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- $Unique_ID{BRK01609}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{The Causes of Brittle Nails}
- $Subject{nails brittle cause Skin Subcutaneous Tissue finger onychoschizia
- electron scanning microscope polishes fingernail fingernails nail polish}
- $Volume{L-20}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- The Causes of Brittle Nails
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-
- QUESTION: I am constantly plagued by finger nails that split and break. It
- hasn't always been this way, as I used to have beautiful nails and hands when
- I was a younger girl. It seems they really became worse after I married and
- moved from a warm climate in California to this state, where winters are harsh
- (Montana). Do you think that this may be the cause of my problem, and if so
- would you advise me to go back to California?
-
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-
- ANSWER: It is always nice to be in California, but I don't think that
- returning there will solve your problems. There have been many explanations
- for the cause of brittle nails (onychoschizia), but the most recent was
- developed from research using the electron scanning microscope to study the
- problem. For some time physicians were likely to blame the frequent use of
- nail polishes in women, since women are affected about twice as often as men.
- However, dermatologists at the University of Arkansas and the Alabama State
- University at Jacksonville are pointing their fingers at a new culprit. After
- experimenting with nail clippings taken from normal individuals, they found
- that the greatest amount of nail splitting occurred in samples that had been
- alternately wetted and dried over a 14 day period. Mere soaking did not
- produce the same amount of damage. Maybe dishes and clothing washing chores
- occurred at about the same time of your marriage and move?
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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