Symptoms, remedies, treatments and care for Brittle Nails

Brittle Nails

Brittle nail is a general term used to describe nails that are easily cracked, chipped, split or peeled. They are usually caused by aging, frequently use of nail polish, dry weather or too much exposure to water. When there is too little moisture, nails become hard and brittle. When there is too much moisture, nails become soft and thin.

Although rare, brittle nail can also be a sign of medical conditions such like hormone imbalance or the overactive (hyperthyroidism) and underactive (hypothyroidism) of the thyroid gland. In which cases, the toenails will also become brittle. If brittleness only occurs in fingernails but not in toenails then it is usually caused by the environment exposure. Other causes may include fungal infection, nail psoriasis and iron deficiency.