Peeling and splitting nails, medically known as onychoschizia, often indicate weak or brittle nails. This common issue can stem from various factors, including aging, physical stress, exposure to harsh chemicals, and overuse of nail treatments. While less common, peeling nails can sometimes signal underlying conditions like a fungal infection or iron deficiency.

What Do Peeling Nails Look Like?

Peeling nails frequently results from an imbalance in moisture, leaving them either excessively dry or overly soft. In both scenarios, nails become brittle, weak, and prone to breakage. You might notice your peeling nails appear thinner or more transparent than usual. They can also be ragged or uneven, with chips, splits, or tears starting at the nail’s edge. Whitish lines or streaks may be visible on the nail’s surface where layers have peeled away. While generally not painful, peeling nails can cause discomfort. Very dry nails might feel rough and scratchy, snagging on clothing. You might also feel a constant need to file or buff them to maintain smoothness. Extremely soft nails may bend or break easily under slight pressure due to their fragility.

Causes of Peeling Nails?

Peeling nails, medically known as onychoschizia, often stems from a combination of external factors and, less commonly, underlying health issues. Frequent wetting and drying of hands, exposure to harsh chemicals (like strong cleaning products or acetone-based nail polish removers), and improper nail care (such as peeling off polish or over-filing) are common culprits. These can strip the nail of its natural moisture and weaken its layers. Occasionally, peeling nails can indicate internal causes like nutritional deficiencies (especially iron, biotin, and B vitamins), dehydration, or certain medical conditions such as thyroid problems. If you experience persistent peeling despite good nail care, or if it’s accompanied by other symptoms, consulting a healthcare professional is advisable to rule out any underlying health concerns.

Environmental factors

Environmental factors, such as frequent handwashing or improper removal of nail enhancements, are typically the culprits behind peeling nails. Less often, vitamin deficiencies or fungal infections can be the cause. It’s important to note that peeling nails are rarely a sign of a severe health condition.

Moisture Imbalance

Maintaining the right moisture balance is crucial for strong, healthy nails. Excessively dry nails are more susceptible to splitting, peeling, and breakage. Conversely, too much moisture can soften and weaken the nail, also leading to peeling and breakage.

Physical Trauma

Individual nails can peel due to damage or injury. For instance, breaking a nail during yard work might cause the surrounding surface to peel. Similarly, habitually biting a fingernail can lead to frequent peeling because the nail becomes softer and weaker. Improper nail care can also cause widespread trauma. This includes cutting or removing cuticles, or filing nail edges roughly in a back-and-forth motion.

Acrylic nails

Acrylic nails, due to the intense filing and chemical adhesives involved, can thin and weaken nails. The removal process, whether filing or soaking in strong acetone, can further exacerbate the damage. While gel manicures are less damaging than acrylics, prolonged wear can dry out nails and hinder repair. Gel removal also necessitates a harsh acetone soak.

Aging

As we age, nails naturally change, often becoming duller, more brittle, and prone to breakage. They may also thin and change in texture, weakening enough to cause splitting and cracking. Nail growth slows with age, meaning damaged or peeling nails may take longer to repair. While health conditions can sometimes cause these changes in older adults, they are often a normal part of the aging process.

Nutrient Deficiency

Peeling nails can sometimes indicate a vitamin deficiency, most commonly iron, zinc, or selenium. Iron deficiency is the most prevalent of these. Approximately 10 million people in the U.S. have an iron deficiency, a mineral vital for oxygen transport in red blood cells. Half of these individuals develop iron deficiency anemia, a severe lack of circulating red blood cells. Iron deficiency anemia can cause nail changes like thinning, abnormal shape, brittleness, and increased breakage. Typically, both fingernails and toenails are affected, so if only your fingernails show dryness or weakness, an external cause is more likely.

Fungal Infection

Fungal infections of the fingernails are common, often caused by fungi like ringworm or tinea, or an overgrowth of yeast. A fungal nail infection can cause the nail to yellow and become brittle, leading to peeling or splitting. However, peeling alone is usually not the sole sign of a fungal infection; affected nails are typically also thick, discolored, and may separate or lift from the nail bed.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Most cases of peeling nails resolve with home treatment. However, if home remedies aren’t effective, consult a dermatologist for a personalized treatment plan. If you suspect your peeling nails are due to an iron deficiency or fungal infection, seek medical attention promptly for diagnosis and treatment. Consider these associated symptoms:

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency:

• Unexplained fatigue or weakness
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Hair loss

Symptoms of Fungal Nail Infection:

• Nail discoloration
• Buildup under the nail
• Thickening, thinning, or other texture changes of the nail
• Splitting or crumbling nail surface
• Onycholysis (separation of the nail from the skin)

Your provider will inquire about your symptoms and medical history, then examine your nails. They might order blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC), to identify an iron deficiency. For a fungal infection, a small nail sample may be taken for diagnosis. While peeling nails can be a symptom of thyroid dysfunction, it’s rarely the only one. If you experience brittle nails alongside hair growth changes, excessively dry skin, or skin rashes, consult a healthcare provider for an evaluation.

Treatment for Peeling Nails

In most cases, you can stop nail peeling and restore nail health at home by avoiding or limiting the factors that cause brittleness and making a few lifestyle adjustments. To improve peeling nails, consider these strategies:

• Adopt a gentle nail care routine, including correct trimming and keeping nails somewhat short.
• Apply occlusive (barrier-creating) lotions containing petrolatum or lanolin to seal in moisture.
• Take supplemental biotin, a vitamin known to strengthen nails.
• Apply moisturizers with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) to exfoliate dead skin cells and restore nail moisture.
• Use nail hardening or fortifying polish treatments that moisturize, speed nail growth, and add keratin for strength.
• Take a break from acrylic and gel manicures.

If iron deficiency anemia or fungal infection is the cause, you’ll need to work with a healthcare provider to treat the underlying condition before at-home remedies can effectively improve your nail health.