The Professional Association of German Internists said that brittle toenails have many causes, some of which are simple and some of which are serious.
The association explained that in addition to genetic factors, the cause of brittle toenails may be due to extreme stress on the nails, as frequent use of nail polish, nail polish remover, and frequent installation of artificial nails negatively affects the stratum corneum and makes the nails brittle and susceptible to breakage.
Brittle toenails may also be due to malnutrition caused by a deficiency of minerals such as iron, zinc, and calcium, and a deficiency of vitamins such as A, B, and C.
Brittle toenails may be a side effect of some medications, such as medications used to treat autoimmune diseases or cancer.
Brittle toenails may also be caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause.
Serious diseases
The causes of brittle toenails may lie in serious diseases such as skin diseases such as nail fungus, psoriasis, neurodermatitis, rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, collagen vascular diseases, and systemic lupus erythematosus, in addition to hypothyroidism.
Therefore, a doctor should be consulted to determine the real cause behind brittle toenails, especially if the brittleness is accompanied by changes in structure, color, and thickness.