Feb 03 2008
Nutrition For Dry, Brittle Nails
Brittle nails are usually not associated with a medical disease. Brittle fingernails are a common condition, occurring in about 20% of people; more women than men develop brittle nails. 1 Brittle nails usually break or peel off in horizontal layers, starting at the nail’s free end. Brittleness in the nail may be caused by trauma, such as repeated wetting and drying, repeated exposure to detergents and water, and excessive exposure to harsh solvents, such as those found in nail polish remover. Other possible causes include skin diseases ( psoriasis , lichen planus, alopecia areata) as well as endocrine disorders, tuberculosis, Sjogren’s syndrome syndrome, and malnutrition. The incidence of brittle nails in the European and North American population is approximately 20%, and women suffer from nail brittleness twice as often as men.