Cracked nails

General

Cracked nails, as the name suggests, are characterized by cracks in the nails. These can occur on the fingers as well as on the toes.

Fingernails and toenails are made up of keratin. This is a very hard and durable material. If its composition and function is disturbed by certain factors, the nails can no longer withstand everyday stresses and they tear.

Because of this, people with cracked nails usually cannot grow their fingernails very long.
Since the nails, like the internal organs of humans and the skin, are nourished by the blood, the toenails and fingernails often reflect the general condition of humans.

frequency

About every fifth in Germany suffers from the problem of cracked nails. As a rule, women are affected twice as often as men.

From the age of 35 cracked nails occur more often because of the Aging process in the human body the nails become rough and often one Longitudinal corrugation exhibit.

causes

There are many causes that can lead to cracked nails. Most often, however, they rely on the nutrition lead back. The keratin that the nails are made of is required to maintain its resistance, sufficient vitamins and minerals. This is usually guaranteed with a balanced diet.

In most cases there is a shortage vitamin B or Vitamin D the cracked nails. The B vitamins include, for example, biotin (Vitamin B7), Folic acid (Vitamin B9) and Cobalamin (Vitamin B12). The requirement is covered by a normal diet, with cobalamin occurring almost exclusively in animal foods.

A Vitamin deficiency is often through a diet caused by the Diet not balanced is. But also anorexia can lead to this.

In addition, a Overdose from Vitamin A (carotene) lead to cracked nails. Vitamin A is mainly found in beef, but also in chicken and carrots.

Not just the lack of vitamins, but that too Deficiency in other minerals can lead to cracked nails. So it happens with Iron deficiency to tear the nails.

Also the Care of hands is important for the fingernails. Will the cracked hands washed very often, this increasingly removes moisture from the skin and nails. If, on the other hand, not enough hand cream is used, not only the hands but also the nails dry out quickly and then become cracked.

Cracked nails can too by nail polish or nail polish remover be conditional. Is common acetone contained in nail polish removers, which reduces the Dried out nails become.

Also can constant stress or hereditary stresses lead to cracked fingernails.

Also a disturbed hormonal balance can cause cracked nails. This is especially true for one disturbed function of the thyroid the case (Please also read: Thyroid hormones).

Cracked nails can also be considered Accompanying phenomenon another disease, such as a eczema (Rash) or Nail fungus occur. Likewise can Medicationused to treat cancer (Cytostatics) cracked nails as a side effect exhibit.

Cracked nails from nail polish

Regular wearing of nail polish can lead to cracked nails or exacerbate existing symptoms. However, the evil usually does not come from the nail polish itself. High-quality nail polishes do not harm the nail, but there are types on the market that contain substances that have a negative effect on the nail. The really critical factor, however, is on the part of the nail polish remover. These usually contain alcohol or acetone. Nail polish removers containing acetone in particular cause dry nails. Therefore, after removing the nail polish, special nail care with moisturizing creams should be carried out.

If you tend to have dried out and cracked nails, but are still very reluctant to do without nail polish, there are a few alternatives. Special nail polishes have been developed that contain diamond dust. The diamond dust strengthens the nails and prevents cracks. There are also nail varnishes that contain calcium and are sold as build-up varnish and are supposed to help strengthen the nails. In general, nail polish remover should be used as rarely as possible in order to keep the drying effect low. Instead, you should try to paint over the paint to freshen up the paint instead of removing everything.

Cracked nails due to a lack of vitamins

An actual vitamin deficiency is relatively rare these days in our latitudes.On the contrary, the added vitamins in finished products often give the body more of the vital substances than it actually needs. It is important to know here that an overdose of vitamins is also unhealthy for the body. A relatively common vitamin deficiency is the deficiency of vitamin B 12, which can occur with a long-term vegan diet.

Although a balanced diet with enough vegetables and fruits often excludes a vitamin deficiency, a deficiency symptom should always be taken into account in the case of cracked and brittle nails, unless there are other indications.

A deficiency in vitamins A, B, C, folic acid or cobalamin can lead to brittle nails. A sufficient amount of the trace elements zinc and iron is also important for healthy nails. Vitamin B7, also known as biotin or vitamin H, is assigned a particularly important role. This is particularly common in egg yolks, soy, walnuts and peanuts, liver, champions, spinach or oatmeal. Beef and pork also contain a relatively large amount of biotin. Biotin not only helps the nails, but also makes the skin and hair appear healthier and more powerful.

If the diet is changed, it will take about four months for the results to show on the nails.

For more information on the subject, see Vitamin deficiency.

Symptoms

Cracked nails can usually be recognized immediately by their external appearance. The affected person notices that his nails, especially the fingernails, are not very resistant. It follows that the fingernails tear and break off during everyday activities.

The nails generally feel very soft and flexible.

The cracks can also cause inflammation. That depends on how deep the nail is torn.

Read more on the topic here: Torn fingernail

The nails can also split, with the individual nail layers becoming detached from each other.

diagnosis

A diagnosis can be based on the appearance, i.e. the typical appearance the cracked nails. This does not necessarily have to be done by a doctor, as in most cases there is no serious illness.

If you find cracked nails, you can consulted a doctor become. But also Nail or foot care studios with trained staff can often help and give treatment tips. A professional treatment be made to repair the gross damage to the nails.

therapy

Depending on the cause of the cracked nails, different types of treatment are required. If there is one Vitamin deficiency, this should go through Food supplements be resolved.

If the nails are cracked due to dehydration, they should moisturizing creams be used with those cream on the nails as well should be. There are also special nail oilsintended to moisturize the nails by applying them. But it can also help to keep the nails in a bowl for a few minutes Olive oil or almond oil to bathe.

It is also important for dry skin and nails much to drinkto keep the body generally hydrated.

Also Nail hardener in the form of nail polish promise an improvement in the cracks in the nails, as they should restore the nail's lost resistance.

If the cracked nails than Accompanying phenomenon another disease occurs, it is important to treat it accordingly. In addition, the therapeutic approaches mentioned above should be used to alleviate the symptoms.

Home remedies

A simple home remedy for treating cracked nails is olive oil. The oil cares for the skin, prevents dehydration and leads to shiny nails. The olive oil can either be massaged into the fingernails and the surrounding skin, or the fingers can be soaked in slightly warmed olive oil for a few minutes.

It is also recommended to drink a cup of nettle or horsetail tea every day. These teas contain silica, which helps nails grow. It can also be helpful to bathe your fingernails in a horsetail solution for about 30 minutes. To do this, two teaspoons of dried horsetail are dissolved in approx. 250 ml of hot water. The solution should sit for about 10 minutes and have reached a comfortable temperature when the bath is started. Alternatively, you can take a bath three times a week in a heated mixture of one part olive oil, one part apple cider vinegar and two parts beer.

In addition, attempts can be made to better cover the need for essential fatty acids through diet. A lack of these special fats can also lead to cracked nails. A particularly large number of essential fatty acids are found in glue seeds or linseed oil. However, the linseed oil should only be used unprocessed for salads, but not in heated form for cooking or frying, otherwise its positive effect is lost.

In addition, enough biotin should be taken in. This is mainly found in nuts, eggs, oat flakes, dairy products, and especially a lot in offal such as liver or kidney.

Vitamin E also helps with cracked nails. Vitamin E oil can be applied to the nails overnight. A mixture of olive oil and lemon juice should also help when used on the nails overnight.

If the nails are cracked due to a fungal attack, we recommend maintenance with tea tree oil, which fights the fungus and strengthens the nail.

In general, too frequent hand washing and excessive contact with detergents or detergents should be avoided, as this can negatively affect the healing process.

prophylaxis

In order to prevent the appearance of cracked nails, a balanced diet should be observed so that the body and the nails receive all the important vitamins and minerals.

Good hand care is also advisable. To avoid dehydration of hands and nails, should regular fatty hand creams can be used, with which not only the hands, but also the nails are creamed.

For nail care you should have a File instead of scissors to be used. It should be ensured that from the edge to the center is filed. A file made of glass or ceramic should be used for cracked nails, as these are gentler than those made of metal.

If your nails problems for a long time you can show it from the inside out Nutritional supplements such as silica, biotin (vitamin B7) and Calcium strengthen.

When cleaning or washing up, you should Gloves carried to avoid dehydration of hands and nails through constant hand washing.

Cracked nails in children

In general, the nails of small children are significantly softer than those of adults. This makes them appear more brittle and easier to tear. In addition, every person has a hereditary predisposition for firm or soft nails. If the parents also have soft nails, the child will probably also be more prone to cracked nails.

Regular thumb sucking can also lead to a cracked thumbnail. It is noticeable that only the thumbs are affected, while the other fingernails and toenails are significantly less cracked. The phenomenon arises from the fact that the fingernail dries out due to constant contact with moisture and thus becomes more brittle. Even on a large scale, people with a lot of wet hand contact, e.g. Frequent rinsing or increased sweating in rubber gloves, dry hands and cracked nails tend to be.

In rare cases, cracked nails in children can indicate a deficiency. This can be an iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency or thyroid malfunction. Zinc and calcium are also important for a healthy, firm nail structure. Stress can also change the nail structure in individual cases and lead to cracked nails.

In general, children's nails should be kept short to prevent tearing. You can also bathe your fingers in olive oil to nourish your nails if your skin is dry.

How to fix the nail

Often the crack forces the afflicted to shorten all fingernails. But there are also methods of repairing the crack and preventing shortening of the manicured nail. One option is to have the nail treated in a professional nail salon. The specialists usually use a special paint that can be hardened under UV light and then filed into shape.

But there is also a solution for those who don't have time to go to the nail salon or are looking for a cheaper alternative. One possibility is to apply an instant adhesive to the crack. In principle, this works like a superglue. Care should therefore be taken when working with the adhesive as it should not come into contact with the skin.

Another method to save the nail became popular through an internet video. In this approach, a tea bag is first cut open and its contents removed, so that only the clean bag remains. A small rectangle is cut out of this. Now the cracked nail is coated with a base coat, the cut-out piece of the tea bag is pressed onto the nail and the nail is painted again with base coat. Then a covering normal nail polish can be applied and the nail is saved.