{"id":146060,"date":"2025-09-18T20:51:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T20:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/146060\/"},"modified":"2025-09-18T20:51:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T20:51:11","slug":"experts-reveal-the-reasons-you-have-weak-peeling-or-brittle-nails-and-share-their-top-tips-for-fixing-the-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/146060\/","title":{"rendered":"Experts reveal the reasons you have weak, peeling or brittle nails – and share their top tips for fixing the problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As a nation we\u2019ve never been more obsessed with our nails, with dedicated salons proliferating on the high street and the UK nail industry bringing in \u00a3271m revenue in 2025, according to Statista.<\/p>\n

However, along with all those manicures and nail art can come serious damage to your nails, from weak, easily broken nails to peeling and flaking. And you don\u2019t even need to be indulging in monthly gels to suffer the woes of rubbish nails; for some of us even our bare, untouched nails are dry and fragile (not ideal if you\u2019re going to the beautiful natural nails look).<\/p>\n

So what causes weak nails, and is there anything you can do about it? We spoke to three top nail experts to find out\u2026<\/p>\n

What are the biggest causes of weak, breakable nails?<\/p>\n

Many of us will have noticed our nails\u2019 condition getting considerably worse after in-salon treatments, which often prompts a vicious cycle, as you have more polish applied to cover up the dodgy nails underneath. \u2018Gel manicures can weaken nails because of the preparation and removal process,\u2019 explains Margaret Dabbs, chief executive and founder of her eponymous nail clinic<\/a> in London<\/a>. \u2018Over-buffing, acetone remover and scraping off product all strip the nail of natural oils and damage the keratin layers. This leaves nails thin, dry and prone to peeling.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Gel <\/p>\n

Gel manicures can weaken nails because of the preparation and removal process<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s not just manicures that can lay waste to your nails. \u2018Weak nails can be caused by a combination of factors,\u2019 says consultant dermatologist Dr Vani Agarwal.<\/a> These can include \u2018repeated wetting and drying\u2019, as well as \u2018exposure to household detergents and solvents.\u2019 Other common issues, according to Gaelle Lebrat-Personnaz, chief executive and co-founder of Manicurist<\/a>, are \u2018nail biting, or using your nails as tools\u2019 (for opening tins etc).<\/p>\n

As for diet, Dr Agarwal says this plays an important role, \u2018however, true nutritional defiencies are relatively rare in the UK.\u2019 That\u2019s not to say you shouldn\u2019t focus on a varied and rich diet, plus plenty of water \u2013 undoubtedly our hair, skin and nails all benefit when there\u2019s plenty of nutrients going into our bodies.<\/p>\n

What causes nails to peel?<\/p>\n

Have you ever noticed your nails breaking down into layers, with the top ones peeling or flaking off? It\u2019s a sign of dehydrated nails, and \u2018occurs when the layers of the nail plate loose moisture and separate,\u2019 explains Dr Agarwal. Again, the same triggers apply: \u2018overexposure to water, harsh nail products and mechanical trauma from frequent filing and buffing\u2019 are the main culprits. Dr Agarwal adds \u2018This issue can be very common in people who wash their hands frequently for work.\u2019<\/p>\n

Why do nails get worse as you get older?<\/p>\n

Dabbs explains: \u2018As we age, our nails often become drier, more brittle and slower to grow. This is largely because the natural cell turnover in the nail bed decreases and the flow of blood and nutrients to the extremities is not as efficient as it once was. Nails can also lose their smoothness and begin to develop ridges or discolouration. Hormonal changes, reduced collagen production and general wear and tear over time also play a part.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Blood <\/p>\n

Blood circulation to the nail matrix, where the nail forms, decreases as we get older.<\/p>\n

If that all sounds a bit depressing though, don\u2019t worry. As Lebrat-Personnaz says, \u2018with the right products and routine, it\u2019s absolutely possible to maintain strong, healthy nails at any age.\u2019<\/p>\n

What steps can you take to strengthen fragile nails?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a manicure addict, the advice you probably don\u2019t want to hear is that taking a break from regular salon appointments will do your nails good. However, the truth is it will \u2018let your nails breathe,\u2019 says Lebrat-Personnaz, giving them a chance to regrow and repair. She also recommends daily hydration of the nails with nourishing oils, and using a nourishing base coat when you do apply polish.<\/p>\n

Dabbs says when you have gel manicures, you should always have them removed professionally, as an expert will know how to limit damage when taking the product off. She also says \u2018You should be ditching emery board nail files and swapping for a good quality crystal file, which promotes healthy growth and ensures that the nails do not split or break.\u2019<\/p>\n

Dr Agarwal gives the following tips:<\/p>\n

Wear cotton-lined gloves while washing or cleaning.Moisturise your hands and nails daily. \u2018I recommend glycerin-based creams and oils, as it\u2019s an excellent humectant so can help hydrate the nail plate,\u2019 she says.Keep your nails cut short.Regularly apply Vaseline to the cuticles to lock in moisture. \"Lifestyle <\/p>\n

Lifestyle changes are key when it comes to improving the condition of your nails.<\/p>\n

Should you take supplements to improve your nails?<\/p>\n

There was no conclusive verdict on nail supplements from the experts we spoke to. Lebrat-Personnaz suggests you take supplements including biotin, zinc or plant-based keratin to strengthen fragile nails. Dr Agarwal, however, says \u2018My advice would be to focus on a balanced diet rich in protein, iron and fresh fruit and vegetables. Supplements rarely transform nail health unless you have a true deficiency in a particular vitamin or mineral, although there is some evidence behind biotin supplements (vitamin B7) when taken consistently to help strengthen brittle nails.\u2019<\/p>\n

When should you seek professional help?<\/p>\n

All our experts agree that if your nails are persistently weak or breaking, it\u2019s a good idea to seek help from an expert-led clinic or dermatologist, to check that there isn\u2019t an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. \u2018There are many conditions such as psoriasis, lichen planus and anaemia, as well as fungal nail infections, which can be linked to poor nails and effectively treated when help is sought,\u2019 says Dr Agarwal.<\/p>\n

Products to help weak nails<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":146061,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[11716,20086,97,20045,59,102,2294,388,56,54,55,10720],"class_list":{"0":"post-146060","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-affiliated","9":"tag-commercebeauty","10":"tag-dailymail","11":"tag-editorial-impulse","12":"tag-gb","13":"tag-health","14":"tag-home","15":"tag-london","16":"tag-uk","17":"tag-united-kingdom","18":"tag-unitedkingdom","19":"tag-you"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=146060"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146060\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=146060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=146060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=146060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}