Brittle Nails
Alternate Names : Onychoschisis, Onychorrhexis, Onychochizia
What can be done to prevent the symptom?
People subject to brittle nails should limit the amount of soap they use and
the length of time their hands are exposed to water. Some people may be
able to use mild, moisturizing soap on their hands. A few need to limit soap
use to the underarms and genitalia.
After patting the hands dry with a towel, the individual should apply a
moisturizer to the skin and nails. The two types of moisturizers available
over the counter include:
cosmetic moisturizers, which provide immediate relief of dryness but last
only while they are applied. For people with mild or intermittent brittle
nails, a cosmetic moisturizer may be enough to keep the skin from feeling
dry.
therapeutic moisturizers, which have been shown to act as a barrier that keeps water from evaporating from the nails. Many therapeutic
moisturizers contain mineral oil or petroleum.
Other measures to avoid brittle nails include the following:
wearing protective gloves whenever possible
avoiding prolonged exposure to water, such as swimming
avoiding exposure to chemicals that irritate the skin and nails. Some forms
of nail polish remover are gentler than others.
Several vitamins and minerals have been proposed for
the prevention of brittle nails, but none have been proven effective in human
studies.
What are the long-term effects of the symptom?
Brittle nails are often unsightly but have no significant long-term effects.
What are the risks to others?
Brittle nails are not contagious and pose no risk to
others.
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