Causes for brittle fingernails | Brittle fingernails

Causes for brittle fingernails

In some cases, the nail changes are simply due to the way the nail is attached, and often the same problem exists in such cases with parents or siblings. With other people, the brittle or cracked nails are caused by a deficiency symptom. This can also have different reasons: Often a wrong, unbalanced nutrition is the problem.

For a healthy development of the fingernails above all the Vitamine B and Vitamin D are of large importance, also the trace elements calcium and iron play however an important role for healthy nails. These substances should be present in sufficient quantities in the diet to prevent brittle fingernails. Due to a vitamin or trace element deficiency, people who are currently on an (unbalanced) diet or patients with anorexia (anorexia) often suffer from nail problems.

In other patients, brittle fingernails are caused by dry skin. This can either be congenital or caused by external factors such as too dry air, frequent hand washing, or the use of certain nail polish removers which draw additional moisture from the nail. In addition, brittle fingernails can also be an indication of an underlying disease, which in some patients may even be the first to notice the changes in the fingernails.These include some disorders of the hormone balance (here especially disorders of the thyroid gland function), metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus or psoriasis.

Typically, however, these are accompanied by other classic symptoms, at least in the course of the disease. Since many women attach great importance to beautiful, well-groomed fingernails and a nice manicure is still part of today’s common beauty image, many suffer greatly from brittle fingernails. In addition, cracked fingernails are often a nuisance during everyday activities, as they can easily get caught on textiles.

If they tear further, they can sometimes also cause pain. Therefore it is worthwhile to do something against the nail problems in any case, even if they are not based on a health-endangering condition. Which method is most suitable in an individual case to fight the unsightly nails then depends, at least partially, on their cause.

If one suffers permanently from brittle and/or brittle fingernails, also lack symptoms, for example by an unbalanced nutrition or by incorrect and/or missing admission, particularly in the intestine, can be the reason for it. This should not be disregarded, since brittle finger and toenails can also only be an external sign of an underlying nutrient deficiency, which could permanently damage the whole body. A vitamin B or vitamin C deficiency is often present.

In the case of a vitamin or trace element deficiency, the deficient substances should be taken in with food. Vitamin B occurs both in animal and vegetable products, for example in fish, dairy products, spinach or broccoli. An exception forms here Vitamin B12 – also Cobalmin mentioned, which is almost exclusively present in animal food.

A further characteristic of this vitamin is besides that a lack cannot be led back inevitably to a unsatisfactory nutrition, since it can come for example autoimmun conditionally to a worse admission of the vitamin in the small intestine. Vitamin C has to be taken in by us continuously with our food, as it cannot be stored in the body and plays an important role in many processes in our body, including collagen synthesis and thus also in the formation of nails and hair. Vitamin C is mainly found in fresh fruits and vegetables.

More rarely, a lack of biotin and folic acid can also be the reason for brittle nails. Biotin also belongs to the vitamin B group. If one pays attention to a balanced diet, a biotin deficiency practically never occurs in adults.

Deficiency symptoms are found above all in smokers, alcoholics and nursing mothers. Furthermore, it has been found that the consumption of several raw eggs can lead to a biotin deficiency because substances contained in the egg bind the biotin and make it insufficient for absorption by the body. However, these substances are destroyed when the eggs are heated.

Biotin in food is mainly found in nuts, liver, kidneys and yeast. If there is a deficiency despite all the improbabilities, it cannot be compensated for through food, but only by taking tablets. People with biotin deficiency suffer from brittle fingernails and hair loss, as well as dull and brittle hair.

Also Folsäure is a Vitamin of the B family. It is very important for our body cells, as it is essential for their division and regeneration. Thus it plays an important role especially during pregnancy or when we are about to have children.

We can supply it to our body with food, especially through fresh, green, uncooked vegetables. Our body is not able to produce it itself. The daily requirement of pregnant women is almost twice as high (550 micrograms/day) as that of the rest of the population (300 micrograms/day).

The increased daily requirement is met with the help of tablets. Deficiencies are caused by unbalanced diet, alcohol abuse and the use of certain cancer drugs. Folic acid deficiency can also lead to anaemia, or in technical terms anaemia, with the symptoms of rapid fatigue and exhaustion.

Since our hair and nails are also among the fast growing parts of our body, they become brittle and brittle. The hair can also fall out more often. For a good vitamin D level, the intake of certain foods, such as fish, dairy products, eggs and offal, also helps.

However, it is even more important for this vitamin that you expose your body to enough sunlight, since it can only be formed in the body under the influence of UV radiation.Calcium is found in large quantities in milk, cheese and other dairy products, and in somewhat lower doses in vegetables such as broccoli or kale, legumes and whole grains. Iron is found in many foods, but is more easily absorbed by the body from animal products than from plants. Therefore, meat (especially liver or other offal) or sausage, but also millet, cocoa, pumpkin seeds or some vegetables (for example lentils, peas, beans or spinach) are suitable for iron requirements.

However, if an adapted diet is still not sufficient to remedy the deficiency, one can also resort to nutritional supplements, such as vitamin (effervescent) tablets or iron supplements. If the brittle fingernails are caused by an underlying disease, this problem can usually be eliminated by treating this causative disease appropriately. If you notice one or more of the above symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor to find the exact cause. The targeted use of various vitamin preparations and dietary supplements is not always advisable and can not only benefit the body, but also harm it.