What’s causing your nails to change texture?
Brittle
Rough, splitting nails that may also crack easily are one of the most commonly reported nail problems. Officially called onychoschizia, brittle nails are usually caused by repeated wetting and drying of your fingernails, so you should use gloves when getting your hands wet, such as when doing dishes.
In some cases, brittle nails might also be a sign of hypothyroidism or iron deficiency.
The fix: You can try applying lotions that contain alpha hydroxy acids or lanolin and wearing gloves while washing dishes or doing other water-heavy tasks.
Soft or weak
These nails break easily or bend before snapping. Soft nails might be caused by overexposure to moisture or chemicals — think detergent, cleaning fluids, nail treatments, and nail polish remover.
Weak nails might also be associated with a deficiency in B vitamins, calcium, iron, or fatty acids.
The fix: Avoid having chemicals around your nails. Go natural to give your nails a chance to recover. Norris advises against iron supplements unless you know you’re deficient. Instead, start taking a multivitamin that includes calcium and B vitamins.
Peeling
This is likely caused by external trauma to the nail itself — by using your nail as a tool, pressing into the nail too firmly or removing acrylic nail polish. Nails can also peel if you soak your hands too long in sudsy water.
Here’s a trick to figuring out whether it’s an internal or external cause: Are your toenails also peeling? If so, it might be an internal cause, such as iron deficiency. If not, it’s probably external.
The fix: If you think it’s internal, trying adding iron-rich foods to your diet. If the cause is external, keep your nails moisturized by applying lotion after any activity that might dry them out. Talk with a healthcare professional if symptoms continue, especially if you also notice peeling on your toenails.
Ridges
Have you ever noticed ridges that look like little horizontal or vertical waves on your fingernails? Vertical ridges generally appear later in life and run from the tip of your fingernail to the cuticle. As long as they aren’t accompanied by other symptoms such as changes in color, they’re usually aren’t a cause for concern.
Horizontal ridges, also called Beau’s lines, may be a sign of kidney disease or another underlying condition.
The fix: For vertical ridges, you can gently buff the surface of your nail to smooth them. For horizontal lines, see a healthcare professional to find the underlying cause.
Why are your nails changing color?
Yellow
Yellow nails are relatively common, and usually caused by one of two factors: an infection or a reaction from a product you’ve been using, such as nail polish.
In rare cases, yellow might be a sign of a larger issue, including thyroid conditions, psoriasis, or diabetes.
The fix: Your new nails should grow in clear again, but there are many natural treatments such as tea tree oil or vitamin E to help tackle infections. A multivitamin might also help with this. Talk with a healthcare professional if you don’t notice improvement after a few weeks.
Black lines
Also called a splinter hemorrhage, black lines (which can appear brown or dark red) look like splinters. They can appear multiple times. The most likely cause is a trauma to your nail, such as accidentally slamming a door on your finger.
In rare cases, the lines could be a sign of an underlying issue, including psoriasis, endocarditis, or nail melanoma.
The fix: The lines should disappear over time as your nail grows if they’re due to an injury. But if you don’t notice any change over a few weeks, talk with a healthcare professional, especially if you notice any other symptoms, like inflamed skin, night sweats, or bleeding in the nail.
White spots
“Scattered white spots on the nails, which usually start appearing around middle-school age, can signify a zinc deficiency,” explains Norris.
an allergic reaction
a fungal infection
injury to your nail
The fix: Give your nails a break from polish or other products and allow the nail to grow. If the spots remain or reappear, talk with a healthcare professional.
No half moons
No half moons at the base of your nail? Most of the time, this means nothing and they could just be hidden under your skin.
If they seem to have disappeared, it could be a sign of:
malnutrition
depression
anemia
The fix: Usually, not having half moons isn’t anything to be concerned about, but you’ll want to talk with a healthcare professional if they start turning red or disappear after being visible for some time.