Fingernail Health – Nutrition for Dry, Brittle Nails (2024)

FAQs

Fingernail Health – Nutrition for Dry, Brittle Nails? ›

Not sure what to eat? Follow these guidelines for a nail-nourishing diet: - B-vitamins are abundant in organ meats, like liver and kidneys, as well as fish, cheese, yogurt, milk, eggs, mushrooms, beans (especially chickpeas), avocadoes, bananas, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

Nutritional deficiencies: Nutrients such as biotin (vitamin B7), zinc, and iron are essential for strong and healthy nails. A deficiency in any of these nutrients can contribute to brittle nails.

Hydrate and Add Oils.

Use creams, oils and ointments on your nails every day, after they've been wet. The best hydrating ingredients for nails are Shea Butter, Jojoba oil, avocado oil, or other rich natural oils. The thicker the cream the better, and oils or ointments are best.

Boost your biotin

Biotin — another name for vitamin B7 — is marketed as a hair, skin and nails supplement power player. “It's very important to keratin production,” says Foroutan.

Applying a nail hardener might help strengthen nails. Ask your doctor about biotin. Some research suggests that the nutritional supplement biotin might help strengthen weak or brittle fingernails.

Taking a biotin supplement daily for at least six months may increase nail thickness. A deficiency in B vitamins, calcium, iron, or fatty acids. If you have any of these deficiencies, try adding a multivitamin to your regimen.

How does Magnesium affect my nails? This lesser-known mineral plays a crucial role in multiple bodily processes, including protein synthesis, which is essential for healthy nails. A magnesium deficiency can result in weak, flaky nails that are prone to breakage.

Jojoba Carrier Oil - Abundant in Vitamin E, which replenishes skin and treats weak and brittle nails. Jojoba Oil also helps repair collagen loss within the nail beds, promoting healthy nail growth.

Moisturizing the nails at least once a day helps combat brittleness. Vaseline works, and so does any cream that that seals in moisture like Eucerin or Aquaphor, dermatologists say.

Dermatologists recommend rubbing petroleum jelly, vitamin E, or cuticle creams into your cuticles at night. Applying a moisturizing cream or a hand balm to the nails on a daily basis will help keep them moist. And moisturizing products that contain urea, phospholipids, or lactic acid will help prevent cracking.

What do B12 deficiency nails look like? ›

Nail changes in vitamin B₁₂ deficiency present as hyperpigmentation of nails like bluish discoloration of nails, blue-black pigmentation with dark longitudinal streaks, and longitudinal and reticulate darkened streaks. The nail pigmentation associated with B₁₂ deficiency is more frequent in patients with dark skin.

Bananas. This sweet and delicious fruit can actually help strengthen your weak nails. Bananas contain biotin, which is considered to be great for nails. So, if you have brittle nails, start eating bananas right now!

- A deficiency in B-complex vitamins, especially biotin, will produce ridges along the nail bed. - A diet lacking in calcium contributes to dry, brittle nails. - A lack of folic acid and vitamin C can lead to hangnails. - Insufficient dietary essential oils, like omega-3, cause cracking.

Dark, Leafy Greens: The calcium, iron and antioxidants in dark, leafy greens, like spinach, broccoli, kale and collard greens, can boost nail health. Hanna is a big fan of spinach, especially, because it contains Vitamin A, as well as folate (one of numerous B-vitamins), iron, Vitamin E and calcium.

Hapalonychia (soft nails) has been associated with deficiencies of vitamins A and D among other causes. Longitudinal melanonychia of the nail plate has been reported in vitamin D deficiency.

Zinc is an essential mineral for cell multiplication and protein absorption, functions that are important for thick, lustrous hair. White spots on the nails - sometimes called Beau's lines - are one of the important signs of a zinc deficiency. Nails can grow slowly, become brittle and break easily.

Koilonychia is an abnormal shape of the fingernail. The nail has raised ridges and is thin and curved inward. This disorder is associated with iron deficiency anemia. Leukonychia is white streaks or spots on the nails often due to drugs or disease.