Why is my hair and nails brittle?

Cause: Not Enough Nutrients Rarely, brittle nails can mean you’re not getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs. For example, low calcium levels (hypocalcemia) can cause scaly skin, dry hair, and brittle nails along with muscle cramps.

How do I fix brittle nails and hair?

Here are some tips that you can use to help strengthen your nails in no time.

1. Take a biotin supplement.
2. Minimize exposure to water.
3. Stay hydrated.
4. Pay attention to your diet.
5. Be careful about the products you use.
6. Avoid using gel or acrylic nails, if possible.
7. Give your nails a break from polish.

What Vitamin Are you lacking when you have brittle nails?

– A deficiency in B-complex vitamins, especially biotin, will produce ridges along the nail bed. – A diet lacking in calcium contributes to dry, brittle nails. – A lack of folic acid and vitamin C can lead to hangnails. – Insufficient dietary essential oils, like omega-3, cause cracking.

Why do I have weak hair and nails?

An overactive or underactive thyroid may cause hair loss and dry strands. Iron-deficiency anemia can lead to brittle, oddly shaped nails. If you’re experiencing chronic hair, nail and skin problems for no clear reason, talk with your doctor.

What nutritional deficiency causes dry hair?

A variety of factors may cause brittle hair and nails. One of them is a lack of biotin. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, helps the body convert food into energy. A deficiency in biotin is very rare, but when it occurs, brittle, thinning, or splitting hair and nails are some of the most noticeable symptoms.

How do you fix brittle nails?

If you want to strengthen your nails, there are several easy and inexpensive options:

1. Moisturize. Try a dedicated nail oil or a hand lotion with alpha hydroxy acid or lanolin.
2. Limit manicures.
3. Avoid alcohol-based sanitizers.
4. Get a paraffin wax bath.
5. Wear gloves.

What foods are high in biotin?

Foods that contain the most biotin include organ meats, eggs, fish, meat, seeds, nuts, and certain vegetables (such as sweet potatoes) [2,12].

What is the best vitamin for dry hair?

Try these strand-strengthening essentials to help keep your hair shiny and healthy:

• Iron. Iron helps bring oxygen to your hair through red blood cells.
• B Vitamins. B6 and B12 are vital for healthy hair because they help deliver nutrients to your hair follicles.
• Biotin.
• Zinc.
• Vitamin A.
• Vitamin C.
• Vitamin D3.
• Omega 3s.

What is brittle hair a symptom of?

Brittle hair is one symptom of Cushing’s syndrome, which is a rare condition caused by too much cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. But, notes Mirmirani, there are many other more obvious symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome, including high blood pressure, fatigue, and back pain.

What are possible causes of brittle nails?

Brittle Nails About Brittle Nails. To understand how brittle nails occur, it is helpful to learn more about the nail growth process. Causes of Brittle Nails. While changes in nail appearance, such as brittle nails, can occur for a variety of reasons, the most likely cause for women of menopausal age is Brittle Nails Treatments. Did You Know?

What to eat to help with brittle nails?

Nails are made from a protein called keratin . Not getting enough protein in your diet can make your nails weak. Choose healthy proteins such as lean meat, whole grain and bean combinations, and fatty fish such as salmon. Fish oils and other healthy fats are also helpful for fixing brittle nails.

What causes hair to brittle and dry out?

Thyroid disease, Graves disease (an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid) and hormonal imbalances commonly cause symptoms of dry and brittle hair. Most illnesses can be traced back to the thyroid as well, making thyroid diseases and disorders the most common illnesses that cause dry, brittle hair.

What vitamin deficiency causes hair loss and brittle nails?

Biotin Deficiency. Biotin , also known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H, helps your body metabolize the amino acids it needs to build healthy hair and nails. People with insufficient amounts of biotin may have thin hair, hair loss and brittle, thin nails.