Nails vitamin deficiency

Nails are windows to a person’s physical health.



A wealth of information can be revealed about an individual’s health just by looking at the color and shape of the fingernails or toe nails. A combination of vitamins and nails serve the purpose of revealing health information.

Nails are outer layer of the skin. They are made of a protein called keratin and serve as a protective covering for fingertips and toes. Like skin, nails also require adequate amount of nutrition to ensure healthy and strong nails. If an individual experiences a major change in the color and shape of his or her nails, vitamin deficiency is the only reason.

Nails vitamin deficiency often leads to brittle nail syndrome that show signs of soft, dry, weak and easily breakable nails. Biotin is known to effectively treat this syndrome. Apart from biotin; vitamin C, vitamin A, alpha-tocopherol, retinoids, silicon, zinc, retinol, retinal, iron, copper, and selenium are considered to be the key nutrients for healthy nails. Lack of any of these essential nutrients may cause fingernail vitamin deficiency.

Deficiency of Vitamin A can severely affect nail health because this vitamin helps the body process protein. Protein is an important constituent present in the nails.



Low intake may create problem in processing proteins, resulting in hangnails and brittle nails. Retinoid is a derivative of Vitamin A whose deficiency can cause nail fragility, softening and nail shedding.

Vitamin B is an essential vitamin that is required for strengthening of nails. Low intake of this vitamin can cause brittle and fragile nails. Deficiency of Vitamin C can cause hangnails.

Calcium is required for healthy and strong nails. Low intake of calcium or Vitamin D will lead to brittle and dry nails. Deficiency of Vitamin D tends to decrease the absorption of calcium in the body and eventually affects nail health.

Fingernails vitamin deficiency causing dry and brittle nails may further lead to various health disorder including infectious diseases, thyroid, impaired kidney function and hindered blood circulation.

To fight the problem of weak and splitting nails, try to incorporate lots of fruits and raw vegetables in your diet. Consume enriched food sources like broccoli, fish, onions, milk, dairy products and whole grains. Good water intake can also help improve nail disorders.

Most people have nails that are slightly brittle, which is why their nails crack, break and peel off. However, brittle nails are more common and severe in some people and could actually turn into an embarrassment. Brittle fingernails are seen in around 20% of the overall population and studies indicate that women are more prone to them, than men are.



In some cases, brittle fingernails could be associated with a disease or medical condition or they could also indicate that a person is suffering from certain vitamin or nutritional deficiencies. Brittle fingernails in adults are more of an embarrassment, than anything else, especially in case of women, since they may not be able to grow their nails, because of the brittleness. However, the problem of brittle fingernails in children can be a bit painful, if the nails have the tendency to peel off, in a horizontal layer.

What Causes Brittle Nails

It is a well known fact that vitamin deficiency leads to nails peeling, cracking and breaking. Because of the relation between brittle nails and vitamin deficiency, most people assume that they are facing nail problems, because they need to increase their vitamin intake. However, vitamin deficiency is not the only brittle nails cause. Some of the other common brittle fingernails causes include:

• Nail Dryness: Aging is one of the most common weak fingernails causes, as the aging process in most people, slows down the growth of the nails and causes them to become dry, dull, yellowish and brittle. This occurs in people, when the flow of natural oils and moisture to the nail bed reduces, leading to nail dryness. Many women and some men too, spend some time each day moisturizing their skin, to keep it from getting dry. However, not a lot of women realize that like the skin, the nails can get dry too, after which they become extremely brittle and break very easily.
  
  
  
  If the dryness affects the nails on the toe, then there are high changes of an infection too.

• Extra Moisture: While lack of adequate moisture can lead to dry and brittle fingernails, moisturizing the nails too much or soaking the nails in water for a long period of time could also have an adverse effect on the nails. Extra moisture in the nails leaves them very soft, because of which they can tear off very easily.

• Fungal Infections: In case brittle fingernails or toenails are accompanied by discoloration of the nail, then there is a strong possibility that a person is suffering from a fungal infection. If the infection is left untreated, it could result in the separation of the nail from the nail bed.

• Exposure to Chemicals: Women’s nails are usually exposed to several harsh chemicals that are found in nail polish, nail polish remover, soaps, detergents and other such products. Allowing the nails to be exposed to dry heat could also cause them to become very brittle.

• Circulation Problems: Since the fingernails are the extremities of the body, there could be certain problems caused, if the circulation of blood and oxygen to the area is poor. Therefore, it is quite common to see people with respiratory problems like asthma, suffering from brittle fingernails.

Brittle Fingernails and Vitamin Deficiency

The most common cause of splitting or brittle nails in most people is the lack of vitamins and other nutrients in a diet.



Dermatologists claim that they see several instances of cracking, peeling or splitting nails due to vitamin deficiency on a daily basis. Therefore, there are several women, who make sure that they boost their intake of vitamins for strong nails. However, in order to take the right vitamins for nails, it is important for people to understand what the composition of a nail is. The nails are made up of protein, known as keratin, which is also found in the skin and hair. Therefore, it is only natural that the nails will require protein, to be able to grow properly. Apart from protein, the other vitamins for nails growth are Vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, iron, calcium, zinc and iodine.

Most people deal with vitamin deficiency nails, by increasing their intake of foods that are high in nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, nuts, dairy products, and so on. There are some people who also take supplements and additional vitamins for nails skin and hair. However, it is important for people to take the right doses of vitamins for nails and hair and skin too, or else they could suffer from the negative side effects of an overdose. It is best to get the condition checked by a doctor or a dermatologist who can analyze the severity of the deficiency and can then prescribe the right supplements.

At times vitamin deficiency can affect nails ridges and nail beds even after dietary changes have been implemented.



Incase is person is still facing problems after taking vitamins for strong nails and hair, it could mean that the body cannot absorb the vitamins and nutrients properly. This condition is quite serious and requires immediate medical attention.

Brittle Fingernails Cure

It is possible to restore good health to the finger nails, by adopting the right brittle fingernails treatment as early as possible. People can strengthen their nails naturally, by implementing dietary changes and following basic nail care measures, like soaking the nails in warm water for 20 minutes each day or applying a mild moisturizer. While working with water or while handling substances that may contain chemicals, women are usually advised to wear gloves. The use of nail polish and especially nail polish removers should be restricted. Some of the home remedies given below are also excellent for strengthening nails naturally:

• Applying a mixture of lemon and honey directly on to the fingers. The nails should be massaged with this mixture and should not be washed for at least an hour or so.

• Mixing one capsule of vitamin E oil with ¼ teaspoon of warm olive oil and applying the mixture directly on to the nails.

• Using a nail scrub twice a week, to harden the nails. The scrub can be prepared at home, by mixing one tablespoon each of castor oil and olive oil, along with a teaspoon of honey as well as half a cup of shelled and ground walnuts.

However, before making any attempts at strengthening nails, it is important for people to consult a doctor and identify exactly what is causing the nails to weaken and then address that underling condition first.