What is it? - Brittle nails or weak nails occur for various reasons and it is recognised easily as they break or spilt with the smallest amount of impact.
Causes - Brittle nails can occur due to nail biting or when the hands are submersed in water for long periods on a regular basis. Iron deficiency is also a common cause of nail brittleness, however iron supplements should not be used unless a blood test indicates that you are low in this mineral. Lack of zinc or B-vitamins, especially biotin will also cause weakness of the nails. Nail polish remover can also strip the nails of moisture, making them drier and more brittle.
Advice - Generally, it is a good idea to avoid foods that are full of sugar, salt and saturated fats, as they all deplete valuable nutrients needed for nail health. This means restricting intake of junk foods, fizzy drinks, white bread, biscuits, sweets, cakes, crisps, pies and pastries. Caffeine and alcohol should be restricted or avoided, as they also can cause nutritional deficiencies. Obviously, if there is an iron deficiency then there should be a general attempt to eat more iron-rich foods including; liver, fresh dates, red meat, watercress, cashews, molasses, dried beans, yeast extract and black pudding. Protein foods such as meat, fish, eggs and poultry should be eaten at least once a day, so that the body can make the nail protein, keratin. Try also to eat more nuts, especially walnuts, Brazils, hazelnuts and seeds such as sunflower, linseeds and pumpkin. These and additional oily fish will supply the important essential fatty acids which nourish the nails. There are some important supplements to take for brittle nails:
The biochemic tissue salt, 'Combination K' is specifically formulated for brittle nails. It contains homoeopathic concentrations of three vital mineral salts for nail health. Use as directed.
While you are waiting for the supplements and various remedies to work, the nails can be helped by soaking them in luke-warm olive oil at least twice a week. Some people also find that massaging the nails regularly with jojoba or almond oil is very effective and can help speed up the growth of nail tissue. Other people paint them with a nail strengthener to help avoid breaking. This is especially useful if the nails are to be kept long, if not the best option is to keep the nails short until the new stronger and healthier nails appear after a few months.
A split nail can be repaired by tearing a little paper from a teabag or coffee filter and glued onto the the affected area with nail glue. After it has dried, it can be gently smoothed ready for the usual nail varnish.