Beautiful fingernails are not only a sign of good care, but also of health. While healthy fingernails are dyed without grooves and slightly pink, sick fingernails usually look cracked. Our guide and tips explain the causes, and how to prevent and fix brittle fingernails.
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1. The causes of split fingernails are manifold
Split fingernails can have many causes. On the one hand, fingernails that are torn can indicate incorrect nail care. But also otherwise stressed fingernails often show broken or torn off. Either this happens through external influences such as cold in winter or exposure to chemicals on the nail.
For example, nail polish or nail polish remover, but also soaps, detergents or detergents can attack the surface of the nails and cause brittle fingernails. Physical changes such as during pregnancy or health aspects such as vitamin deficiency often cause split fingernails. Broken fingernails are therefore usually a sign of nail damage or, at worst, even an alarm sign for your health.
2. Find the cause of damaged fingernails
Changes in the fingernails may indicate a vitamin deficiency.
Since split fingernails can have many causes, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis before treating brittle fingernails. If you frequently use nail polish and nail polish remover, this can be a cause of cracked fingernails, for example. The ingredients contained in nail polish and nail polish remover, such as alcohol and acetone, remove moisture from your nails and promote brittle nails.
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Therefore, check your cosmetic products and, if necessary, resort to a higher-quality product, which is, for example, acetone-free and preferably contains nail-care ingredients at the same time.
If you also use acrylic nails that are connected to the natural nail, you should always visit a professional nail salon for a modeling and repair of brittle fingernails. If your artificial nails are torn, do not try to remove them on your own, otherwise you risk serious damage to your natural fingernails.
3. Other causes of brittle fingernails
Good to knowIf your acrylic nails have irreparable damage, you should have them removed professionally in a nail salon immediately, for example, to avoid the risk of infection.
But it’s not just cosmetic causes or a wrong manicure that can be the reason for split fingernails. Health causes can also be the basis of brittle fingernails.
3.1. Cracked fingernails in case of deficiency
If your fingernails are split and have white spots, strong longitudinal grooves or deformations, this may indicate vitamin deficiency or other nutrient deficiency. But also for other, sometimes even organic diseases, severely damaged nails can be a clue. Normally, nails have a healthy color and feel smooth and firm.
If longitudinal grooves or cross grooves in your fingernails are not clearly age-related or as soon as your fingernails change visually strongly, you should consult a doctor immediately.
The doctor can determine whether your nail problems are a temporary deficiency or if there is another health problem. In most cases, the causes of broken nails are related to diet. Otherwise, torn nails may also indicate diseases such as nail fungus or similar infectious diseases.
Severely damaged fingernails can also indicate a disease of organs or the cardiovascular system. Therefore, always clarify any noticeable changes in your nails by a doctor in order to start a suitable therapy at the end.
3.2. Fragile nails in pregnancy
Women in particular often suffer from brittle fingernails. Especially in pregnancy, when the body changes hormonally, brittle fingernails are not uncommon. In addition to his own body, the unborn child also needs enough nutrients for its development. Since hair and nails are among the fast-growing parts of the body, they need enough vitamins, folic acid, calcium and iron for a healthy appearance.
If the nutrient requirements during pregnancy are not sufficiently covered by the diet, often brittle nails are the result. As a rule, the daily need for vitamins and other trace elements in pregnant women is twice as high as usual, so they have to compensate for the increased need via the diet. In this case, however, it is also important to determine the exact causes of split fingernails by a doctor and to have them treated accordingly.
4. Treatment to prevent and fix brittle fingernails
Depending on the disease or other cause of your split fingernails, you also need appropriate therapy. The following table shows which forms of therapy are available for brittle fingernails.
| Therapy |
|---|
| Deficiency: If necessary, cover your nutrient requirements with vitamin supplements and dietary supplements. Ensure a balanced diet. |
| Diseases: Treat nail fungus and other diseases around nails and nail bed with medicines. Pay attention to clean nails to prevent infection. |
| Chemicals: Avoid contact of your fingernails with cleaning and cleaning agents as well as inferior nail products. Ensure sustainable care of your fingernails. |
5. How to prevent and fix brittle fingernails
With the right manicure, prevent brittle fingernails.
If your fingernails are split, you can in most cases treat your brittle nails yourself. In addition to a special nail glue for acrylic nails, with which you can re-glue torn nail parts, you can also get nail patches in the pharmacy or in the drugstore market. You can easily glue them to your ripped fingernails. The active ingredients of the nail patch support the nail in its natural growth and inhibit the formation of nail fungus. In addition, the product protects your fingernails from harmful environmental influences and drying out. Here you will find further measures and home remedies for the prevention of cracked fingernails:
- Make sure you have the right manicure by fine-tuning your nails and not cutting them – so prevent further chipping.
- Cream your nails regularly with hand cream or use a few drops of olive or almond oil for natural nail care.
- When cleaning and rinsing, put on gloves to protect your nails from detergents and rinsing water.
- Do not unnecessarily strain your nails with chemicals such as nail polish and nail polish remover, but give your nails a rest in between.
6. FAQ on split fingernails
What to do about cracks on fingernails?
Find out the causes to get beautiful nails again.
To prevent your nails from tearing after the manicure, you should always shorten your fingernails with a nail file. This prevents the nails from fraying. You get particularly beautiful fingernails when you smooth your nails with a polishing file at the end.
What helps against brittle toenails?
The causes of brittle fingernails presented here also apply to cracked toenails. Especially poorly ventilated and too tight shoes often cause nail fungus and other infections around the nail bed in toenails. Here, too, clarify the disease and subsequent therapy with your attending physician.
