Menopausal Symptom of Brittle Nails

The symptom of brittle nails is one of the cosmetic changes, which takes place in a woman during her menopause. This change sometimes becomes very difficult to accept and deal with, as it might take away the sense of womanliness. So, it is really sad that menopause comes naturally with a bag of such embarrassing changes.

But, fortunately these symptoms can be managed and treated. So, you can come out even of this problem with positive thinking and correct understanding. However, for that to happen, you need to first discover the causes, symptoms, and the available treatment options. Above all, an understanding about the normal process of nail growth is also inevitable.

• Normal Nail Growth ProcessThe nails on fingers and toes develop from the source located beneath the skin, which is the thin white arc called the lunula. A protein called keratin is produced by this series of cells, which produces nails whose job is to guard the weak nail beds. The uniformity, strength, and color of these nails indicate how healthy a woman’s body is. So, if the nails are brittle, broken, or their color has changed; comprehend that this is a signal of imbalance or disease in the body. So, in menopause, this is a signal of the hormone imbalance.
• Symptoms Before entering menopause, if a woman has never experienced weak or broken nails, this means that she always had strong and healthy nails. Therefore, she might not be able to identify the symptoms of brittle nails. Listed below are the most common symptoms.
• Experiencing dryness
• Breaking and splitting of nails easily
• Sinking of the nails
• Curling of the nails surrounding the finger tip
• Changing of the color
• Spotting ridges on the nails
• CausesAlthough the symptoms of brittle nails can take place due to a myriad of reasons, the most common cause for menopausal women is the reducing levels of hormones, especially estrogen. This hormone influences the body water regulation and water retention. When the body witnesses higher levels of estrogen, the total water level in the body tends to be greater. On the other hand, if the estrogen level falls, the quantity of water gets reduced leading to dehydration. This is evident via the signs of dry and brittle nails, as one of the basic causes of brittle nails is dehydration or inadequate supply of moisture in the body.
  
  Besides hormonal imbalance, there are some more causes of brittle nails, which are certain medical conditions and dietary issues. The medical conditions that can lead to weak nails are as follows:
• Anemia
• Poor circulation
• Infection
• Liver disorders
• Thyroid issues
• Stress
• Anxiety

Speaking about the dietary issues, some nutrients like Vitamin C, calcium, folic acid, protein, iron, and fat always aid in producing strong nails and any lack in these surely results in brittle nails.

• TreatmentYou need to go for a three-tiered approach for combating brittle nails. As usual in case of other menopausal symptoms, here too, you start with the least invasive option - lifestyle changes. If the cause of brittle nails is stress or poor nutrition, take up a balanced diet that is full of proteins, fats, and vitamin C and practice stress reduction techniques like yoga or meditation. It is found that almonds possess fatty acids that look after the nail growth. So, it is recommended to eat at least 6 almonds daily for noticeable outcome.
  
  To treat brittle nails, it is better to increase the hormonal levels. In this regard, there are many natural and alternative remedies. So, the best and safest option is to combine lifestyle changes and natural remedies.
  
  Staining colors or split nails might indicate the presence of a more serious condition. In this case, you need to take the advice of a healthcare professional. Further, if you experience other symptoms that might be related to a disease of which brittle nails is a symptom, doctor’s attention becomes inevitable.
  
  Most healthcare experts suggest treating brittle nails by beginning from lifestyle changes, then moving to the alternative medicines, and finally heading to drugs or surgery if nothing is effective.