Change nails, what causes it and how to solve it?

Did you know that nails can change nails too? Yes, not only can the skin 'shed' and peel, but your nails which are basically harder than skin can experience the same thing. Even though it sounds scary, changing nails can be experienced by anyone and caused by various things. What causes peeling nails? Is this dangerous? And how to solve it?

What are the causes of nail change?

Nails are a part of your body that is made of keratin, which is a type of protein that is also found in your hair. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, it takes about six months for nails to grow to fill the surface of the finger.

If the peeling nails occur on the fingers or toes only, it can be concluded that the condition is due to an external or external cause. Meanwhile, if the fingers and toes have both experienced nail changes, this is due to causes from within the body.

In fact, nails consist of several hard layers which may peel off and become brittle and too soft due to several things, namely:

1. Trauma

Trauma or injury to the nails can cause the nail bed to peel off. Various activities that may cause an injury which then results in a nail change, are:

Anything that can press too hard on your nails
Mistakes in wearing artificial nails
The habit of soaking the fingers in warm water
The habit of biting your nails

2. Chemicals

Nails that are frequently exposed to chemicals, such as those in household cleaners, or bathroom cleaners are at greater risk of erosion. Not only that, if you clean the nail polish from your nails using a liquid containing acetone, the liquid can cause nail damage.

3. Hypothyroidism

One of the complications of hypothyroidism is that the nails become peeling or replace the nails. Hypothyroidism itself is a disease caused by the lack of thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland and unable to meet the body's needs. Other symptoms experienced by people with hypothyroidism are joint pain, sudden weight gain, fatigue, and experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding - these only happen to women.

4. Iron deficiency

Lack of iron in the body can cause brittle nails. Meanwhile, brittle nails are very susceptible to changing nails. Lack of iron actually causes a person to experience anemia. Symptoms of anemia which then affect the strength of the nail layer

5. Currently undergoing certain medications

Nail changes can also be caused by taking certain drugs or undergoing a medication. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment are at risk of experiencing a nail change. Chemotherapy treatment or other drugs that are consumed, make a person experience vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This is what causes a person to experience a nail change during treatment.

What should I do if I have a nail change?

If nail changing is caused by diet or iron deficiency, then you should increase your intake of foods that are high in iron such as beef, chicken, chicken liver, certain types of nuts, and dark green leafy vegetables. To overcome iron deficiency, you can also take supplements so that your iron needs are met immediately.

Not only does your diet need to be considered, but you have to make sure that the peeling nails are still moist. You can keep the skin moisturized by giving it jojoba oil which contains vitamin E. In addition, avoid prolonged contact with water. If you regularly do household chores that use water, it's best to wear gloves to protect chipped nails.