Onychorrexis

Onychorrhexis: causes, symptoms and treatment

Onychorrhexis is a medical term that refers to the brittleness and tendency of nails to split. This condition can cause nails to become brittle, break easily, and have an unnatural shape.

Causes of onychorrhexis

Onychorrhexis can be caused by various factors, including:

  1. Lack of nutrients such as iron, zinc and biotin;
  2. Chronic diseases such as arthritis and psoriasis;
  3. Fungal nail infections;
  4. Damage to the nails, for example, from blows or frequent use of nail clippers;
  5. Work in conditions of high humidity;
  6. Frequent use of nail polish and acetone.

Symptoms of onychorrhexis

Symptoms of onychorrhexis may include:

  1. Brittle nails;
  2. Splitting of nails;
  3. Unnatural shape of nails;
  4. Dull or yellowish nail color;
  5. Thickening or weakening of the nail plate.

Treatment of onychorrhexis

Treatment for onychorrhexis depends on the cause of the condition. If nutritional deficiencies are the cause, you may need to take additional vitamins and minerals. If the cause is a fungal infection, antifungal medications may be required.

To strengthen nails and prevent onychorrhexis, the following recommendations should be followed:

  1. Eat foods rich in biotin, zinc and iron;
  2. Avoid frequent use of nail clippers;
  3. Avoid working in conditions of high humidity;
  4. Avoid frequent use of nail polish and acetone;
  5. Regularly strengthen the nail plate with masks and creams.

In conclusion, onychorrhexis is a condition that can lead to brittle and split nails. Although the causes of this condition can vary, eating a healthy diet and following nail care guidelines can help prevent onychorrhexis and strengthen your nails. If you suspect onychorrhexis, contact your doctor for more information and appropriate treatment.



Onychorexia is a serious disease that manifests itself in damage to the nail plate. The main symptoms are brittle nails, their curling, decreased thickness and the appearance of white spots on the surface of the nail. Onychorexia can occur for various reasons, such as heredity, autoimmune diseases, infections, injuries, hormonal disorders and others.

The main factor in the development of onychorexia is a malnutrition of the nail and the occurrence of degeneration of its tissues. This occurs due to insufficient growth of the nail, a decrease in its acidity level and disruption of the metabolic processes that occur in the nail. As a result, the nail does not receive enough nutrients and vitamins, which leads to its fragility.

Onychorexia can occur not only in adults, but also in children. In children, the cause of onachorexia may be a deficiency of vitamins and minerals, low immunity, or other diseases. Also in childhood, onychorexia often occurs in combination with other diseases, such as alopecia or erythroderma.

If you suspect onychorecosis, you should consult a dermatologist. The doctor will conduct a diagnosis and identify the cause of the disease. Treatment will depend on the cause of onychorection. In some cases, treatment is carried out only symptomatically, for example, cutting the nail and applying a special product to relieve brittleness and strengthen the nail plate; in other cases, the use of various drugs and surgical intervention may be required. The success of treatment depends on timely consultation with a doctor, since