Will Dry Nail Breakage Hurt My Foot?

Most of us aren’t blessed with perfectly straight, lustrous nails — especially those of us who live in Texas — but breaking nail is just something we become resigned to at some point in our lives.

But what about losing a few on occasion? While you may consider yourself a bit of a nail monster, there are some things you can do to prevent and repair dry nail breakage. We asked Dr. Lawrence Bryan, the president of the Texas A&M College of Dentistry, how to keep your nails healthy and short-lived, and here’s what he had to say.

“First off, you can prevent dry nail breakage in the first place,” said Dr. Bryan. “In general, avoid slippage, by cleaning the nail bed daily, using a water cleanser and salt spray before using, and avoiding warm or hot areas for increased drying time.”

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Brittany Grill

How often can you use a water cleanser? “Cream cleansers are generally more effective than soap since they are water based,” said Dr. Bryan. “You can dilute your own water with water, but the energy your mouth is using to dislodge (excite) the soap defeats the purpose.”

I recently broke my nail on my pinky and I’m pretty convinced I used nail polish all on it. What’s an effective way to keep your nails manicured but not fry your finger? “Personally, I believe nail polish contains toxic ingredients that are too dangerous for use around your fingernails and toes,” said Dr. Bryan. “If you must purchase nail polish, I highly recommend choosing a polish that contains no oxalic or alumates, which can cause potential eye damage and damaged tissue.”

Nails also need a vitamin boost. “I highly recommend vitamin C,” said Dr. Bryan. “From household cleaners to lemon juice, even pre-cut cucumbers can help to treat broken or dull nail.”

Those must-have moisturizers for our healthy nails and toes have nothing to do with protection, too. Dr. Bryan clarified that “skin is more important for good nails than moisturizers. Wet nail bed pulls from the skin and the sensitive surface of nails are more susceptible to breakage.”

Advice for DIY remedies to keep your nails healthy and happy on-the-go? “Regularly using a nail dryer (for the cleaning/sterilizing purpose) can help to prevent breakage in certain environments, but be sure to check the ingredients and avoid a product that contains sodium bisulfite (a whitening agent) and nitrates.”