Nail peeling: causes and treatment

The nails are located in the distal part of the upper and lower extremities, and they are made up of keratin and dead cells. They are responsible for protecting the skin in this area. They help to catch objects and even tear them if necessary.

There are specific alterations that can affect the appearance of the nails, making them brittle and soft, so it is essential to know what causes these alterations to avoid or treat them.

The causes that give rise to the desquamation of the nails are multiple and, among them, we can point out:

• Eating disorders: an inadequate diet with a calcium deficiency due to the low intake of dairy products such as cheese, milk, yogurt, green leafy vegetables, etc., results in the desquamation of the nails.
• Nail-biting: keeping your nails permanently moistened with saliva affects your health. At the same time, it causes damage to your teeth.
• Poor hydration: the little consumption of liquids, such as water or fruit juice, affects the dehydration of the nails, causing dryness and flaking.
• Use of false nails: it is a trigger for the appearance of peeling of the nails due to the chemicals used for their placement. Likewise, exaggeratedly filing them can affect this alteration.
• Frequent exposure to chemicals: frequent contact with chemicals, such as cleaning products and detergents, can directly affect the nail, causing dryness and flaking on both the nails and the skin.
• Thyroid gland disease: Thyroid disorders can trigger, among other things, hard nails and even dryness, thus causing flaking.
• Stress or lack of sleep: affects both nail growth and the rest of the body. This weakens the nails, making them brittle, brittle, and flaky.
• Nail fungus: better known as mycosis, can occur on the nails. It is characterized by thickening, color change, and flaking.

You can put several tips into practice to prevent nails from flaking. Many of them may be familiar to you, so do not hesitate to use them if you suffer from this alteration.

• Nail care is essential, so you should soak your nails with apple cider vinegar for about 3 minutes, approximately two times a week.
• It is recommended that you use specific enamels to treat the problem. You must apply a nail strengthener three times a week.
• Inexpensive enamels can contain harmful products, so their use is not the best option.
• Buff your nails to remove excess flakes, be careful not to make them extremely thin.
• Use olive oil or petroleum jelly on the nails and cuticles several times daily. In this way, their appearance is improved.
• You must use latex gloves to wash the dishes. With that, you will avoid contact with chemicals.
• Let the polished nails rest for at least one week a month, removing all the rest of the polish from the nails.

Attending the consultation of specialists in dermatology is the best way to start the appropriate treatment for the symptoms you present.

• In the case of a deficiency of some vitamins, such as A, D, E, and B, the one in the deficit will be indicated until reaching expected levels of it. Diet is important and should be improved if the daily requirements of vitamins minerals, such as calcium, zinc, and iron, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are not being met. All to eliminate flaking of the skin. Nails. In the following article, you can see what foods help strengthen nails.
• If you suffer from a disease-causing the desquamation of the nails, you must go to a specialist related to the said ailment.
• The doctor will adjust the treatment dose to control the thyroid hormone deficiency when it comes to hypothyroidism.
• In infectious processes such as mycosis, the indication will be an antifungal for two weeks after medical evaluation.

Some home remedies for peeling nails should be carried out after the medical consultation to avoid that these can hinder the treatment. Among these home remedies are:

• Olive oil is an excellent moisturizer, rich in vitamins and healthy fats. Through it, the nail is deeply nourished, hydrated, and repaired. This is applied by impregnating a cotton ball in the oil and then daily rubbing it on the nail’s surface. In a short time, you will see excellent results.
• Cucumber is a food that contains vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. It is excellent to include it in the daily diet. At the same time, it can be blended and added to creams used daily to hydrate the skin and nails. Apply it two times a day until you see improvement.
• Aloe vera: it is used for its moisturizing and regenerating properties. It is excellent for restoring the nail, hardening it, and preventing flaking. The aloe vera crystal is applied directly to the nail, and if you want to enhance its effect, you can mix it with oils such as almond, olive, or vitamin E. This can be applied daily, and let it act for 30 minutes before washing the nails. Hands.
• Horsetail is a remedy frequently used to strengthen the nails and prevent their flaking. This is due to its high content of silica, which allows the nail to harden and prevents it from flaking. You can prepare an infusion with this plant, and you can take it or dip your fingers in it so that the nails are impregnated with this substance, absorbing its properties directly and in the shortest possible time.
• Onion and garlic: both remedies are considered the best for nails. They contain sulfur elements as well as act as antibiotics and antioxidants, allowing regeneration as well as strengthening the nails. You should take a piece of a small onion and three cloves of garlic, crush them until they form a paste, spread it on the nails, and leave it to act for 15 minutes. You can apply it once a day, several times a week.

Nails flaking and peeling can occur in both sexes and are seen more frequently in adulthood, do not hesitate to go to the dermatologist if you have this problem. He will be in charge of indicating the correct treatment.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Nail flaking: causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our Skin, hair, and nails category.