What do flaking nails mean

Dull Skin. Salicylic Acid. Glycolic Acid. Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen. Benzoyl Peroxide. Hyaluronic Acid. Shopping Cart. Expert Advice Skin Concerns. Ingredient Spotlight. You Have a Gel Manicure Obsession Gel manicures look gorgeous, and they last longer than traditional ones, making them a great option for vacation. You Always Clean or Wash the Dishes Cleaning your kitchen and bathroom is a necessary chore, but repeated, prolonged exposure to chemicals found in cleaners as well as soap and water could be weakening your nails, leaving them brittle and prone to splitting.

You Use Your Nails as Tools If you tend to use your nails to scrape, peel, or pry things off, then you leave yourself open to breaking them. Shop The Article. Related Articles. All rights reserved.

Learn Press Expert Advice About. So before you treat your peeling nails with the following remedies, check your toenails, too.

If they're also peeling, see a doctor to rule out health-related causes such as iron and other nutritional deficiencies. First thing to ask yourself: Why are my nails peeling? According to cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green , peeling nails also referred to as onychoschizia is a disruption in the nail caused by trauma, peeling of nail polish, filing the nail too much, and wearing false nails such as press on or acrylics.

Thankfully, there are ways to remedy them. Meet the Expert. Michele Green is a cosmetic dermatologist based in New York City. Ahead, check out seven fixes for peeling fingernails. Boost your intake of iron- and biotin-rich foods like avocado, whole grains, eggs, cauliflower, and lean meats.

Lean meats, in particular, help build strength in the nails, making them less susceptible to peeling, breaking, and bending. Plus, you'll reap more than just nail benefits with such a diet—it can give you more energy and keep you full for longer, too. Other nutrients found in vitamins can help build your nails' strength, as they work together with each other and with the foods you eat to keep all your body systems humming. Plus, it serves as an effective anti-aging supplement, as the omega oils found in fish oil stimulates collagen production.

Olive oil, as Green states, contains major antioxidants that help protect the nails. It's also rich in vitamin E, omega 3 fatty, acids and other nutrients that help to maintain and lock the moisture to prevent dryness. To create the soak, pour a few teaspoons of oil into two small bowls melt the coconut oil for just a few seconds in the microwave , moisten your nails a bit, stick them in the bowls, and switch on your latest Netflix binge for 20 minutes.

Peeling nails need all the moisture they can get, and acetone-laden nail polish removers don't do nails any favors. Nail hardeners can work wonders for peeling nails. Not only do they help support the nail and protect it from peeling, but many are also made with nutrient-rich formulas that offer up other benefits like moisturizing, strengthening, and protecting.

Try this one from OPI—it's formaldehyde-free and contains aloe vera, which works to rebalance sensitive skin and nails , calcium to help strengthen , kukui nut oil, and vitamin E, which prevents nails from peeling. And without a layer of polish blocking the sunlight from getting to your nails and cuticles, you'll reap the cell regeneration benefits of going polish-free.

Nail buffers can help smooth out rough edges so that they don't catch so easily. Use gentle, steady movements to remove ridges and create a soft surface on the nail bed.

We love this four-way buffer from Tropical Shine because it has four levels of grit, ranging from coarse to extra fine, and has a cuticle protection edge. Campbell says that washing your hands frequently can sometimes lead to brittle, split, or peeling nails—something that's especially relevant during the COVID outbreak.

Scrubbing on repeat dries out your hands and nails, which can cause problems with nail strength and suppleness. Dry skin and thus dry, peeling nails can also be a result of the weather or dehydration. The treatment here is simple: hydrate all day long and moisturize on the reg more on the latter below. Even the type of nail polish remover—more specifically, acetone—can cause problems, according to Dr.

Although super skilled at removing layers of polish, it can also dry out your nails to the point at which, yup, they start peeling, she explains. Even if you press pause on your weekly manicures, you still need to take care of your nails to prevent further peeling. And this is especially true when giving yourself a DIY mani sans-paint and remover, of course. Avoid filing your bare nail as this can weaken your nail, making it vulnerable to damage, explains Gibson Tuttle.

And steer clear of your cuticles. Now, if you're a nail biter, it probably doesn't come as a shock that your nails might start to peel. Not only can it damage the shape and curvature of your nails over time, but gnawing at your fingernails can also "increase the risk of getting bacteria in and around the nail, and creates uneven splits in the nail which can then peel back," says Dr.

While the treatment for peeling and brittle nails very much depends on what the root cause is, there are things you can do to improve your overall nail health. Vitamin deficiencies can cause peeling, splitting nails. Still, it's best you consult your doc before poppin' any pills, as vitamins and supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration FDA. One of the keys to improving overall nail health? Treating your cuticles—which protect your nails so that they can grow stronger and healthier—to ample TLC.

Friedler, who recommends massaging "vaseline or cuticle oil a couple of times a day into the cuticle. And Gibson Tuttle agrees: "Applying daily cuticle serum is a must to help your nails grow strong while they grow out.

Make a habit of moisturizing your hands and nails after you wash your hands to help prevent excess drying and, thus, peeling nails. While any ole hand lotion will do, Dr. King suggests also using a nail-specific moisturizer like sunflower oil that is " rich in phospholipids ," which are known to prevent splitting or cracking nails.

For an added layer of protection, Dr. Her reasoning? It helps coat the nail and protect it from trauma from, say, banging your nails or washing dishes without gloves. Speaking of which…. When you're doing tons of dishes, cleaning, or any kind of 'wet work', wear gloves and "minimize frequent hand washing with alcohol-based hand sanitizer," which is also drying, says Dr.