Why do nails flake

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.

If they suspect a thyroid disorder or vitamin deficiency [or another kind of underlying condition] they'll order blood tests. Underlying conditions such as anemia more on that later , tuberculosis, and endocrine hormonal issues "can manifest in the nails," says Dr. In addition to peeling, you might also see "nail color changes like yellowing, which can be related to lung health, or whitening, which can be present with kidney or liver problems ," she adds.

Split nails might also be a sign of thyroid disease , such as hyperthyroidism—when the thyroid gland overproduces hormones—and hypothyroidism—when it underproduces hormones. It's important to emphasize, however, that peeling nails are not the only sign of thyroid conditions.

In addition to other nail-related changes like curving, softening, or thickening skin above a nail, you might also experience unexplained weight changes, fatigue, sensitivity to temperatures, among many other symptoms, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

And this is true no matter the location of the psoriasis-caused inflammation or rashes. In these cases, you may also see significant ridges, pitting shallow or deep holes in the nail , or discoloration, and the peeling will likely occur closer to the cuticle, near the nail bed, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Once your doc determines that a skin condition is to blame, they'll likely prescribe a topical steroid to treat your peeling nails and underlying issue, says Dr.

Speaking of which, here's how Kim Kardashian handles her psoriasis. Peeling nails can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as oral retinoids like isotretinoin, according to Dr.

But this type of acne treatment is not the only medication that could be to blame, so definitely keep track of when your nails started peeling and talk to your doc about any potential side effects of new meds or even supplements.

As if the list of pregnancy side effects wasn't already long enough, you can add peeling nails on there, too. This is due in part to the influx of hormones, which cause your nails to grow faster but not necessarily stronger, says Dr.

A common culprit of peeling nails are vitamins, or rather a lack thereof, according to the experts. Most specifically? B-vitamins , such as biotin which, btw, might be low during pregnancy and B12, which can also cause brown-grey nail discoloration, says Dr.

And ICYMI earlier, you might also be dealing with anemia or low iron levels that can lead to brittle or split nails or "spoon-shaped nails" aka nails with indentations , she explains. That might be another sign you're suffering from anemia.

This includes everything from how often you wash your hands, to the type of manicure you get, to the type of work you do with your hands. You also put yourself at risk for developing a skin or nail infection due to the filing down of the nailbed.

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Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines. Michelle is a contributing writer for Byrdie with nearly 10 years of experience in the beauty industry. Her writing has appeared on PopSugar, Hypebae, and more. Medically reviewed by Stacy Chimento, MD. She has been trained in general medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology and holds an expertise in acne, rosacea, body contouring, laser rejuvenation and injectable aesthetic treatments.

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