What Causes Brittle Nails
According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology , brittle nails fall into two categories: dry and brittle or soft and brittle.
Dry and brittle nails are the result of too little moisture. Theyre most commonly caused by the repeated washing and drying of fingernails.
On the other hand, soft and brittle nails are caused by too much moisture, often a result of overexposure to detergents, household cleaners, and nail polish remover.
Other causes of brittle nails include:
- Age. Nails commonly change as people age, often becoming dull and brittle. While toenails commonly get thicker and harder, fingernails often become thinner and more brittle.
- Iron deficiency. This condition occurs when the body doesnt get enough iron, which leads to low red blood cell levels. Your doctor may measure your ferritin level and provide supplementation if its found to be low.
- Hypothyroidism. Along with brittle nails, symptoms of low thyroid levels may include hair loss, fatigue, weight gain, constipation, and depression. Your doctor can treat hypothyroidism with the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine, which can be taken orally.
- Raynauds syndrome. Characterized by circulation problems in the extremities, this condition can affect nail health. Your doctor may prescribe calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine or nifedipine, or alternatives, such as losartan, fluoxetine, or sildenafil.
Regaining Nail And Hair Growth
Before attempting to repair damaged nails and hair with supplements or dietary changes, its best to speak with your physician to make sure its safe for you to take certain vitamins, minerals or medications.
Dietary changes to help strengthen nails and hair may include the addition of omega-3 fatty acids or gamma-linolenic acid in the form of black-currant oil.
Vitamin B5, called pantothentic acid, is also crucial for supporting healthy skin, hair and nails, and biotin is also commonly recommended, too.
The easiest way to start reversing damage to hair and nails right away is to eat a healthy, nutritionally rich diet. However, speaking with your physician is the best place to start, as there may be underlying health issues causing these symptoms that need to be addressed.
Common Causes Of Hair Loss And Brittle Nails In Women
Hair, nails, skin and sweat glands are part of the integumentary system, which helps regulate the body temperature and prevent excess moisture loss from the body.
Hair loss and brittle nails are common issues experienced as you age. However, in some rare and severe cases, hair loss and brittle nails in women signify a medical condition that requires treatment.
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Choose The Right Products
If you decide to color-treat your tresses, its best to opt for a stylist to color your hair. A professional can help determine the safest dye to use for your hair type, and can provide tips on shampoos, conditioners and other hair products made specifically for color-treated hair.
Its also wise to forego daily heat styling, such as with blow dryers, curling wands and flat irons. We all want to look our best, but cutting back on intense heat styling tools one or two days a week will help hair bounce back from the damage they inflict.
If you must use heat-styling products, apply a heat protectant to hair prior to use. A heat protectant provides a protective coating between heated styling products and hair, and adds moisture to protect against damage during heat styling.
Avoid hair products that contain hormone-disrupting chemicals like parabens and phthalates commonly found in many hair products. Dr. Bergfeld adds, Having said that, the science does not substantiate that these cosmetic chemicals you at any risk since the natural environment and foods have a greater risk.
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What Vitamin Deficiency Causes Hair Loss And Brittle Nails
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Page Contents
Wondering what vitamin deficiency causes hair loss and brittle nails? Were going to properly address that on this post but before we start, let me quickly ask you a question:
Whats usually your first reaction when you look at the comb after combing your hair?
Personally, I used to feel very sad and depressed after seeing the strands of tangled hair on the comb once I see how much hair we lost. It wasnt a happy experience. In fact, it was scary and depressing that was a long time ago though.
Hope youll gain from our experience and pass on the message to the others to benefit. And yes, theres one more thing weve to talk about, your nails.
So, our topic today is about brittle hair and nails vitamin deficiency.
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Male Or Female Pattern Hair Loss
Androgenetic alopecia, which health experts also refer to it as male pattern and female pattern baldness, results from genetic and hormonal factors.
It affects around 50 million males and 30 million females in the United States. Approximately of all people will experience it at some point.
The condition can occur at any age but is more common among:
- males aged 50 years or older
- females during menopause
- people with a close relative who has androgenetic alopecia
In males, hair thinning tends to occur from the hairline to the back of the head and resembles an M shape. In females, it tends to affect the crown of the head.
Early treatment can often slow or stop hair loss.
Why Are My Nails So Thin And Can I Make Them Thicker
3 mins
Samina Siddique
A lot of studies indicate that the first signs of aging show on your neck and hands. While we are all quick to slather on lotions and potions on our necks, our hands are generally ignored.
Your nails majorly contribute to the appearance and beauty of your hands, and keeping them healthy and stronger is crucial to keep your hands youthful.
Thin nails are a problem that both men and women face. There could be multiple reasons for it, but you can make them thicker with just a couple of simple tricks.
Keep reading to find out the answer to why your nails are so thin.
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About Sog Health Pte Ltd
Established in 2011, SOG Health Pte. Ltd. is a leading healthcare service provider dedicated to delivering holistic health and wellness services to the modern family.
With a long and established track record in Singapore providing Obstetrics and Gynaecology services such as pre-pregnancy counselling, delivery, pregnancy and post-delivery care, the Group has since further expanded its spectrum of healthcare services to include Paediatrics, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Cancer-related General Surgery and postpartum Confinement Care.
The Groups clinics, under its four operating segments of O& G, Paediatrics, Cancer-related and Dermatology, are strategically located throughout Singapore to provide easy access to its patients.
- Health Screening
What You Need To Know About Hair Loss
If your condition is not due to a hormonal imbalance, your doctor may recommend treatment that includes topical corticosteroids. Topical corticosteroids may lead to red or puffy face and can reduce your immune systems ability to fight infection. In some cases, fungal infections, such as tinea capitis, can lead to hair loss. Fortunately, you can take antifungal medications to treat it and get a full head of hair again.
Hair loss is a normal part of aging, and there is no need to worry. In fact, it is perfectly normal for most people to lose a bit of hair every day, and it will grow back eventually. Some men and women experience hair loss as they age, while others simply have a genetic predisposition to the problem. If youre experiencing a lack of hair, you may have a weakened immune system, which can lead to hair loss.
For more severe cases of hair loss, a dermatologist may recommend a hair transplant. This procedure involves a surgeon removing plugs of hair from your scalp. It may take several hours and multiple sessions to complete the process. Its an invasive treatment, and may not be the best option for everyone. Your doctor will need to examine your scalp to determine the cause of your condition. In addition to a healthy diet, your doctor may recommend taking supplements of various vitamins and minerals.
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Biotin For Better Hair
Biotin supplements are often promoted to improve hair growth, strength, or sheen — possibly because biotin deficiency can cause symptoms such as dry, thinning hair and loss of hair color. However, biotin deficiency is quite rare — the recommended daily intake of biotin is easily obtained from food, and there is no evidence biotin improves the growth or texture of hair in people who are not deficient. Hair thinning and hair loss may, however, occur due to other vitamin deficiencies.
Caution with biotin:
Some supplements containing biotin may exceed Tolerable Upper Intake Levels with some as much as 167 times the adult daily requirement. Be aware that biotin, especially taken at high doses, can interfere with certain medications and laboratory tests including tests used to diagnose thyroid disease and heart attacks, so be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking biotin.
Other vitamins and minerals for hair:
In premenopausal women, iron deficiency is a common cause of hair loss. Severe deficiencies in protein,vitamin D and zinc are also associated with diffuse hair loss . Zinc deficiency can occur with hypothyroidism, leading to hair loss. Zinc supplementation has been shown to reduce hair loss and other symptoms of hypothyroidism . Supplementing to offset these may reverse this hair loss. However, supplementing with these nutrients is unlikely to benefit people who already get adequate amounts.
Treating hair loss
Solution: Control The Heat
I highly recommend everyone uses heated hair tools that have a temperature gauge, so you can lower it, says Moodie. This will cause less stress to the hair shaft. Ghds Helios Hairdryer and Dysons Supersonic are two great examples, while avoiding going over the same section of hair with a temperature-controlled pair of straighteners or curling iron can help minimise the damage too. You should also double the protection by using a heat defence spray and towel dry your hair gently but thoroughly before picking up your tools to minimise the time spent using them.
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What Can Cause Brittle Nails And Hair Loss
As mentioned, hair thinning and weaker nails can be a part of the aging process. Yet it is important to stay on the lookout for other changes that occur, but understand that it may not be a serious problem.
If you regularly bleach, dye, or apply heating products to your hair, you might be damaging it to the point where it begins to thin and fall out. The same goes for getting too many manicures or artificial nails.
Aside from these general problems, there are three more serious issues that might be the culprit.
Whats Causing Your Brittle Nails + 9 Natural Treatments
Similar to how your skin can reveal a lot about your internal wellbeing, your fingernails can be another window into your health. What causes brittle nails? Sometimes brittle nails are simply a result of aging or a lack of moisture, while other times they can be indicative of thyroid diseases like hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism because these conditions can cause nail problems.
Your hands often show your age, and so can your nails. If you look at the nails of babies and kids, you can seen how the coloring and texture are most likely really healthy. As we age, the health of our nails can vary, but we can definitely improve the health of our nails at any point in life.
So how do you strengthen your nails? Im happy to say there are a lot of natural and effective ways to improve the health and appearance of dry brittle nails with or without ridges.
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Cause: Low Thyroid Levels
Sweat is your body’s natural moisturizer. Low levels of the thyroid hormone, called “hypothyroidism,” lessens how much sweat your body makes. The result is drier hair, skin, and nails. Along with brittle nails, you might have other symptoms like aches and pains, fatigue, weight gain, and memory problems.
Causes & Risk Factors
What is the cause of brittle nails? Brittle nails can simply be the result of aging, repetitive or lengthy exposure to water and chemicals , use of nail polish remover, and/or from wearing nail polish for long periods of time. In many cases, all of these causes can easily happen at the same time.
Brittle or crumbly nails can also be caused by:
- A fungal nail infection
- Reactive arthritis
When someone has thyroid disease, they can experience both brittle nails and hair loss. Thyroid problems are more common in women and hypothyroidism is particularly known for causing brittle nails. Hypothyroidism means the thyroid isnt producing enough of the hormones that it should and this can lead to a sluggish metabolism. According to an article published by Harvard Medical School, when the metabolism slows down, then the body sweats less. Since sweat is a natural moisturizer for the body, less sweat can lead to skin becoming dry and nails becoming brittle.
In addition to iron-deficiency, other risk factors for brittle nails include:
- Frequent hand-washing
- Prolonged exposure to cold, dry weather
- Exposure to chemicals, such as nail polish remover
- Repeated injury or trauma to the nail
Did you notice a theme with these brittle nail risk factors? Aside from injury, these are all circumstances that can easily lead to a moisture deficit.
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What Are The Common Causes Of Hair Loss And Brittle Nails In Women
Some of the causes of hair loss and brittle nails are similar as both the hair and nails function comparably in the body.
These causes include:
- Age. As we age, our hair and nails grow more slowly, resulting in a higher risk of experiencing hair loss and brittle nails as the new hair or nails do not grow fast enough to replace those who have fallen.
- Frequent hair or nail treatment. Regularly bleaching, dyeing or applying heating products to your hair may increase the risks of hair loss due to constant damage to the hair. Similarly, consistently going for manicures, nail polishing or applying artificial nails can also result in brittle nails.
- Thyroid problems. Thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism cause your body cells to work slower than usual. Hypothyroidism also reduces the amount of sweat your body produces, leading to drier nails and hair.
Besides hair loss and brittle nails, hypothyroidism may also result in weight gain , fatigue and memory problems.
Learn more about thyroid conditions:
- Biotin deficiency. Biotin or vitamin B7 works to metabolise the amino acids in your body, which helps to produce strong and healthy hair and nails. When there is a lack of biotin, dry hair and nails are likely to occur, resulting in hair loss and brittle nails.
- Eating disorder. Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia can lead to malnutrition, causing damage to the hair and nails.
Brittle Hair: 5 Possible Causes And How You Can Treat It
Your hair is exposed to a lot of environmental stressors throughout the day which affects its overall health. If not looked after, those elements can cause damage to your hair which will take away from its natural luster and volume. One common condition that arises due to prolonged exposure to environmental aggressors is brittle hair. As the name suggests, brittle hair refers to hair that breaks easily when brushed. The hair begins to look lifeless, dry, rough and is usually accompanied by frizziness and split ends. Before getting into the remedies, it is important to understand the possible causes of brittle hairand adapt a treatment that can address the root cause.
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Treatment: Facts And Controversies
Secondary NB should be treated by acting, when possible, on the primary cause. In these cases, treatment includes the cure of the dermatological/systemic condition, avoidance of traumas and allergens/irritants, limiting contact with water and detergents, and regular use of emollients . However, most patients consulting for NB have an idiopathic NF. Oral supplementation with vitamins , trace elements, and amino acids have been reported useful in improving idiopathic fragility . However, these studies were small, not well controlled, and one study was retrospective, survey based.
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin contained in several foods such as cereals, walnuts, peanuts, milk, and egg yolks. This vitamin is also synthetized by intestinal bacteria. Biotin:
- Takes part in keratin biosynthesis and intercellular cement holding keratinocytes together, acting as the prosthetic group of several essential enzymes
- Improves the ultrastructure of the NP and its resistance to tension.
Several studies have demonstrated, both with clinical and electron microscopy examinations , an improvement of firmness and hardness of the fingernails of patients receiving biotin supplementation . A dosage of 510 mg a day for 36 months is usually recommended.
A combination of an arginine silicate complex and magnesium biotinate was demonstrated to increase nail growth . However, the studies were small and two of them lacked a control group .
Use A Moisturising Conditioner
Choose a moisturising conditioner to use after your shampoo. Hair conditioners help keep cuticles lying flat and allows them to hold more natural oils.
Tried all this and still asking yourself: why is my hair so dry?
Make sure your diet is rich in nutrients like protein and vitamins. To find out more about how what you eat can help your hair, read our article on why healthy hair needs protein.
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