The root of the nail reacts sensitively to harmful influences. Generally, the nail body then becomes brittle, splintering off in layers or even ripping. This not only damages their appearance, but can also lead to long-lasting deformations of the nail body.
Frequent causes of brittle fingernails
- Malnutrition (e.g. due to unbalanced diet)
- Mechanical stress (e.g. use of unsuitable nail files or biting the fingernails)
- Working in continuous wetness or heat
- Use of aggressive chemical cleaning agents without gloves
- Nail polish remover containing acetone
Other causes of brittle fingernails
- Skin diseases (e.g. nail fungus, psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus, Darier’s disease, etc.)
- Circulatory problems
- Medications (e.g. blood-thinning drugs, so-called anticoagulants)
