Onychorrhexis
Everyone attempts to have beautiful and healthy-looking nails; it is the whole reason why pedicures and manicures have gained its popularity, but brittle nails can equally spoil the beauty. One such condition that can spoil the beauty of your nails is Onychorrexis. Instead of a relatively smooth looking fingernail, a person with Onychorrexis will have ridges and grooves in their nails. This condition may appear in one nail or on all nails, depending on the person.
Onychorrexis isn’t usually a reason to worry about. However, changes to the fingernails can seldom propose an underlying condition or nutritional insufficiency. Many times individuals will have vertical ridging along with split ends, thus having brittle nails a common complaint. While people wonder what causes Onychorrhexis, the cause of the condition is still unknown. Almost every person will experience this condition as it normally happens with aging. When the body’s system gets affected, the composition of the nail will also vary. Some health conditions or the treatment taken for that can cause a significant change in the protein set up of the nails, thus resulting in onychorrhexis.
Causes for Onychorrexis
Onychorrhexis is a natural result of aging that has its impact on both men and women, and both the toenails and fingernails. There are also other reasons for split nails like when the hands are frequently in solvents, such as water or alcohol, or if the individual’s nails frequently tap against instruments like a keyboard or piano. While the most common reason for Onychorrhexis is found to be the age factor, there are times when Onychorrhexis need not be the result of aging. The following are the possible reasons behind Onychorrhexis:
- Amyloidosis: Amyloidosis a condition that produces excess levels of the protein called amyloid to build up in the body.
- Anemia: Low iron levels in your blood can make your nails turn brittle,
- Eating disorders, such as Bulimia: Bulimia is an eating disorder that’s characterized as adverse eating and preventing to control weight. People with Bulimia are seen with two most prominent behaviors- Bingeing (consuming a lot of food) and purging (vomiting), but bulimia comprises even more adverse effects resulting in Onychorrhexis and rough and dry skin in the long term.
- Eczema: Eczema in the long term, causes your skin scaly, red, itchy, and brittle nails.
- Excessive biting of the nails: Self-induced biting of the nails as a habit will more likely cause your nails weak, resulting in brittle nails or Onychorrhexis.
- Exposure to chemicals: When a person’s nails are exposed to chemicals like nail polish, solvents, and even water in an excessive manner, the chances of having a brittle nail is high. Some professions demand individuals to work on excess moisture, such as people working as a housekeeper, hairdresser, etc.
- Frequent use of nail polish remover: Nail polish remover is a pack of chemicals that predominantly ruins your nails surface. Our nail plate is formed of keratin, which protects the blood vessels and nerves under it. When you go in for a manicure, the nail polish remover made of acetone, gels, or acrylics applied to your nails will weaken your nail plate and make it thin and brittle.
- Hypothyroidism: Thyroid production plays a significant role in the health of your nails. Not only nails, this tiny butterfly-shaped thyroid gland impacts every organ system in your body. Insufficient production of the thyroid will ultimately cause your nails to become brittle and weak.
- Lichen planus, an inflammatory skin disorder: Lichen planus can cause split or brittle nails, and the affected nails will have ridges running lengthwise leading to Onychorrhexis.
- Psoriasis: Psoriasis can form in the root of the nails and can cause your nails brittle and uneven. They commonly form ridges and dents on your nails by weakening them.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: It is the only nail abnormality found in people with rheumatoid arthritis. It causes longitudinal ridging in nails and destroys the smooth texture of fingernails and also toenails.
- Trauma to the nail: Addition to all the above-said causes, there is also another category called trauma. There are chances when the toenail or fingernail might get damaged by an accidental blow to the nail. Some commonly occurring trauma to the nails are like closing the toe or finger while closing the door or the drawer. This might end up in a blood clot in the area, resulting in the uneven shape of the nail. Other reasons may be habitual nail-biting, cuticle biting.
Doctors have also related these nail ridges and grooves with some nutritional deficiencies. Examples to include could be the deficiency of iron, folic acid, or proteins. The body requires essential nutritional components like these to produce healthy, damage-free nails.
Symptoms of Onychorrexis
Almost all people have at least a little of ridging to the nails and some people’s nails visible show it out. This is the place where the cells of the nails are pushed up to make the fingernails from the nail matrix. However, when your nails are not adequately thicker or lack the nutrients or elements to make strong nails, you may recognize yourself with Onychorrexis.
The key symptom of Onychorrexis is it is easily visible, vertical (longitudinal) lines on the nails. While our nails aren’t flawlessly smooth by nature, these lines caused by Onychorrexis will make you feel bumpy when you brush your finger against the nail.
Sometimes, this ridging may occur on a single finger or all fingers. If you’ve there was an injury to a fingernail, such as bending back the nail or crushing, you’re more likely to have onychorrexis on that fingernail.
Often, this ridging is characterized with brittle nails, which can be seen as split at the ends of the nails. This is the condition which the doctors call as onychoschisis. Nails affected by onychorrexis are often thinner than usual and more susceptible to breakage than those who have normal nails.
Treatment for Onychorrexis
Since Onychorrexis is normally an effect of aging or other reasons that are relatively common, it doesn’t always need treatment. However, if you notice your nails are more brittle and inclined to frequent breaking, some treatments can help. The root cause must be treated properly to get rid of the brittle nails or what we call as Onychorrexis. If your onychorrexis is the effect of a medical condition, you are suffering from, putting effort to address and change that condition would greatly help.
Medical treatments
Medical treatments for this medical condition generally involve tackling the underlying reasons. For example, if you are suffering from conditions such as eczema, a doctor may aim at applying topical corticosteroids or using injections to reduce the inflammation in your body. In some cases, doctors may even inject some steroids into your nails to enhance or fix the nail’s appearance.
Doctors may also go for treatments that are brushed on the nails to protect them from future damages. We have illustrated a few examples of these kinds of medications:
- Polyurethane
- Genadur (Hydrosoluble nail lacquer)
- 16 percent Nuvail
If the individual is not suffering from any other health issues, a doctor will recommend refraining the contact from a large number of solvents and chemical compounds. You will also be asked to reduce the usage of keyboard or other instruments where you are required to tap your fingers constantly.
Home Remedies
Apart from the medical advice, there are several remedies to follow to protect your nails right at the convenience of your home. We share with you some of the best working home remedy options:
- Apply products that are known to moisturize your nails and hands. For example, add vitamin E oil, or olive oil, or petroleum jelly regularly in your skin care routine. You may also try placing soft cotton balls or gloves over your nails or hands after using the moisturizer so that you give your skin the time for the moisture to be absorbed.
- Refrain from soaking or exposing your nails to solvents like water or any other cleaning chemicals for a longer period. This can eventually weaken your nails and make it brittle.
- If you are a person, who uses nail polishes regularly, preferably one that contains minerals and vitamins in it to nourish your nails, you can also refrain using acetone nail polish removers and harsh nail polishes for some time. Give time for your nails to breathe by giving it a break for your manicures from time to time.
- Consuming a lot of water is not only good for your skin, but also great for healthy nails. Nails have about 18 percent water content in them (1), and on dehydration, they become more brittle and chippy. Doctors say that poor intake of food and water is majorly associated with brittle nails.
- Maintain nail hygiene by keeping it neat and trimmed. Take vitamin B supplements for healthy skin and strong nails. Biotin supplements are also equally good for strong and smooth nails.
Conclusion:
Onychorrhexis isn’t a condition to be concerned about, but, finding the underlying cause and curing it is the best solution for getting back your healthy nails. While most of the time, Onychorrhexis can be treated at home, If you have problems persisting, talking to your doctor and treating it will be the best solution.