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Integrative, Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Second Edition

Nails, Brittle

by EBSCO CAM Review Board

Category: Condition

Related terms: Onychorrhexis, onychoschisis, onychoschizia

Definition: Treatment of a condition of the fingernails that leads to brittleness.

Principal proposed natural treatment: Biotin

Other proposed natural treatments: Calcium, cysteine, gelatin, horsetail (Equisetum arvense), iron, silicon, vitamin A, zinc

Introduction

Brittle fingernails are a common condition, occurring in about 20 percent of people and more commonly in women. Brittle nails usually break or peel off in horizontal layers, starting at the nail’s free end. The term “brittle nails” can also refer to a condition in which lengthwise splits appear in the nail. In either case, the nail’s structure is faulty.

Brittleness in the nail may be caused by trauma, such as repeated wetting and drying, repeated exposure to detergents and water, and excessive exposure to harsh solvents, such as those found in nail polish remover. If the nails are regularly exposed to such stresses, it may be worth trying protective gloves when washing dishes and doing other chores. In the case of nail polish remover, gentler, less toxic brands are available. One should check with retailers of natural cosmetic products.

Nail brittleness may also be caused by an underlying medical condition such as Raynaud’s disease, by low thyroid function (hypothyroidism), or by lung conditions. Other possible causes include skin diseases (psoriasis, lichen planus, alopecia areata) and endocrine disorders, tuberculosis, Sjögren’s syndrome, and malnutrition. Selenium poisoning can also cause brittle nails.

Because of all these possibilities, it is important to rule out a serious underlying problem before trying nutritional or herbal treatments for brittle nails. If a medical cause for this condition is not found, it may be worth considering some of the approaches described here.

Principal Proposed Natural Treatments

Although no herb or supplement has been proven effective for brittle nails, there is some evidence that the B vitamin biotin might help. Animal studies suggest that biotin supplementation can be helpful for deformed hooves in horses and pigs. Because animal hooves are made of keratin, the same substance from which human nails are made, these findings have encouraged researchers to study the effects of biotin on brittle nails in humans.

Preliminary evidence from a small controlled study suggests that biotin may increase the thickness of brittle nails, reduce their tendency to split, and improve their microscopic structure. To arrive at their results, the researchers used a scanning electron microscope to examine the effects of biotin in eight women with brittle nails who were given 2.5 milligrams (mg) of biotin daily for six to nine months. An additional twenty-four persons were also studied; ten served as controls and fourteen were examined in a way that makes the interpretation of their results questionable. Because all nail clippings were examined without the researchers being aware of whose clippings they were looking at, these results have some validity. However, the study was too small to allow definitive conclusions.

Two small open studies also reported benefits with biotin supplementation. However, because there was no control group in either study, the results cannot be taken as reliable.

Other Proposed Natural Treatments

The mineral silicon has been widely marketed for decades as a treatment for brittle nails, brittle hair, and aging skin. However, the first potentially meaningful clinical trial was not reported until 2004. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study of fifty women, the use of 10 mg daily of silicon (as orthosilicic acid) for twenty weeks did appear to improve the condition of the women’s nails. However, this study, performed by the manufacturer of a silicon product, leaves much to be desired in design and reporting.

The herb horsetail (Equisetum arvense), naturally high in silicon, is also sometimes mentioned as a treatment for brittle nails A number of other nutritional therapies also have been tried, including calcium, cysteine, gelatin-containing preparations, iron, vitamin A, and zinc. However, there is no evidence that any of these treatments are effective.

See also: Biotin; Calcium; Hypothyroidism; Raynaud’s phenomenon

Further Reading

1 

Baran, R., et al., eds. Baran and Dawber’s Diseases of the Nails and Their Management. 3d ed. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Science, 2001.

2 

Barel, A., et al. “Effect of Oral Intake of Choline-Stabilized Orthosilicic Acid on Skin, Nails, and Hair in Women with Photodamaged Skin.” Archives of Dermatological Research 297 (2005): 147-153.

3 

Hochman, L. G., R. K. Scher, and M. S. Meyerson. “Brittle Nails: Response to Daily Biotin Supplementation.” Cutis 51 (1993): 303-305.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
"Nails, Brittle." Integrative, Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Second Edition, edited by Paul Moglia, Salem Press, 2020. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CAM2e_0509.
APA 7th
Nails, Brittle. Integrative, Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Second Edition, In P. Moglia (Ed.), Salem Press, 2020. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CAM2e_0509.
CMOS 17th
"Nails, Brittle." Integrative, Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Second Edition, Edited by Paul Moglia. Salem Press, 2020. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CAM2e_0509.