Brittle Nails: Causes and Everyday Care Tips

Brittle nails break, split, chip or peel easily and seldom grow to the length you want. They are very common, particularly in women and with age. In most cases the cause is outside the body, in what the nails are exposed to every day, which means that everyday care can make a real difference.

What brittle nails look like

• Tips that split or peel into layers.
• Nails that snap or crack with little force.
• Lengthwise splits or pronounced ridges.
• A dry, dull surface.
• Rough edges that catch on fabric.

Nails can be brittle in two ways. Dry, hard nails have too little moisture and snap. Soft, weak nails have had too much moisture or chemical exposure and bend and tear.

Common causes

Less common causes

Sometimes brittle nails are linked to a health condition, such as iron deficiency, an underactive thyroid, psoriasis, eczema or a fungal infection, or to some medicines. A clue is whether your toenails are affected too. If your fingernails are brittle but your toenails are strong, an outside cause is more likely, because your feet are not in water and detergent all day.

Everyday care

1. Wear gloves for wet work. Cotton-lined rubber gloves for washing dishes and cleaning are the single most helpful change. See How to Protect Your Nails During Household Work.
2. Moisturize your nails every time you wash your hands and before bed. Rub hand cream, ointment or oil into the nails and cuticles.
3. Keep nails short and rounded while they recover. Short nails have less leverage to break.
4. File gently in one direction with a fine-grit file.
5. Limit remover. Use it no more than once a week if you can, and choose a non-acetone type.
6. Take breaks from gel and acrylics.
7. Do not cut or pick the cuticles.
8. Use tools, not nails, to open, scrape and pry.

Do strengtheners and supplements help?

• Nail hardeners can make nails feel firmer for a while, but some types make nails harder and more likely to snap with long use. Nail Strengtheners: Ingredients and Label Claims explains the ingredients and label claims.
• A coat of clear polish can protect the tips from water, as long as you do not remove it frequently.
• Biotin is often suggested. A few small studies reported thicker, less brittle nails with biotin, but the evidence is limited. High-dose biotin can interfere with some blood tests, so tell your doctor if you take it.
• A balanced diet with enough protein and iron supports nail growth. Extra vitamins do not help unless you are short of something. See Nutrition and Hair Health: Nutrients Your Hair Needs.

How long improvement takes

A fingernail takes about six months to grow from base to tip. Damaged nail cannot be repaired. It has to grow out. With consistent care, you should see stronger nail appearing at the base within two to three months.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment if:

• Nails do not improve after several months of good care.
• Fingernails and toenails are both affected.
• You notice changes in color, thickening, lifting from the nail bed, pitting or pain.
• You also feel very tired, cold or unwell.

Blood tests can check for iron deficiency and thyroid problems, and a dermatologist can look for nail conditions.

For nails that peel in layers, see Peeling Nails: Causes and How to Care for Them. For a weekly routine, see How to Care for Nails Between Manicures.

Related on ArniSun

• Peeling Nails: Causes and How to Care for Them
• How to Protect Your Nails During Household Work
• Nail Strengtheners: Ingredients and Label Claims
• How to Care for Nails Between Manicures
• Nutrition and Hair Health: Nutrients Your Hair Needs

Sources and further reading

• American Academy of Dermatology: 11 dermatologists' tips for healthy nails
• Mayo Clinic: Fingernails: Do's and don'ts for healthy nails
• NHS: Nail problems