Why do my hand nails break?

Beautiful and well-groomed nails are a status detail of the appearance of not only a modern woman, but also a man, characterizing their owner, first of all, as a person who takes care of his health. Therefore, the situation when nails on the hands peel cannot but cause grief in most people, of any age and gender, although women are traditionally more numerous among them.

Often, when faced with the problem of peeling nails, the fair sex resorts to cosmetic tricks that create the illusion of strong and durable nails. Nail extensions with gel or acrylic certainly give a temporary visual effect, however, as a result, the nail plate will weaken even more, and over time it may happen that there will be nothing to extend.

In our article we will try to consider why fingernails peel and what is best to do in such a case so as not to be left without them altogether.

Epidemiology

The exact statistics of nail splitting are unknown, since such a nuisance can happen under various circumstances. One-time injuries, accidental contact without gloves with aggressive substances can happen to anyone. They usually do not entail visiting a doctor and are not included in the statistical sample.

Nevertheless, specialists are paying attention to 33 to 50% of the planet's population, whose fingernails are peeling for one reason or another. And some sources even claim that only 10% of the Earth's inhabitants have absolutely healthy nails.

The most dangerous professional activity for nail health is hairdressing. It is the representatives of this profession who most often have peeling nails on their hands.

Causes chipped nails

The horny protective plates with one free edge, located on the back of the fingertips, that is, our nails, should ideally be strong, shiny and pink. They consist of keratinized cells of the nail matrix - onychoblasts. In the growth part of the nail, the matrix, there is a constant process of cell division, which determines the qualitative characteristics of the nail plate - its growth rate and strength. [ 1 ]

Risk factors for deterioration of nail quality can be divided into two large groups - external and internal. The former are associated with adverse effects on the nail plate from the outside, the latter - with a negative impact on the metabolism in the body, as a result of which the chemical composition of the nail plate changes.

External causes include mechanical trauma to the nails (blows, cuts, improperly performed manicure), the effect of chemicals on the nail plate, most often household chemicals. Even ordinary baking soda, which many housewives use to clean dishes and consider completely safe, has a negative effect on the structure of the nails, especially in combination with warm water.

Inappropriate care products, poor quality nail polish, acetone-based nail polish remover, errors in performing a manicure or more complex cosmetic procedures, such as nail extensions, can lead to their delamination. Even expensive and high-quality materials for nail extensions and correct performance of the procedure do not guarantee protection of the nail plate from damage. Periodically, you need to give your nails a chance to recover, especially if you notice defects on them after removing the coating.

Professional contact with aggressive substances and water also requires more careful nail care. Moreover, even representatives of such professions as a teacher or a seamstress are at risk due to constant contact with chalk, and a typist or PC operator injure the tips of their nails on the keyboard.

Nails perfectly absorb water, various fats, and other substances, contact with which is not always beneficial for them. Long stays in warm water make nails loose and thick. Such nails begin to break off and crumble from the free edge. In addition, filing wet nails with any, especially metal files, damages their tips.

The reason for nail splitting can even be the wrong technique of filing them. Firstly, it is better not to use metal nail files, secondly, the nails must be completely dry, it is not enough to simply wipe them with a towel or napkin. The nail plate quickly becomes saturated with water and in this state the free end of the nail can "fray" when processed with a file, and of any quality. It is necessary to wait until even dry-wiped hands dry well. Thirdly, when filing nails, you need to perform movements in one direction.

Cold and constant exposure to dry air also do not contribute to healthy nails. Nails lose their elasticity, decrease in volume and become brittle.

The habit of biting your nails, using them as a missing tool to unscrew or lift a tight cap can damage even strong and healthy fingernails.

The most dangerous damage is to the nail matrix. This leads to long-term problems with the quality of nails, since the cell division process is disrupted. The matrix can be damaged during a trim manicure, during the procedure of filing down the extended part of the nail, or due to other trauma to the nail bed.

People with inherited thin and not very strong nails often have peeling fingernails. Many remember that their mothers and grandmothers suffered from this problem. Indeed, if your nails are naturally delicate, you will have to pay more attention to them and take care of them daily, since they are damaged faster. However, with proper care, even thin nails can be pink and healthy.

Nail type corresponds to skin type. People with dry skin have more prone to brittle nails because they also suffer from dryness.

The basis of the nail structure is a complex protein component containing sulfur - keratin, which provides nails with hardness. The presence of a sufficient amount of water in the nail plate ensures its elasticity. The fat component of nails - cholesterol is also very important for their strength. In addition, the nail plate contains phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, arsenic. The balance of all elements is necessary to maintain healthy nails.

Nail delamination is a type of onychodystrophy, the pathogenesis of which is associated with a violation of trophism and autoregulation of cellular metabolism. External causes or any disease that disrupts metabolism in the body are reflected in the structure of the nails. The nail matrix is surrounded by a large number of arterial vessels that supply it with nutrients and oxygen. It quickly reacts to changes in metabolic processes. Lack of nutrients in the growth part of the nail leads to dystrophic changes in the onychoblasts and triggers the mechanism of nail delamination. This symptom does not so much indicate a lack of calcium, as it is often interpreted, but rather a deficiency of sulfur, selenium, silicon, zinc, as well as protein, water and even cholesterol. [ 2 ]

The quality of nails is affected by a decrease in the level of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen to tissues. Anemia can be the result of various reasons - from nutritional errors to serious diseases.

A lack of B vitamins negatively affects protein absorption, slowing down nail growth and reducing their strength. B-deficiency anemia accompanies many diseases - gastrointestinal tract, thyroid gland. At the same time, the level of serum iron with low hemoglobin can be normal.

Ascorbic acid deficiency causes a decrease in the body's defenses and often manifests itself as brittle nails. Also, the strength and power of the nail plates depends on sufficient consumption of foods rich in carotenoids, vitamins A, D and E.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of many chronic diseases is accompanied by such a symptom as nail splitting. The body of diabetics, cancer patients, people with dermatoses, diseases of the thyroid gland, liver, kidneys or gastrointestinal tract suffers from metabolic disorders. [ 3 ], [ 4 ]

Nail splitting occurs with isolated psoriasis of this particular localization, although this form of the disease is quite rare. Much more often, the cause of brittleness and fragility of nails is a fungal infection.

A lack of vitamins and minerals in the body can occur as a result of an unbalanced diet, alcohol abuse, during a period of rapid development of the body in adolescents, as a result of stress or moving to another climate zone. Yellowish and flaky nails are typical for heavy smokers.

The reasons can be very different and, most importantly, combined: professional risks can coexist with nutritional errors, stress, low stomach acidity, the habit of biting nails, and others.

Symptoms chipped nails

The first signs of delamination are usually noticed on the fingernails - the nails usually peel, break, and lift up from the free end. The appearance of delamination is preceded by leukonychia - white spots and stripes on the nails of a normal color, formed in places of traumatic injuries. In case of serious metabolic disorders or infection, the nail can change color completely.

If peeling nails are the only symptom and nothing else bothers you, then it can be assumed that the peeling is associated with exposure to an unfavorable external environment. Perhaps you did not always wear protective gloves when doing housework, used aggressive nail polish, or, being the owner of dry skin on your hands, walked in the cold without gloves. [ 5 ]

Nails on the hands become brittle and break from frequent washing of dishes without protective gloves, especially with the use of soda, from other work associated with prolonged exposure of hands to water. Moreover, such pathology is not always associated with work. For example, frequent visits to the pool are a factor that negatively affects the quality of nails.

Naturally, naturally thin nails suffer more from external influences. Their owners often experience severely peeling fingernails even from a single failure to observe protective measures.

Delamination of the nail plates often indicates an unprofessional manicure or nail extensions, or more precisely, nail injuries are most likely when removing the extended layer, if it is scraped off together with the surface layer of the nail. Manicure onychodystrophy is very common, its symptom is transverse, from edge to edge of the nail, white Beau lines, which are a symptom of inhibition of metabolic processes in the growth part of the nail. Transverse delamination can begin along these lines or, growing to the free edge, it is in these places that the nails will crumble and delaminate. In this case, the healing process is long. The matrix needs to be restored, and the plate itself is completely renewed on average in three to four months. The name "manicure" does not mean that the cause should be only a manicure - intoxication, trauma, stress, systemic pathologies can affect the chemical composition of the nail matrix. [ 6 ]

If fingernails and toenails are peeling, then most likely this condition indicates a deficiency of elements (vitamins, minerals, protein, fats, water) necessary for normal nail growth. Associated symptoms of a deficiency condition may include chronic fatigue, dizziness, daytime sleepiness, difficulty falling asleep. Not only nails but also hair react to a lack of oxygen, water and nutrients - they become dull, split, the skin is usually pale and dry or inflamed.

With prolonged anemia, nails not only exfoliate, but also change shape - they become concave. With a deficiency of vitamin C, a characteristic symptom is increased bleeding. This can be noticed when brushing your teeth - traces of blood remain on the brush, nosebleeds can often occur, in addition, cuts and wounds heal poorly, bruises appear literally from touch. Deficiency of vitamin A is characterized by deterioration of twilight vision. Deficiency of vitamin E, like vitamin B12, provokes the development of anemia. Early specific signs of calcium deficiency are muscle pain, zinc deficiency is manifested by inflammation of the skin - acne, decreased general immunity - frequent colds. In general, assuming a deficiency of nutrients in the body, you need to see a doctor and take the appropriate tests that will help to accurately determine it. One clinical picture is not enough for diagnosis. Moreover, deficiency states are not always caused by unbalanced nutrition, but are often the result of diseases of internal organs that need to be treated, and for this they need to be identified. [ 7 ]

The connection between nail splitting and a lack of vitamins and/or microelements cannot be ruled out even when nails split only on the hands. Hands take on a lot of stress from external factors, so a symptom such as nail splitting will appear on them first.

Sometimes the nail on only one finger peels, but the person cannot remember any circumstances that could contribute to this. For example, the nail on the thumb peels for a long time. This reason suggests that, probably, this finger was exposed to some unwanted effects. Perhaps even regularly. The nail on the thumb is usually strong, and it is often used due to the lack of a suitable tool at hand, for example, a screwdriver. This is often done involuntarily, and then it is difficult to remember. In this case, the outer free edge of the nail is damaged. It becomes uneven, flaky, often crumbles.

The three first fingers are the most heavily loaded - the thumb, index, middle. When typing on a keyboard, the nails on the middle and index fingers are most often damaged.

The nail on the middle finger of the hand also peels off quite often. This finger is longer than others in many people and is quite loaded, and also often gets injured. In addition, people who bite their nails often damage them on the first three fingers.

These fingers on the working hand, as the most loaded, can start to exfoliate nails, associated with internal causes, which will then spread to the nails on the other fingers. The loads on a certain hand can explain the fact that sometimes the nails on one hand - the right, the left - exfoliate.

Delamination of the nail plate on just one finger of the hand can be a symptom of onychomycosis (later the infection can spread to neighboring fingers). As a rule, the nail of the outer finger - the thumb or little finger - is affected, and the index finger is often affected. In the initial stage, the nail plate becomes thinner and more fragile, the nail changes color, often turns yellow, and begins to delaminate, mainly from the free edge. With a mild development of the disease, the fungus can easily be confused with a traumatic lesion. The nail does not change much, white spots and stripes appear on its surface, it delaminates at the free end. [ 8 ], [ 9 ]

Nail fungus is a contagious disease, its spores, getting on hands, penetrate into microdamages, which are common on the skin of hands. A humid environment promotes infection.

Depending on the type of fungus and the person's immunity, the disease develops differently. With rapid development, in addition to nail peeling, there may be itching, pain, and rashes around the nail. Often, the skin under the fingernails peels, and a rash or blisters may appear in this place. The nail plate may thicken, rising above the bed, and turn yellow. In this case, the localization of peeling may be different, depending on the place where the fungal spores are introduced. Sometimes the nails peel at the base of the hands, sometimes this happens in the very center of the nail, on the side, or closer to the edge. Nails affected by fungus on the hands crumble and peel. An accompanying symptom of onychomycosis is an unpleasant odor emanating from the affected nail. [ 10 ], [ 11 ]

There is an autosomal dominant genetic predisposition to distal subungual onychomycosis caused by T. rubrum.[ 12 ]

A fairly rare, but possible disease is isolated nail psoriasis. With this disease, nails usually first become dull, lose their healthy shine and transparency. They thicken and become covered with dents in the form of dots and/or wavy stripes, their color changes to yellowish-brown. Nails with psoriasis begin to exfoliate and crumble already at an advanced stage of onycholysis. [ 13 ]

Fingernails peel and crack after frequent nail buffing with special polishing buffs. Immediately after the treatment, the nails look smooth and even, but during buffing you remove the top layer of the nail. If you do this often, the health of the nails is seriously damaged. This procedure is often used when longitudinal convex grooves appear on the nails, which in themselves already indicate problems in the growth part of the nail, caused by possible problems with blood circulation, absorption of nutrients, hormonal imbalances and other reasons that require diagnostics, and not buffing and gel polish camouflage. Naturally thin and flaky fingernails suffer especially in this situation. It is better to immediately contact a specialist and identify the cause of the loss of a healthy appearance of the nails.

Complaints that the skin of the hands is very dry and the nails are peeling may indicate that both the skin and the nails are overdried. The cause of this condition may be constant exposure to dry air and insufficient water intake. In this case, drinking plenty of fluids, using a moisturizer and, if possible, humidifying the air may help. However, dry skin on the hands and peeling nails may be a symptom of a fungal disease and even psoriasis. If there is no improvement from the measures taken to moisturize the skin and air, it is advisable to see a doctor.

Finally, I would like to comment on the request: "My fingernails are peeling, I am applying Termicon." If the antifungal ointment Termicon was prescribed by a doctor, then you need to apply it, and if it is ineffective or the condition of your nails worsens, consult the same doctor. Any drug can cause an allergic reaction and not suit the patient. If Termicon for peeling nails was recommended by a friend, then you should find out if you have a fungal disease, and then apply it. The cause of nail peeling may not be a fungus at all, and Termicon is by no means a harmless remedy.

Many parents ask questions about what it means if a child's fingernails are peeling. Children often bite their nails, dig in the sand, build dams after the rain, and come into contact with animals, which creates favorable conditions for infection and injury. Alimentary causes may also be present, so it is worth analyzing the child's diet. If you are convinced that everything is fine with nutrition and caring for children's nails does not give an effect, then the child should be shown to a doctor. This is the only way to find out the cause of the pathology.

If we exclude gross mechanical or chemical damage to the nail plate, the severity of symptoms depends on the stage of metabolic disorders in the nail matrix. At the beginning, “incorrect” metabolites from the blood and lymph accumulate in the cells and intercellular substance (infiltration stage). This can manifest itself in deformation of the nail plate, the appearance of transverse or longitudinal irregularities, white stripes. The balance of cellular metabolism in the horny tissue of the nail changes, the keratinization process is disrupted, the nail becomes fragile and exfoliates. At an advanced stage of transformation, the connection of the nail with the nail bed is lost and the process of nail loss can begin - onycholysis. [ 14 ], [ 15 ]

Complications and consequences

Of course, it is easiest to deal with the problem at the initial stage, when only a small part of the nail is damaged. If external factors are the cause, then their elimination and active nail care will give a fairly quick effect - the peeling tips will be cut off, and the nail will begin to grow back quite healthy.

Ignoring the problem, masking peeling nails with extensions can lead to the development of onychodystrophy and even complete loss of the nail. Untreated fungal diseases, psoriasis, dermatoses end in onycholysis. [ 16 ]

In addition, persistent delamination of nails, which continues despite active care and proper nutrition, can be a symptom of chronic pathologies of the digestive organs, endocrine and immune systems.

Diagnostics chipped nails

The fact of nail delamination is determined visually, however, finding out the causes of such a defect may require a number of diagnostic procedures.

After interviewing the patient and analyzing complaints about his general health, the doctor may order blood tests to determine its composition, glucose levels, proteins, thyroid hormones, vitamins and minerals, transaminase activity (liver tests). Other specific tests may be ordered depending on the suspected diagnosis. In addition, if renal failure is suspected, the patient takes urine tests.

In case of complaints of progressive delamination of nails, a microscopic examination of scrapings from their surface (from under them) for fungal infection is mandatory, which will allow to exclude or confirm its presence.

Often, consultations with specialists of different profiles are necessary – endocrinologist, urologist, gastroenterologist, oncologist.

Instrumental diagnostics are carried out to identify systemic pathologies and may include a variety of studies from ultrasound and ECG to fibrogastroscopy.

Differential diagnosis

The examination results are summarized, and differential diagnostics allows in most cases to establish the cause that caused the appearance of dystrophic changes in the nail structure. Nail stratification may be a symptom of the development of a chronic somatic disease, an infectious lesion, and an independent dystrophic process caused by disturbances in the trophism of the matrix. Therefore, a thorough examination and analysis of its results are of great importance for eliminating diagnostic errors.

Prevention

You can prevent nail splitting by constantly taking care of this part of your body, which is also in plain sight. You need to take care of your nails every day, protect them from harmful effects, injuries and unprofessional cosmetic procedures.

In cold weather, hands should be protected by wearing gloves, in warm weather – do not overdry and moisturize in a timely manner. When working with aggressive substances, in humid environments – use protective creams, gloves, double your efforts to care for your nails.

Use high-quality nail polishes that do not contain formaldehyde, acetone-free nail polish remover, wooden spatulas and glass files instead of metal ones, and use the services of a trusted cosmetologist.

In addition, it is worth taking care of your general health - eating well (your diet should include vegetables and fruits, fish and meat, eggs, dairy products, cereals), getting quality rest and being less nervous.

And if you still haven't protected your nails, then you shouldn't resort to masking the defects. It's better to resort to diagnostics and treatment without delay, then you'll get your nails healthy again faster.

Forecast

In most cases, fingernails peel due to careless attitude towards them, excessive passion for newfangled procedures such as nail extensions, unhealthy diet and/or low water consumption. It is not difficult to cope with such problems by normalizing your diet and optimizing nail care.

A fairly common cause of nail splitting is mycosis. However, timely treatment usually ends well. In this case, the quality of the nails can be completely restored.

In case of systemic pathologies, the prognosis depends entirely on the diagnosis and timely treatment. In itself, nail splitting does not pose a threat to life, but it can be a symptom of a serious disease, fraught with much worse consequences than outwardly unkempt nails.

Why do you dream about peeling fingernails?

Nails in a dream are also a symbol of the state of affairs, the prospects that are opening up and the health of the sleeping person. In order to correctly interpret a dream, you need to have detailed information about its content and the feelings it left after waking up. However, a more favorable development of events is predicted by a dream about healthy and beautiful nails, peeling nails of the sleeper are a harbinger of certain difficulties. For women, they predict the appearance of a rival, and for men - the machinations of competitors and the troubles associated with them. However, perhaps, modern women who are engaged in business can also expect rivalry on this basis.

If the nails not only exfoliate, but also break, this is also an unfavorable sign, it is interpreted as a harbinger of future problems with family members. In some dream books, short, breaking nails on the hands are a warning that you should not take on a new job - you will not cope with it or you will not be paid for it.

If the sick nails were not the sleeper's, but his close person's, then he may get sick in the near future. In general, broken nails symbolize difficulties - with communication, work, health.

Esotericists interpret a dream in which the sleeper sees peeling, unkempt nails as a warning of upcoming difficulties that the sleeper will definitely have to overcome in order to maintain his status and self-respect.

Gustav Hinderman Miller's dream book interprets unevenness on nails (cracks, delamination, etc.) seen in a dream as events that will bring dishonor to your family for a long time, or long-term serious illnesses.

Almost all publications say that peeling, brittle, unkempt nails dream of trouble.