Treating Weak or Brittle Nails

Overview

Home treatment may help repair weak, brittle, or splitting nails.

• Wear disposable plastic gloves or rubber gloves with cotton liners.

  This will protect your hands from water or chemicals.

• Apply moisturizing lotion directly to your nail.
• Apply a moisturizer at bedtime.

  Cover with a white cotton glove or sock.

• Apply nail polish to slow the evaporation of water from your nail.

  Do not remove and reapply it more than once a week. Nail polish remover may increase splitting and breaking if used too often.

• Do not use nail lacquers, polishes, or adhesives if you think your nail problem could be caused by one of these substances.