Strengthening peeling nails at home. Causes and treatment of the problem.

It has long been believed that the condition of hands and nails is an indicator of health. And this is true, because problems with nails can also reflect diseases that are actively beginning to progress. Our hands are subject to constant mechanical damage, the influence of various chemicals, and even a regular manicure procedure cannot be carried out without the use of special cosmetic products. Do not ignore the fragility of nails, delamination, as well as their slow growth. What causes fingernails to peel and become brittle, and what can be done to make them look healthy?

Causes

There are several main reasons that provoke the appearance of onycholysis . This disease appears if:

• I was taking strong antibiotic drugs for a long time . This is especially true for drugs from the fluoroquinolone and tetracycline groups, since such drugs are characterized by an effect on the nail plate and onycholysis as a side effect;
• the nail plate was injured or the fingers were injured. Peeling of the nail in such a situation occurs due to physical reasons, under mechanical stress and the influence of chemically aggressive substances. Injuries to the nail plate also include improperly performed manicure; cosmetic procedures in which it is necessary to remove the top layer of the nail, for example, when applying gel polish, are especially dangerous;
• various skin diseases provoke peeling nails , for example, psoriasis, dermatosis, dermatitis or eczema;
• there are chronic diseases , and they relate to malfunctions of the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, heart, blood vessels and problems with the endocrine system;
• there is some kind of infection in the body. In such a situation, you can often observe that the tip of the nail comes off. In most cases, a fungal infection occurs and spreads over a short period of time. This situation requires immediate contact with a specialist, since it is necessary to identify the specific pathogen that provoked the disease. Only such an event will help determine the necessary list of medications and procedures that will relieve onycholysis.

Less common, but still there are reasons such as unbalanced diet and lifestyle.
In the first case, poor nutrition leads to a malfunction of the body's systems , as a result of which the nails peel off, or an insufficient supply of nutrients from food weakens the immune system, and infections can easily enter the body.

In the second case, the effect on nails is similar.

Their health is also affected by regular stress, lack of normal sleep, and bad habits.

How health problems are reflected in the quality and structure of nail plates

A worrying sign is a change in the quality of nails, which are directly related to health. So, the main warning signs may be:

1. The formation of dents and depressions on the surface of the nail, which can warn of psoriasis.
2. The nail plate becomes convex - this is a sign of the development of oncology or problems with the lungs and respiratory tract.
3. Nails take the shape of a “spoon” - this means that there is a lack of iron in the body.
4. If the nail plates change color and acquire a bluish tint, this may be a sign of problems with blood circulation.
5. The appearance of yellowness on the nails is evidence of liver disease.
6. If your nails start to peel, it means it's time to replenish your B vitamin and calcium reserves.
7. When the surface of the nail becomes lumpy and the simultaneous appearance of a yellow tint to the plate may indicate the development of diabetes mellitus or various types of fungal diseases in the body.

Which doctor will help?

The first thing you need to do when faced with the problem of peeling nails is to visit a dermatologist. This should be done even if there is confidence that the nail was damaged due to some mechanical impact, that is, injury.

The doctor will determine the severity of the disease or lesion and prescribe the most effective and correct measures that will relieve the disease.

If there are no obvious reasons for the appearance of onycholysis, then you need to see a doctor as soon as possible .
The doctor will conduct a series of tests and, based on the results, prescribe a drug that can fight a specific type of infection. Important: the treatment process must begin as quickly as possible, because if a fungal infection gets into the nail plate, the disease spreads and, most importantly, takes root in the nail quite quickly. If you do not start getting rid of the infection at an early stage, there is a risk of losing your nail.

Diagnostics

In case of changes in the condition of the nails, when the nail plates begin to peel off from the skin, an analysis is carried out for the presence of a fungal infection. If the results of the study are negative, the patient is subject to additional examination until the existing reasons that caused changes in the appearance of the nails are identified.

It will help to make a correct diagnosis by visiting a skin and venereal disease clinic or private medical offices, where, using an examination and laboratory tests of the material obtained, results will be obtained, on the basis of which appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

Treatment

Therapeutic measures to get rid of onycholysis are aimed at suppressing the cause that provoked the disease. Only by eliminating the source of the disease can we surely talk about a cure. There are methods that will help get rid of an external defect with the help of medications or using traditional medicine.

If traditional medicine is preferable, then you should not neglect medications, since it is not always possible to completely get rid of the cause of the disease using traditional methods.

Medicines

Below is a method for getting rid of onycholysis, which can be used if the disease appears due to injuries and non-infectious diseases.

When fungal infection of the nails is present, such an action will only be effective if antifungal drugs are additionally used.

They must be prescribed by a doctor and aimed at suppressing a specific infectious agent.

• The affected area of ​​the nail is first trimmed, but only if it is located at the edge. Otherwise, under no circumstances should you open the nail plate and you should start the event immediately from the next point;
• treatment is carried out using iodicerin, this drug does not burn the damaged area;
• Next, you will need to prepare a bath of sea salt and natural tea tree essential oil. For 300 ml of water you need 2 tbsp. salt and 5-6 drops of oil. The water temperature should be as hot as possible, but not scalding your fingers. The duration of the procedure is 20 minutes, after completion you need to pat your hands dry using paper towels;
• the affected area of ​​the nail is covered with Bepanten or Panthenol, which can have a regenerating effect and eliminate the wound in a short time.

Important : it is better to use disposable towels during the treatment of onycholysis, so as not to allow the infection to persist outside the body and thus not provoke a relapse.
If the nails are affected by fungus, then for treatment they use (preparations for oral use):

• ketoconazole;
• fluconazole;
• terbinafine;
• itraconazole;
• griseofulvin.

Another article on the topic: The problem of an ingrown fingernail - how to treat it with medical and folk methods

The above drugs refer to drugs with antimycotic action, their use requires a period of 3-12 months, and the treatment course cannot be interrupted.

Only a specialist can determine which drug to use for treatment. Do not forget about the various side effects that such drugs have.

For baths that need to be done daily, you can use not only sea salt, but also potassium permanganate and soda.

Also a good option are special solutions, for example, tinol (1-2% concentration), chrysarobin (5% concentration)

It is necessary to use products with an antimycotic effect before going to bed, applying them to the nail plate and covering them with a band-aid. The duration of treatment depends on how quickly the affected nail goes away.

Prevention of splitting nails

Splitting nails are easier to prevent than to treat, so regardless of whether your nails are susceptible to this disease or not, make it a rule to periodically, several times a month, carry out procedures that can help strengthen your nails.

Pay attention to nutrition! Delamination is provoked by a lack of vitamins and microelements. Introduce dairy products containing calcium, vegetables, legumes and fruits into your diet. If necessary, take a course of vitamins. Don't get carried away with extensions. Be sure to take a recovery break during which you will take care of your nails. Beautiful nails are not only a delightful manicure, but also a healthy look. And splitting nails does not make them attractive.

Never bite your nails, do not bite off hangnails, process the edges only with small nail files. When processing the edges with a nail file, make sure that they remain smooth and do not cling to hair or clothing. Be sure to file down the broken nail, as an uneven edge can cause the fragment to peel off and cause further delamination. When manicuring, try not to injure the nail plate: damage violates the integrity and can lead to delamination.

Remember: nails should rest too! Give them a “vacation” several times a year! At this time, try not to paint them with decorative varnish and reduce the length. Pamper your nails with restorative and nourishing treatments. Taking care of your nails every day will definitely affect their appearance and health.

Traditional methods

Below are the most effective and proven recipes aimed at regenerating the nail plate. Before use, you must make sure that all components of the products will not cause an allergic reaction.

Gelatin bath

This procedure promotes accelerated nail growth, saturating it with the protein structure necessary for the formation of a strong nail. Regular gelatin, which is prepared in the standard way, is suitable for the procedure.

A spoonful of gelatin is poured with water in accordance with the proportion indicated on the package and left until the gelatin swells, after which the product is placed in a water bath to achieve a mixture of uniform consistency.

The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, it must be done regularly, repeated three times over a weekly period.
Important : boiling should not be allowed during the preparation of the composition, as this will lead to the loss of all necessary substances. Additionally, it is recommended to add a small amount of lemon juice to the composition - this will enhance the effectiveness of the method.

Iodine bath

This event is aimed at suppressing fungal microflora and eliminating microbes . Due to the influence of iodine, they get rid of redness and swelling, and reduce pain.

For 400 ml of warm water you need 5-6 drops of iodine. The duration of the event should not be more than 15 minutes. Afterwards, wipe your hands dry with a paper towel and remove the affected edge of the nail using sterile scissors or forceps. After removing a section of the nail, it is treated with chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide. The regularity of the procedures is 2 times a day until recovery.

Aloe

Thanks to this plant, inflammation and fungal microflora are eliminated.

Aloe also has antibacterial properties, with its help it stops the development of fungus in the nail plate and its spread.

To make a compress, you need to cut a small part of the leaf plate lengthwise and apply the juicy side to the nail so that its entire surface is covered.

You can secure the compress with a plaster and bandage. The duration of the procedure is half an hour, after which the hands are lubricated with cream.

Read more about how to make paraffin baths for nails here.

Nail comes off after shellac

Often, those who do not have their own beautiful and strong nails use various methods in the form of false nails or shellac. However, after removing them, your nail becomes even more fragile and often peels off from its bed or suffers from delamination. There are several ways to correct this condition and improve the health of your nails after shellac removal:

• using nourishing oil, which is used to lubricate the nail plates, and since the treatment will take a long time, at least three months, the type of oil can be changed;
• salt baths, the duration of which should not be less than twenty minutes, will help restore a healthy appearance to your nails;
• lubricating thinned and peeling nails with olive oil, as well as lemon juice or iodine;
• special products for nourishing nails and cuticles nourish and restore nails well after removing shellac;
• carry out paraffin masks by dipping your fingers into warm paraffin.

Nail separation when using shellac can be caused by improper removal, individual intolerance to one of the components of the varnish, improper nail care, penetration of water immediately after application, or impaired integrity of the edge of the nail plate. If any deviations in the condition of the nail are noticed after this procedure, it is necessary to urgently begin to eliminate them.

Preventive actions

To minimize the risk of occurrence, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

• provide protection to fingers;
• be more careful when working with aggressive chemicals or doing heavy physical labor;
• pay attention to hygiene;
• get manicures and pedicures only from competent and trusted professionals who will not cause harm during the procedure;
• If a nail is damaged, consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Causes of nail separation from skin

Common and fairly common reasons for which the nail moves away from the skin on the hand are:

Non-infectious

• injuries received;
• treatment with fluoroquinolone antibiotics;
• poor circulation in the arms or legs;
• contact with chemicals.

Infectious

• fungal infection of the nail and skin around it.

Detachment resulting from various diseases

• psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema;
• functional disorders of the cardiovascular, nervous or endocrine systems.

At the first signs, the symptoms of which are similar to the symptoms of nail detachment, it is necessary to take appropriate measures. For treatment to be effective, it is necessary to find out the causes of this condition, since often they weaken the body’s defenses and provoke various diseases of the skin and nails.

Useful video

Why do women suffer? How to treat? Which doctor? Causes and treatment:

Search for a doctor based on the topic of the article

• About
• Latest Posts

Ekaterina Morozova

The author of the article is a practicing immunologist and allergist at the Children's Multidisciplinary Clinic “Kids”.
In 2004, she successfully graduated from the Moscow Medical Academy. THEM. Sechenov (MMA). She works as an immunologist, and in addition to her work, she devotes a lot of time to the beauty and health of her nails.

What to do if your nail peels off?

If there is a problem, it must be solved. In this case, various cosmetic procedures will come to the rescue.

The benefits of baths

If the tips of your nails are peeling, you can try a bath with pine needles and chamomile. Easy to prepare:

1. Mix the ingredients in equal proportions.
2. Brew in boiling water (200 ml).
3. When the solution has cooled, add strongly brewed cold green tea (50 ml).
4. Keep your nails on for thirty minutes.

A gelatin bath will help:

1. Soak the gelatin packet in a glass of cold water.
2. After half an hour, transfer to another container and heat a little over low heat.
3. Stir.
4. Gelatin should dissolve completely.
5. We take a bath 3 times a week.

Compresses

Where to begin?

First you need to understand the cause of fragility. Some women, in a panic, begin to examine their nails, look for white spots on them and attribute their appearance to serious diseases, for example, problems with the thyroid gland. Indeed, diseases of the thyroid gland, which affects the functioning of hormones in the body, can cause thin nails. But the nails are not the first to suffer; in addition, many primary symptoms appear that are difficult to miss.

Usually everything is much more primitive and the nail plate becomes thinner due to mechanical damage . For example, due to improper removal of gel polish. The gel polish itself does not harm the nail. Many owners of thin nail plates have found this to be the only way to grow long nails. It acts as a protective, strengthening layer, making nails harder and more resistant to damage.

However, it is necessary to take into account a number of operating conditions for gel polish so as not to damage your nails . For example, you should not peel off the coating yourself at home, since due to such an aggressive effect, the top layer of the nail plate is removed along with the base. In addition, gel polish cannot be worn longer than prescribed. From the point of view of proper wear, 2-3 weeks is the maximum, even if your master does his job very well and the coating does not chip for a month or more. Constant coating is also not recommended. Sometimes you need to take a break for a couple of weeks. For example, after every third coating, you can give your nails at least a week of rest.

Salon treatments

In cases where the fingernails are very peeling, it is better to solve this problem with the help of a specialist. Treatment is carried out in the following ways:

1. Paraffin therapy will help speed up the growth of healthy nails. During this procedure, cleansed hands are dipped into warm wax with beneficial substances added to it for 15 minutes.
2. Conducting sessions of ultraphonophoresis of vitamins A and E.
3. Strengthening the nail surface can be done using biogel, which will protect it from microcracks.
4. Treatment of peeling fingernails is carried out using hand massage.
5. Spa treatments include aromatherapy, invigorating baths and hand massages.
6. Sealing. This procedure is suitable for those who have major problems with their fingertips. It involves applying a paste enriched with vitamins and minerals to the nails. Initially, the nails are polished, after which the composition is rubbed into the nails. The effect of this procedure lasts for three months.

Recommended pharmaceutical products

When peeling nails, pharmacies offer vitamin complexes and mono-vitamins from foreign and domestic manufacturers, strengthening enamels and varnishes, nourishing creams and oils, different types of salts and preparations for curing fungus.

Healing mud

Therapeutic muds are peat, silt and hill.

Therapeutic mud for nails

Before use, the mud must be heated in a water bath or microwave.

Properties of mud:

• Peat - have a pronounced bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect. Applications on hands and nails have a good effect on nails in the treatment of bending and other infectious and inflammatory diseases.
• Silt – contains algal deposits, rich in iron and mineral salts. They are effectively used in the additional treatment of nails for anemia, vitamin deficiency and for recovery after pregnancy.
• Sopochnye are secretions of mud volcanoes, rich in iodine and bromine. Well suited for the treatment of nails with eczema, dermatitis, injuries and help with diseases of a nervous nature.

Nail wax

A procedure called “nail sealing” successfully combats splitting and brittleness of nails.

Wax fills small cracks in the nails, restoring and giving a healthy shine to the surface.

For polishing you will need wax and a polishing file.

Nail wax

The steps of the procedure are as follows:

• Get a manicure: remove cuticles, file nails.
• Polish the surface of the nails with a polishing or suede file.
• Cover the nail surface and periungual area with wax. Hold for 5-10 minutes.
• Use a polishing file to rub the wax into your nails.
• Upon completion of the procedure, immerse your hands in cold water for 1-1.5 minutes, allowing the wax to harden and adhere to the surface of the nail.

Creams

The most common and convenient hand and nail care product is cream. It is important to choose the right cream, taking into account the desired result - therapeutic or preventive.

Anti-delamination creams have different effects:

• Moisturizing - well suited in the warm season, for dry hands and nail plates.
• Nourishing – suitable for the cold season, has a nourishing effect, softening hands, cuticles and filling microcracks on nails.
• Water-repellent and protective - the best product for the winter season, for people who have frequent contact with water, it will also be useful for those who spend a lot of time outside. Neutralizes the destructive effects of cold, water and aggressive environmental influences on nails, preventing them from splitting.
• Restoring - has a fairly oily texture and contains healing substances. Such as allantoin, lanolin and wax. Seals nails, giving them healthy shine and elasticity.
• Strengthening – used for age-related changes in nails and hand skin. Softens and smoothes the skin, increases the elasticity of nails. It often contains collagen and keratin, which strengthen the nail plate.

Cream for strengthening nails
It is important to choose the right cream, taking into account the desired result:

• Mavala Nailactan - restores damaged nails 1320 RUR.
• Belweder for nails and cuticles - compacts the nail plate and fights brittleness.
• Nuxe for hands and nails – nutrition, hydration and active regeneration. From 1100 ₽.
• Green Mama nails and cuticles - strengthening with chitosan and seaweed. From 200 ₽.
• Planeta Organica cream for strengthening nails and softening cuticles - with macadamia nut oil. From 100 ₽.
• Neutrjgena cream - care for hands and nails. Providing a protective effect during the cold season. From 260 ₽.
• Dr. Sea – multivitamin cream. Contains vitamins B, C, E. Nourishes and moisturizes nails and hand skin. From 260 ₽.

Healing varnishes

To cure peeling nails at home, you need to purchase an effective medicinal varnish. The variety of brands on offer can make choosing difficult.

Therapeutic varnishes to strengthen nails

But there are the most popular and proven brands:

• Smart enamel is a professional therapeutic series of cosmetics for the care of problem nails. In addition to treatment, all varnishes promote the rapid growth of nail platinum. From 120 ₽.
• Eveline - effective Polish drugs at a reasonable price. They have excellent reviews from customers. From 150 ₽.
• Sally Hansen - high-quality varnishes containing only safe ingredients. They have a range of remedies for any nail defects. From 290 ₽.
• Trind – has proven itself well in this line, a drug for brittle nails. Quickly restores peeling nail plates. From 320 ₽.
• ORLI is a popular brand, actively used by manicurists in beauty salons to treat nails. From 390 ₽.
• IBX is a treatment complex consisting of two varnishes, often used to treat and strengthen nails in beauty salons. Nails are leveled and become strong. From 1700 ₽.
• Oflomil, Lotseril, Batrafen are the most effective drugs in the fight against nail fungus. They treat the largest number of types of fungi, but long-term use from 6 to 12 months is necessary. From 890 ₽.

Don't miss the most popular article in the section: How to draw monograms on nails step by step for beginners. Instructions with photos.

Effective multivitamins

A high-quality targeted multivitamin complex will help strengthen your nails from the inside, prevent brittleness and delamination.

Effective proven complexes are:

• AlfaVit Cosmetics - high-quality and very rich composition, 12 vitamins and 13 microelements. From 460 ₽.
• Complivit Siyanie is the best Russian-made option. They contain 11 vitamins. From 310 ₽.

• Dopelgerts beauty for strengthening nails is a British complex, with a convenient dose, once a day. From 450 ₽.
• Vitrum Beauty - dietary supplement - contains amino acids, improves the structure of nails. From 840 ₽.
• Perfectil is a complex for improving the condition of nails, hair and skin. From 450 ₽.
• Pentavit is a budget option for people with vitamin B deficiency. From 120 ₽.
• Solgar Skin, hair and nails - excellent composition, the drug is available in dark glass. Suitable for vegetarians. From 1600 ₽.

Using baths to improve nail health

If the cause of splitting and brittle nails is fingernail fungus, then it is recommended to use baths with sea salt and iodine solution; after the procedure, the nail is cleaned and an antifungal agent is applied.

If you have a fungal infection, you can use baths with soda to heal damaged nails; for this purpose, 200 ml of water is heated to a temperature of 37-40 degrees, then a tablespoon of soda and half a teaspoon of iodine solution are added to the water. This bath is taken for 5-7 minutes.

Important addition: Clove oil for nail fungus: reviews of treatment

To improve the health of affected nails, you can use herbal baths. To prepare such baths, calendula, chamomile, St. John's wort and celandine are used. All components are used in the amount of one tablespoon. The herbal mixture is brewed in one glass of boiling water. After infusion, the mixture is cooled to 40 degrees. Hands should be kept in the solution until it cools completely.

After using any recipe and steaming your nails, you should clean the softened part of the nail plate. After cleaning the nail, an antifungal agent is applied to its surface.

Vitamin therapy

The amount of nutrients supplied with food is small. Specially developed complexes of vitamins and dietary supplements, when used regularly, can increase the supply of essential vitamins and contribute to healthy nails.

When consuming any vitamin complex, you must strictly adhere to the recommended dose and first consult a specialist.