Many people suffer from brittle fingernails. Especially women often complain about the brittle appearance of their fingernails and look for advice to make the nails look healthier. However, brittle nails are not only a negligible beauty defect, but often a warning sign of poor nutrition. Therefore, unstable looking nails should by no means be taken lightly. However, with these tips, brittle nails will soon be a thing of the past.
What helps against brittle fingernails?
Regular bathing of fingernails in olive oil can lead to a quick improvement of the situation. A common reason for the appearance of brittle nails is a lack of calcium. Calcium is significantly responsible for the health of nails and therefore should be taken more when soft or brittle nails occur. Dairy products in particular are high in calcium. Therefore, yogurt, curd cheese and other dairy products should be included in the diet. This already provides in many cases for a fast, visible recovery of the horn cells. Calcium can of course also be added to the body via dietary supplements and supplements, this is particularly recommended for those affected by brittle nails with lactose intolerance.
Quick help
In addition to the mineral calcium, vitamins B and H are especially important for healthy and firm horn cell formation. Vitamin B is, for example, sufficiently contained in fish, dairy products, liver products, broccoli, spinach or even kale. In the case of brittle nails, these foods should also be included in the diet if possible. Vitamin H, on the other hand, is contained in many different foods, but usually only in very small amounts, for example in beef liver, egg yolks, oatmeal, mushrooms, whole wheat flour, fish, spinach, pork and beef, bananas, apples, milk or even walnuts. Therefore, if you want to add additional vitamin H to your body by other means, you can do so, for example, in the form of biotin products, which are available over the counter at your local pharmacy. In addition to the methods described above to prevent brittle nails, regular bathing of fingernails in olive oil can also lead to a rapid improvement of the situation. Instead of olive oil, a lemon bath can be used for this purpose. However, if the origin of brittle nails is due to a deficient diet, these baths, of course, will not provide a permanent remedy, but will only temporarily combat the symptom.
Alternative remedies
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy and nail structure of brittle fingernails. Click to enlarge. Another method for quick treatment of brittle fingernails is rubbing the nails with glycerin, which is also available in cream or stick form at any pharmacy. The glycerin has a hardening effect on the nail substance and thus also quickly provides a more stable and healthier appearance of the fingernails. In order not to stress the nail horn permanently, nails should not be painted permanently, but should be allowed to breathe “freely” for a few days, i.e. nail polish should not be worn for a few days. During these free days, it is also recommended to treat the nails with a nourishing oil or cream. By the way, frequent use of aggressive nail polish remover can also lead to brittle nails. The use of nail polish remover should therefore be as infrequent as possible. It is also advisable to avoid wearing artificial nails for a while if you have brittle nails, as these also have a stress effect on the nail horn. Schematic representation of the anatomy and structure of the fingernails. Click to enlarge. If you also treat your nails gently every day, you will only suffer from brittle nails in rare cases. Therefore, it is recommended to reduce the contact with water and degreasing cleaning agents to a minimum in order to protect the nail. Beyond the unattractive appearance of brittle nails, it is also true that unstable nails are often a sign of disease. Often hormonal disorders or even metabolic diseases are the cause of brittle nails.So if there is no improvement despite treatment and good nutrition, a visit to the doctor is recommended to get to the bottom of the cause of the brittleness.
