The Most Possible Causes of Having Brittle Toenails

Are your toenails brittle? You might not know what happened with them to be brittle, discolored or peeled off so this article is basically what you need to get informed.

It is said that the nails and human skin are the determining factors in telling if a person is generally well or having some health problems. One of the most common problems with the toenails is having them very brittle. This dilemma is usually suffered by older individuals according to some research. Having broken and peeled off nails can be very upsetting and a little depressing plus adding that if they are not broken or peeled, they also get discolored at times. The following are just a few of the many causes of having brittle toenails.

Dryness of the Nail

We have to recognize that the nails are just like the skin which if not moisturized can possibly dry out. Also, having dry nails makes the finger and toenails prone to having infections which must be avoided as much as possible. It is important that the toenails have enough supply of sebum or oil so that it preserves appropriate moisture.

Malnutrition

Eating nutritious foods can reduce malnutrition so it is imperative that to avoid the cause of brittle toenails which is malnutrition, an individual needs to eat foods that are high in B Vitamins such as Vitamin B5, folic acid and Vitamin C. Lack of necessary vitamins makes the toenails weak and easily split or broken.

Fungal Infection

One of the causes of brittleness of toenails is fungal infection. It is easily detected because aside from being thick and brittle, a noticeable discoloration of the toenails is detected. It can go yellowish or brownish and the shape can also change so you must be very keen on checking on your nails.

The nails in both fingers and toes are the extremities of the human body hence they are the easy indicators of detecting if there are problems with the blood circulation in your system. Having brittle nails can be a good sign of poor supply of oxygen in the respiratory tract. It can also mean that the thyroid gland is extra active in producing hormones in the body. Other diseases that can possibility be a good reason why toenails are brittle are dehydration, eczema or alopecia.

Understanding that brittle nails can be a symptom of being unhealthy is very important. It is also necessary to keep the toenails clean by observing proper hygiene and taking extra care especially when having the toenails cleaned in a parlor. The equipments used might not have been disinfected. Make sure that you talk to your doctor about your nail problem whenever you notice something unnatural with it.