What to use on dry toenails?
If the toenails look dry, cracked and brittle from long-term polish use, you can apply a vitamin E oil or lotion, rubbing it gently into the nail and cuticle to moisturize them. Allow it to absorb and dry fully before wearing shoes.
To moisturize your toenails, Elle suggests using a cuticle cream, petroleum jelly, or vitamin E oil. Put it over the entire nail, including the cuticle, and gently rub it in.
Take a few drops of tea tree oil and add one and a half teaspoon of vitamin E oil, mix well and apply this solution on nails and massage gently for a few minutes. Allow it to stay for 20 minutes and rinse well with water, dry well and apply a moisturising cream.
Moisturizing the nails at least once a day helps combat brittleness. Vaseline works, and so does any cream that that seals in moisture like Eucerin or Aquaphor, dermatologists say. Some manicurists recommend Trind Nail Balsam, which contains biotin, a B-complex vitamin.
Dry and brittle nails are the result of too little moisture. They're most commonly caused by the repeated washing and drying of fingernails. On the other hand, soft and brittle nails are caused by too much moisture, often a result of overexposure to detergents, household cleaners, and nail polish remover.
Brittle nails occur for a variety of reasons. They may be a normal sign of aging or the result of polishing your nails too frequently. When the weather is cold, brittle nails may result from dryness. Weak nails also can be a sign of a health issue.
"It helps your cuticles, keeps your hands and nails hydrated, and works better than callus removal if you put it on your feet and wear socks overnight," says Nguyen. "The best part is that it's affordable and probably already in your medicine cabinet!" she adds.
Olive oil for toenails is also a great approach to keep your toenails in good shape. It helps to repair brittle nails. They also aid in the restoration of moisture and the proper packing of it into the nails. Try it out right now for the greatest results in a month.
- Applying nail hardener. For people with soft nails, applying a clear coat of nail polish or another nail product may help increase nail strength over time.
- Moisturizing. People with dry nails may wish to consider using a moisturizer on their hands and nails. ...
- Wearing gloves.
Soak Your Feet In Water
Soaking your feet in warm water helps to further soften the nail that is causing the pain to your toe. When the nail is softer, the pain lessens and the chances of removing the affected portions of the nail increase dramatically.
Can I put coconut oil on my toenails?
Rub Coconut Oil on Your Feet
Use gloves to rub coconut oil to the infected toenail. You can even rub coconut oil over your entire foot to leave your skin soft and nourished. A thin layer applied 2 to 3 times a day works great as a toenail fungus treatment.
- A deficiency in B-complex vitamins, especially biotin, will produce ridges along the nail bed. - A diet lacking in calcium contributes to dry, brittle nails. - A lack of folic acid and vitamin C can lead to hangnails. - Insufficient dietary essential oils, like omega-3, cause cracking.

Give them a good cleaning in warm water, but avoid soaking them because that may dry them out. Moisturize them every day with lotion, cream, or petroleum jelly. Don't put moisturizer between your toes. You want to keep the skin there dry to prevent infection.
Nail psoriasis sometimes causes too much keratin to grow under the nail. This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.
Even before that, a study of some of the essential oils in Vicks VapoRub showed that they are active against five different species of fungus that infect nail tissue (Phytotherapy Research, April, 2003). Camphor, menthol, thymol and oil of eucalyptus are effective against these organisms.
Ioli, who is chief of the podiatry service at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, suggested that daily applications of Vicks VapoRub might be at least as effective as most of the topical treatments for toenail fungus that are available by prescription or over the counter.
Conclusions: Vicks VapoRub seems to have a positive clinical effect in the treatment onychomycosis. Toenail onychomycosis is a common diagnosis for primary care physicians.
- almond oil.
- apricot kernel oil.
- argan oil.
- blackseed oil.
- coconut oil.
- grapeseed oil.
- jojoba oil.
- olive oil.
- Walking barefoot at home to let your feet breathe.
- Avoid walking barefoot in public places.
- Disinfect your nail trimming tool kit regularly.
- Avoid constant exposure to wet areas.
- Wear flip-flops in locker or sauna rooms.
- Use a foot powder to keep them dry and clean.
The growth rate of nails decreases when people get older. This results in thickening because nail cells pile up. The process of nail cells piling up is referred to as onychocytes. Another reason why fingernails don't thicken as much is their growth rate is smaller than the growth rate of toenails.
What is the best foot soak to soften toenails?
Add a few tablespoons of bath salts or Epsom salts to a basin of warm water and soak your feet for 5-15 minutes. This will cleanse and soften skin and nails, making toenail trimming and callus removal much easier.
According to our experts, incorporating coconut oil into your nail routine will hydrate and strengthen your nails, amp up nail growth, and—wait for it—even help your mani last longer.
Castor oil is a thicker consistency than most oils, making it the perfect deep conditioning treatment. It can help strengthen and protect nails, moisturises cuticles and add some more oomph back to your nails. It also has antifungal properties to fight those nasty infections.
Baking soda has strong antifungal effects. Soaking your thick yellow toenails in baking soda and water can combat fungal infections. Applying 100% tea tree oil to affected toenails twice daily can help ease symptoms. Olive leaf extract has both antibacterial and antifungal effects.
- Biotin. Share on Pinterest. ...
- Other B Vitamins. Other B vitamins are also important for nail health. ...
- Iron. ...
- Magnesium. ...
- Protein. ...
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids. ...
- Vitamin C. ...
- Zinc.
The bonds between keratin filaments within nails weaken as we age, he said. Women have weaker bonds than men to begin with. The changes make nails dryer and more brittle.
- Keep your footwear and feet dry. At some point, most of us come across the growth of black mold in our homes. ...
- Keep your toenails neat and tidy. ...
- Think twice in public wet areas.
- Understand Nail Health. ...
- Let your feet breath. ...
- Expose feet and nails to the sun. ...
- Remove nail polish and other barriers to the nail bed. ...
- Avoid cotton socks. ...
- Wear shoes that are naturally shaped. ...
- Decrease nail bulk. ...
- Apply topical antifungal creams.
Add Strength to Your Nails
"Coconut oil is great for treating brittle and cracked nails as well as damaged cuticles because of its moisturizing properties," says Markowitz. "It's an ideal skin barrier that contains multiple fatty acids, which act as transepidermal water loss barriers."