Cracked nails and cracked toenails that are dry, flaking, crumbling or discolored can be quite embarrassing, frustrating, and even painful at times. But even if you are prone to the annoying condition that may be caused by several different culprits there are still some things you can do to reverse and minimize the noticeable damage to your dry cracked nails.
Common Causes of Dry Cracked Toenails
Dry cracked nails that are brittle, split, and peeling or breaking are often caused by a common fungus. Yellow cracked toenails are a classic sign that a fungal infection has advanced beyond the first of the three stages of stubborn nail fungus and the condition will now be a bit more difficult to cure.
A cracked toenail can often break off completely causing pain and discomfort and treatment should be administered as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the toe or its broken nail.
Dry, brittle, crumbling, or cracked nails are also ironically caused by too much exposure to water which breaks down the multiple layers of keratin that hold the nail together. Using abrasive or harsh chemicals as well as wearing nail polish continually can also cause nails to crack, peel, or break.
Vitamin deficiency is also a common cause for cracked toenails. Vitamin A deficiency can make nail dry and fragile. Vitamin B deficiency can cause your nails to be dry, dark and curved. Vitamin C deficiency slows down nail growth.
Cracked Toenail Treatment Options
Cracked toenail treatments should be based upon the main cause for the cracking, crumbling, or brittleness.
If the main cause is vitamins deficiency it’s recommended to check your vitamins level and to eat food rich in vitamins A, B and C. For faster results it is advised to take a dietary vitamin supplement for at least three months. You might decide later on to make it a daily routine to keep an optimal vitamin level.
Vimerson Women’s Multivitamins and Vimerson Men’s Multivitamins are perfect to support better nail and skin care. They may also help increase energy level, enhance nervous and immune system, improve vision, improve antioxidant capabilities and more.
A smart daily routine to provide your body with all the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and digestive enzymes needed for a strong immune system is superfood drinks. It will not only help your cracked toenails get healthier quickly but also vitalize your body to have more energy in a natural and convenient way.
The best superfood drink on the market is Mega-Nutrition Organic Superfood. You don’t need to waste hours buying and cooking these superfoods. This superfood drink is easy and fast to prepare any time you want. Most importantly it is a fantastic investment in your overall health.
If the cause of cracked nails is too much exposure to water or to harsh chemicals you should consider a nail strengthening treatment. Some of the most popular nail strengthening treatments include OPI Nail Envy Strengthener, Nailtiques Formula 2 Plus, and Hard as Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream.
In many cases combining daily multivitamins with a nail strengthening treatment is all you need to get healthy nails within a couple of months.
But if the cause is a fungal infection under the nail you’ll need an effective toenail fungus treatment, and the sooner the better.
Most over-the-counter products for treating cracked toenails caused by fungus offer limited success rates and can become rather costly simply due to the length of time it takes before any results are seen. Some exceptions do exist but in most cases, these remedies aren’t powerful enough to treat the actual cause of the problem and instead, tend to mask symptoms leading one to believe the fungal infection has been cured.
An exception to the rule is EmoniNail which offers a very effective OTC treatment to get rid of toenail fungus as fast as possible. Read our review to learn more.
Prescription medications for nail fungal infections taken internally are designed to treat the cause of the fungus but they too offer questionable success rates along with some serious physical side effects including liver or kidney damage. Because of this, home remedies for treating dry, yellowed, or cracked nails are becoming more and more popular.
Home remedies for nail fungal infections have no scientific basis behind them although many people swear by using simple ingredients with antiseptic and antifungal properties found around the house such as mouthwash, Vicks VapoRub, vinegar, beer, the essential oil tea tree oil, and other nail fungus natural cure options.
Get into the habit of applying moisturizer to the hands and feet at least once per day, although twice a day, once after showering and again before bedtime, tends to bring about the best results. Naturally not all moisturizers are created equally so you will have to read labels to find those with the most effective ingredients.
Look for moisturizers containing collagen and keratin, which are proteins that will help strengthen the nails, and humectants, which help to trap moisture within the nail preventing it from drying out and cracking. Humectants include alpha hydroxy acid, glycerin, lactic acid, and propylene glycol. Lanolin or mineral oils are also ideal for helping to prevent dryness in the finger or toenails.
Although living with cracked nails and toenails can be annoying and even painful at times, learning more about possible nail fungus treatment options and starting treatment right away are the best ways to begin reversing the damage that has been done to your nails.
Learn more about:
>> Mega-Nutrition Organic Superfood
>> Vimerson Women’s Multivitamins and Vimerson Men’s Multivitamins
>> Nail Strengthening Treatments
>> Over-the-counter toenail fungus treatments
Popular OTC toenail fungus reviews:
> Funginix