Brittle Toenails Causes

Nails, both finger and toenails are actually made of keratin, a type of scleroprotein. Human nails are constituted of several parts, namely, matrix, eponychium, paronychium, hyponychium, nail plate, nail bed, lunula, nail fold, free edges and nail groove. Out of them, matrix is the only living part of a human nail. The visible part of this matrix at the base of the nail plate is known as lunula. The hard part or surface of the nail is the 'nail plate', while tissues that lie beneath the nail plate are called 'nail bed'. Both nail bed and nail plate are the areas, that are mostly affected by common nail problems like, thick nail, brittle nail, clubbed toenail, opaque nail, appearance of Mee's line and white spots, yellowing of nail and changes in nail color.

Reasons Behind Brittle Toenails

Human skin and nails are often considered as the indicators of general health and well-being. Nail problems are either caused by nutritional deficiency and fungal infection or they are a sign of some underlying disease related to an important organ of the body. Out of all the toenail problems, one that is most frequently encountered is brittle toenail. There can be several reasons behind this condition which is more commonly observed in elderly individuals. The common symptoms are breakage and peeling at the tip of the nail. Discoloration can also occur in certain instances.

Nail Dryness
Many of us fail to understand the fact that like skin, nails can also dry out, which causes them to break or tear easily. It makes them more vulnerable to toenail infections as well. One important reason behind dry toenail is lack of moisture due to the reduced supply of oil or sebum to the nails. As a result, the toenails become brittle and easily breakable. This problem is generally faced by the elderly population.

Other causes of nail dryness include, excessive indoor heat, over use of nail polish remover and exposure to harsh chemicals found in some detergents and soaps. Even submerging nails in water for too long a period can cause brittle nails. This is because, nails expand on coming in contact with water, and then contract when they dry out. This in turn weakens them and makes them brittle.

Nutritional Deficiency
Problems with both nail and hair can be associated with nutritional deficiency or malnutrition. For healthy nails, we require an adequate amount of proteins, calcium and vitamins, especially B vitamins, vitamin C and folic acid. The most important B vitamins for nails are Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid and biotin. A deficiency of these essential vitamins can weaken the toenails and make them prone to breakage and splits.

Fungal Infection
If brittleness of nail occurs along with changes in its color, then it can be toenail fungus. Fungal infection can cause the nails to become thick, excessively brittle and discolored. Nails can also become yellow or brown and their texture as well as shape may undergo changes, as the fungus can digest keratin of the nails. If the fungus affects the nail bed, it can result in nail bed separation, where the nail plate gets detached from the nail bed.

Other Causes
As mentioned above, some underlying health conditions can manifest themselves into brittle toenails in children and adults. Nails, both finger and toenails are the extremities of the body and hence, they indicate the condition of blood circulation or circulatory system. Brittle nails can be a sign of poor oxygen supply, which can stem from a respiratory problem like asthma. Another condition that can mimic the symptoms of fungal infection of the toenail is psoriasis. Psoriasis can lead to not only brittle nails, but can also cause very thick and discolored nails that can easily break off. Occasionally, brittle nails can also be a sign of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism refers to an overactive thyroid gland, that results in over production of thyroid hormone, while hypothyroidism is the reverse condition, i.e., it refers to an under production of thyroid hormones. Both the conditions can cause the nails to split from the nail bed. Some other conditions that can cause brittleness of toenails are eczema, dehydration and alopecia arcata.

Maintaining proper hygiene and nail care can also help to prevent the recurrences of nail problems like fungal infection. Even simple home remedies like tea tree oil, oregano and apple cider vinegar can prove beneficial in curing fungal toenail infection. However, consulting a physician is very important to find out exactly what causes brittle, crumbling toenails, so that it can be prevented in the future.