of the hands.

Water, especially cold water, has a detrimental effect on the cells of the nail plate and causes peeling, peeling and brittle nails.

Swimming, handwash and washing dishes are directly related to the contact of hands with water, and therefore cause this problem.

Dehydration

Drying nails with cheap varnishes (including "medicated"), nail polish remover makes nails brittle after a few months

Some types of nail cosmetics, including polishes and nail polish removers and disinfectants, contain alcohol, which causes dehydration.

With frequent use, these products can lead to drying out and damage to the nails. Not all products will cause breakage, but using them frequently can make things worse. For example, many people use nail polish remover that does not contain acetone, but the solvent that is present in such a product can dry out nails.

Destruction of nail tissue

In addition to drying out, frequent use of nail polish removers can cause damage to the tissues of the nail plate, leading to its delamination. Try to use these products no more than once a week.

Aging

Vertical stripes on the nails are a sign of aging.

This is another reason for brittle nails, as with age, the body loses its ability to retain moisture in the body. This is perhaps the only factor that we cannot control.

Most often, this problem is faced by people over 30 years old. The only thing that can be done in this case is to regularly use moisturizers, this will help slow down the effect of drying nails.

But sometimes vertical stripes on the nail plate may not be associated with age, but be a sign of a malfunction of the thyroid gland, the consequences of stress, hormonal changes or diabetes.

Diseases

Severe brittleness and brittleness of nails can cause diseases that affect the nail plate.


Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is accompanied by yellowing, lamination, brittleness
Psoriasis causes excess cell growth. Unlike a fungus, this is a non-contagious (non-infectious) disease. May occur simultaneously with psoriasis on the skin, and may appear only on the nail plates

Raynaud's syndrome

Nails may turn blue with Raynaud's syndrome, and over time, raised lines may form on them

According to Dr. Lowry, a disease such as Raynaud's syndrome, can be the cause of brittle, thin, and weak nails that are prone to splitting.

This syndrome is usually characterized by impaired circulation in the fingers and toes. Lips, ears, and nipples may also be affected.

Discoloration of the nail, tingling, feeling cold, or burning pain in the fingers after warming up near a heat source are all major symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome.

Although the real cause is unknown, doctors have linked the disorder to exposure to cold, chronic injury, endocrine disorders, stressful conditions, as well as professional activities related to the load on the fingers.

Treatment

Before starting treatment, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis. This will help you choose the right tactics treatment, which will facilitate and speed up recovery.

Vitamin supplements

Vitamins are often prescribed to treat brittle nails. In particular, for adults, the doctor may prescribe a course of vitamin B.

Another vitamin that can help with the problem is biotin. This water-soluble vitamin is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats from foods, and also regulates their balance.

In the course of studies, it was found that patients who took a course of biotin significantly improved the condition of their nails. About 2.5 g of biotin supplement per day will help in strengthening brittle nails. The course of treatment with this supplement is about 6 months, or until the full growth of a healthy nail.

Medical treatment

There is also a treatment option medicines. These medicines are designed to strengthen brittle, brittle, and exfoliating nails. According to drdanabeauty.com, "these products contain hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCH), which penetrates into the intercellular spaces and superficial grooves of the nail, providing physical support and creating a barrier against external factors."

Another effective remedy for nails - Nuvail. It provides protection against substances that dry out the nail plate.

Unfortunately, most of these products often come at a high price.

Nail hardener

For people who suffer from brittle nails, the market cosmetics offers special products, whose main function is to strengthen the nail plate.

However, they should be used with great care.

The recipes below are for home use can improve the condition of the nails.

Liquid paraffin baths + heated hand pillows

Heated hand pillows (heated mitts)

Warm paraffin baths or heated hand pillows (available on Amazon) will strengthen your nails and cuticles. For greater effect, you can use cuticle oil.

Application of rubber gloves

Rubber gloves are recommended when handling chemicals, household cleaners and when washing dishes.

Moisturizing hand cream

The use of unscented moisturizers will maintain healthy look cuticles and prevent flaking. In addition, it will partially prevent excessive drying of the nails.

A diet rich in vitamin A

Vitamin A strengthens the nail plate and also reduces the risk of infection with certain diseases that negatively affect the health of the nails.

Foods rich in vitamin A include:

  • grapefruit;
  • most leafy green vegetables such as spinach
  • broccoli;
  • carrot;
  • pumpkin;
  • apricot;
  • sweet potato (yam).

Moisturizing hand cleanser

Instead of disinfectants, opt for moisturizing body and hand products such as Dove.

Treatment Precautions

  • Worth giving up acrylic coating until the nails are completely healed.
  • With a calcium deficiency, the condition of the nails will deteriorate significantly, although this is not the main reason for their fragility.
  • Some nail treatments and strengtheners can make things worse and even cause serious damage.
  • The most common cause of brittleness and delamination of the nails is the dryness of the nail plate. In this case, high-quality moisture will be sufficient.
  • In rare cases, problems with nails are the result of diseases of the internal organs.
  • Sometimes the quality of the nail plate is due to a genetic predisposition.
  • Compliance proper diet, protection against factors environment and proper overall health care will help maintain the strength and quality of your nails.