Nail Care Tip: Don't wash away your nails' natural beauty

Brittle, splitting or peeling are both unattractive and inconvenient. This condition may have a variety of causes, such as imbalanced diet or fungal infection. However, in many (if not most) cases, the culprit is overwashing. Just like the skin, the nails are protected from the loss of moisture by a thin, oily film consisting primarily of sebum. Excessive washing or cleaning strips off this protective film causing nails to dry up and eventually crack or split. Nail polish removers, especially acetone-based ones, are even more drying than water and soaps as they not only strip off the protective film but also penetrate deeply into the nail and displace its water.

If you have brittle nails, reduce exposure to water and detergents. If you wash dishes or clothes by hand, use rubber or vinyl gloves. Minimize your use of nail polish removers. If none of this helps, look into other possible causes of brittle nails (see our other nail care tips).