Looking at a person’s fingernails can indicate whether their body is in perfect working order or if they have a health problem. Even as early as 450 B.C., the Greek physician Hippocrates was theorizing that the nails can tell a lot about the health of the body.
If you’re in general good health, and your nails look okay but are brittle, flaky or break easily, it’s probably due to exposure to the elements or irritating chemicals; the majority of nail problems are a result of this. When your nails get wet, they swell, and they shrink again once they’re dry. This cycle is repeated so often that it can leave the nails stripped and fragile. The temperature can also be the culprit: both very cold and excessively warm conditions can cause nail problems, especially dry cuticles. Or it could be that you’re using too many harsh chemicals around your nails, whether it’s cleaning products or things such as nail glue and polish remover.
If you’ve tried removing the stressors indicated above (allowing several weeks for improvement), and your nails are still giving you grief, look at your diet. Are you getting adequate protein? Protein is especially important for nail health – you should be eating at least eight ounces of it every day. (If you’re getting enough protein already, adding more won’t help your nails.) An iron deficiency can also cause brittle nails. Taking a multivitamin supplement can alleviate many problems.
If your diet is fine and the condition of your nails won’t improve, or if they just look strange to you, it may be time to consult a doctor. Nails can be very accurate indicators of illness.