Treatment of brittle fingernails
The problem with brittle fingernails is often that the nails are too soft and therefore easier to break and tear. The soft nails can be treated with a calcium-containing nail hardener. However, this nail hardener should be free of formaldehyde, as it dries the nails very much.
In addition, the regular treatment of brittle fingernails with a nail care oil is recommended. For this the fingernails including the cuticle are massaged with the oil and receive sufficient moisture and important care substances. Alternatively to a nail care oil, simple household remedies such as almond oil, apricot oil or olive oil can be used.
It is also important to protect the nails from moisture. So it makes sense to always wear work gloves when working with water (e.g. when washing up). Brittle and brittle fingernails should be kept as short as possible.
To shorten the fingernails, it is best to use a nail file that is very gentle to the nails (e.g. a glass nail file). Metal files can heat up quickly when filing and thus damage the nails. Filing the fingernails should not be done after an extensive bath or shower, as the horny layer of the nails is then swollen and can easily be damaged.
A healthy and balanced diet plays a decisive role in the treatment of brittle fingernails, as it can compensate for deficiency symptoms that can be the cause of brittle nails. In rare cases it may be advisable to have the hormone balance checked by a doctor, as certain diseases (e.g. diseases of the thyroid gland) can also lead to brittle fingernails. Treatment of the underlying disease usually leads quickly to an improvement in nail quality.
Nail polishes can also be used for brittle fingernails (it would be better to do without nail polish/remover completely). Care should be taken to ensure that the nail polishes do not contain formaldehyde and preference should be given to nail polishes enriched with calcium. A number of home remedies and tricks can be used to combat brittle and brittle fingernails.
Aggressive cutting, tearing, biting or pushing back of the cuticle should be avoided and regular nail care should be carried out gently. When working in water (e.g. when washing dishes), wearing work gloves can protect the fingernails. If the fingernails are already brittle, oil baths and hand packs, e.g. with healing earth, can be a proven method to care for healthy fingernails.
The nail firmness can be strengthened by special preparations like nail oil or nail cream, but also with simple household remedies like almond oil and olive oil. But simply rub the brittle fingernails with almond or olive oil in the evening and let them work overnight. Coating the fingernails with olive oil can also be useful before wet work, since the oil covers the nail like a protective layer and the water cannot make the fingernail brittle.
Another simple household remedy against brittle fingernails is an olive oil bath in the morning. Here the oil is briefly warmed and the nails are dipped for about 10 minutes. Before the nail is dried again, the oil is massaged in for another half minute.
The oil gives the brittle fingernails the lost elasticity back. The treatment with lemon can also be tried. For this, a fresh lemon is cut open and the brittle fingernails are stuck into the flesh of the lemon for one or two minutes.
This procedure can be repeated several times a day.Nail polish and nail polish remover should not be used on soft, brittle fingernails, as the aggressive chemicals put a lot of stress on the nail. A change to a gentle and non-aggressive hand soap can also be useful to avoid brittle fingernails. Especially after showering, it is recommended to apply a greasy care cream for the hands.
This is good for smooth and soft skin at the same time, and the fingernails also benefit from it. Vitamin D also plays a role for healthy nails, which is why it is recommended to go out in the sun a lot. Vitamin D is produced in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight.
If the nail is brittle because it is infested with a nail fungus, tea tree oil can be used as a helpful household remedy. Tea tree oil kills bacteria and fungi and should be dripped onto the nail after showering or bathing (when the fingernail is slightly softened). Nutrition plays a crucial role in the development of brittle fingernails, as nail changes are often a sign of deficiency.
A lack of vitamin D or B, as well as a deficit of the minerals calcium or iron can be responsible for brittle fingernails. First and foremost, it is important to ensure a healthy and balanced diet. Fingernails need a variety of nutrients (especially calcium and iron) to grow well and healthy.
So it can be tried to increase the calcium intake through diet (for example by drinking a glass of milk a day). In some cases it may be useful to take additional dietary supplements (e.g. biotin, silicon supplements). However, such intake of dietary supplements should be discussed with the family doctor, as the supplementation of minerals, vitamins and trace elements is only sensible and recommended in the case of a proven deficiency.
If there is a lack of biotin, taking about 2.5 milligrams of biotin daily for three months can make the fingernails more stable. Biotin has long been used to strengthen horse hooves until it was discovered that it also helps with human nails. Foods rich in biotin, such as nuts, barley, soy and rice, can also be consumed more often to strengthen the fingernails.
However, the biotin content is not very high. Alternatively, silicic acid containing silicon can be taken or silicic acid gel can be stirred into yogurt. The active ingredients of nettles and silica are also a proven household remedy for brittle fingernails.
The substances in nettle and silica strengthen the fingernails. To treat the nails with the substances, brew a tablespoon of nettle leaves with a cup of water in the morning and in the evening. This tea is left to infuse for five minutes and then strained.
One or two tablets of silica are now dissolved in the nettle water. Alternatively, horsetail can be used, which also has a positive effect on the fingernails. At least one cup of the tea should be drunk every day (available in health food stores and online pharmacies).
Brittle fingernails often indicate a lack of essential fatty acids. These healthy fatty acids are mainly found in foods such as mackerel, salmon, sardine, linseed and linseed oil. White spots on brittle fingernails indicate a lack of zinc.
A lot of zinc is found in liver, beef and pork, eggs and seafood, as well as beans and nuts. Vitamins B and C can also be taken up more by the right diet. These vitamins are mainly found in foods such as bananas, chicken or peppers.
