What makes fingernails flake

Nails have multiple tough layers that can peel. This can cause them to appear thin or become weakened, causing them to split. The medical term for peeling or splitting fingernails is onychoschizia. Peeling nails can be the result of outside or external trauma to the nail. More rarely, they can indicate a systemic condition, or a sign that a pathologic process is occurring inside your body.

It takes six months for a fingernail to grow to its full length. Trauma or damage to the nail itself can cause peeling. Soaking your hands in hot water while doing the dishes or engaging in any other prolonged water exposure can dry out the nails. This can also cause peeling. Internal causes can vary, but sometimes dry, peeling nails can indicate a vitamin deficiency, typically an iron deficiency.

Peeling nails rarely have internal causes or are a medical emergency. However, if your nails are causing severe pain or bleeding in addition to peeling, you may want to seek urgent medical care.

If you suspect your peeling nails are the result of an iron deficiency, you may want to consider increasing your daily iron intake.

Examples of foods that are high in iron include:. You can also take a daily iron supplement. If you take a multivitamin , read the label carefully. Not all manufacturers include iron as a part of the standard multivitamin.

To prevent this adverse effect, avoid taking excessive iron supplements. In addition to incorporating iron in your diet, the Mayo Clinic recommends asking your doctor about the possibility of taking biotin to help strengthen nails.

You should also take steps to keep your nails moisturized. This includes minimizing prolonged exposure to water. If you regularly perform household chores that involve water, wear protective, cotton-lined rubber gloves.

If you partake in water activities, such as swimming, apply lotion or cream to your hands and nails. You can stash them in your bag. Abramcyk also advises staying away from basecoats that claim to be nourishing but contain formaldehyde as an ingredient. Abramcyk's final—and the simplest—tip for keeping your nails healthy and smooth? Drink water, and much of it.

Celebrity Fashion Video. We love a peel as part of a facial. But peeling nails? Not so much. Extra Credit: Give your nails time to breathe between manicures, says Abramcyk. Nail buffers can help smooth out rough edges so that they don't catch so easily. Use gentle, steady movements to remove ridges and create a soft surface on the nail bed.

We love this four-way buffer from Tropical Shine because it has four levels of grit, ranging from coarse to extra fine, and has a cuticle protection edge. Buffing should be done in one direction. Moving the buffer back and forth in the opposite direction can weaken your nail beds and make peeling more likely. While nail biting doesn't directly lead to peeling nails, it's a habit that can cause other nail issues to arise that could lead to peeling nails, like infection.

Gel polish may last longer than traditional polish, but Green advises that the process could be detrimental to your nails and lead to peeling. You also put yourself at risk for developing a skin or nail infection due to the filing down of the nailbed. Thank you [email] for signing up. Please enter a valid email address.

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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.