Are your hands reddish and your fingernails thin and brittle? The reason is lack of moisture. They’re commonly caused by repeated washing and drying of hands, overexposure to detergents, household cleaners, and nail polish removers. Compounding the problem is the imposed use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers everywhere.

COVID-19, which stands for “coronavirus disease 2019”, was introduced as the cause of the most acute respiratory infection crisis and outbreak. Public health guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization emphasized frequent and correct handwashing with standard hand sanitizers to prevent transmission and reduce the spread of the aforementioned pandemic disease. Based on these protocols and recommendations, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers has become very common in local supermarkets, shops, hotels, and around the world.

Handwashing with soap and water is the most recommended procedure, but due to lack of access in some situations, ethanol-containing hand sanitizers are used frequently as a substitute for handwashing.

In the recent crisis, the demand for hand-sanitizing solutions has dramatically skyrocketed; however, several cases of related risks are now being identified, such as:

• Thin and brittle nails – also known as onychoschizia, a condition that causes horizontal splits within the nail plate.
• Nail splitting – often seen together with onychorrhexis, a longitudinal splitting of the nail plate.

These two diseases together are called “brittle nail syndrome.”

• Nail splitting may also be caused by nail cosmetics (hardeners, polish, polish removers, solvents), nail procedures, and occupational exposure to various chemicals (acids, cement, solvents, thioglycolates, salt, sugar).
• Injury (trauma) may also play a role in the development of brittle nails.
• Brittle nails may occur due to medical problems, including gland (endocrine system) diseases, tuberculosis, Sjögren’s syndrome, and malnutrition.

People with other skin diseases, such as lichen planus and psoriasis, as well as people taking oral medications made from vitamin A, may also develop nail splitting.

Reddish and dry hands, in this case due to the high volume of alcohol consumption, are a number of problems emerging which, if not controlled properly, could create other concerns for the general health of society. One of the problems with alcoholic products is the production of sanitizers with nonstandard formulas.

For example, it has been clear that methanol is used instead of ethanol in some products. While methanol is not a type of toxin, it metabolizes into formaldehyde and formic acid when absorbed into the human body. These end products are toxic and may cause metabolic acidosis, brain injury, blindness, cardiovascular instability, and death.

Thin and Brittle Fingernails Relief — Naturally

Guidelines

• Reduce how often you wet and dry your nails.
• Wear plastic or rubber gloves over thin cotton gloves while doing all housework, including food preparation.
• Keep the nails trimmed short to reduce worsening of nail splitting.
• Soak the nails in water two or three times a day for 10 minutes at a time to increase the water content (hydration) of the nails.
• Apply moisturizers (emollients) such as Natural Mazcal Skin and natural jelly to improve nail hydration.
• Nail-hardening agents containing formaldehyde may increase nail strength but should be used cautiously, as they can cause brittleness and nail damage.
• Go natural—avoid alcohol-based sanitizers.
• Limit manicures.
• Get a paraffin wax bath.
• Wear gloves.

Natural Remedies

There are natural remedies you can do at home using ingredients you already have in your kitchen cupboard. Harnessing the power of the nutrients found in natural foods and oils also means you can cut out the unnecessary chemicals and preservatives often added to commercial nail remedies and treatments.

• Lemon juice helps brighten your nails and remove stains, and vitamin C promotes stronger growth.
• Using a cotton pad, swipe lemon juice over each nail and dry. You could also use a slice of lemon directly on the nail. Do this twice a week, followed by a rich moisturizer.
• Add a few drops of lemon juice to 2 tablespoons of olive oil and warm in a cup to create a nail mask that can be massaged into your nails and left for 15–20 minutes, or even overnight, for maximum benefit.
• Coconut oil is very beneficial and can help strengthen your nails and soften your cuticles.
• Apple cider vinegar has anti-fungal properties, which is excellent if you’re prone to nail infections. Try soaking your nails in diluted apple cider vinegar to prevent infections.
• Garlic oil is rich in selenium, which promotes nail growth. You can cut a clove and rub your fingernails with a sliced piece of garlic, or if that is too pungent, make your own garlic oil to use as a nail mask.
• Honey helps fight bacterial and fungal growth, keeping your nails and cuticles nourished and supple. Combine honey’s hydrating properties with those of lemon juice to create a honey and lemon nail mask by mixing two teaspoons of honey with a few drops of lemon juice, then massaging it into your nails for 15–20 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly.

Regular use will help you achieve brighter nails, soft cuticles, and stronger nails over time.

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