Brittle Nails: Treatment, Causes, and Symptoms (2025)

Treatment for brittle nails may include applying lotions that contain lanolin or alpha-hydroxy acids, wearing protective gloves, and taking a biotin supplement. The best remedy depends on the cause and you may need to try a few options to discover what works best.

Onychoschizia (the medical term for brittle, splitting nails) is more common in women than men and may increase in severity in the winter. While some products and health conditions can damage and weaken the nails, brittle nails are rarely a sign of a serious issue.

Treatments

There are several ways you can rehydrate dry, brittle nails and fortify soft ones.

Treatments include:

• Moisturizing: Soak your nails in water for five minutes, and then apply a lotion that contains lanolin or alpha-hydroxy acids.
• Daily shaping: Filing your nails regularly will help eliminate rough edges that may crack.
• Protection: Wear rubber gloves when doing household chores or using chemical products.
  
• Supplements: Taking 5 to 10mg a day of biotin (a type of vitamin B) can help strengthen brittle nails within 3 to 6 months. Consult your healthcare provider before taking a biotin supplement if you are pregnant or planning to undergo any laboratory tests. (It may interfere with a troponin test, which helps check for heart damage due to a heart attack.)
• Dietary changes: Eating foods rich in iron and zinc (such as meat, fish, and poultry) may help improve the health of nails.
• Apply a nail hardener: Soft, brittle nails may benefit from frequent applications of a nail polish that contains nylon or hyaluronic acid.
• Get treatment for medical conditions: If your brittle nails are caused by a health condition, such as hypothyroidism, treating that issue directly will most likely improve the appearance and strength of your nails.

Symptoms

Brittle nails are typically thin, weak, and fragile. You might notice that it’s easier for them to split, bend, break, chip, tear, crack, or peel. They can be either dry or soft, and they may look “worn down.”

When your nails become brittle, it might take longer for them to grow and heal. Brittle nails also sometimes accompany other signs of nail problems, such as discoloration, pits, jagged edges, or a rough surface.

Causes

Weak, splitting nails are most commonly attributed to idiopathic (a condition of unknown cause) brittle nails or "brittle nails syndrome." It may be triggered by abnormal levels of keratin, water, lipids, or proteins in the nails and often occurs with advancing age.

Brittle nails can also be caused by:

• Exposure to too much or too little moisture (through excessive hand-washing and drying or living in a humid environment)
• Damage from detergents and other cleaning products
• Raynaud’s syndrome, which causes a lack of blood flow to the fingers and toes
• Nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency anemia and low zinc
• Thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema
• Certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy
• Using certain cosmetic products, such as gel nails and nail polish remover
• Fungal infections
• Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, such as alopecia
• Direct trauma to the nail
  

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Brittle nails typically aren’t a sign of a serious health condition, but a dermatologist can advise you about how to improve your nail health.

You should also see a healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms:

• Redness, swelling, or soreness around a nail
• Nail lifting up (separating from the skin underneath)
• Unusual grooves or pits in nails
  
• A dark line or greenish-black mark on a nail
• Any change in a nail's color that you can't attribute to a cause (such as staining from a nail polish)

Summary

Brittle nails are a common problem associated with aging.In some cases, nails may be brittle because of a health condition—such as Raynaud’s syndrome or a thyroid disorder—or either too much or too little moisture. Frequent exposure to cleaning products and excessive hand-washing can also weaken the nails over time.

You may be able to protect and heal your nails by shaping them regularly, applying lotion, taking biotin supplements, and wearing gloves while doing household chores. A dermatologist can advise you on ideal nail care tips. Talk to your healthcare provider if you think your nails are brittle because of another health concern.