Brittle nail syndrome

　　Congenital and familial cases are rare, mainly acquired. Systemic diseases such as iron deficiency anemia, peripheral circulation disorders, hypothyroidism, vitamin A or B deficiency, and local factors such as excessive contact with hot water and alkaline soap can all cause the disease.

　　Reactive oxygen species are also a cause of brittle nail syndrome. The onset is directly related to diet: for example, alcoholism, eating meat, liking fried and spicy, greasy foods. It should be known that the harmful substances metabolized from these foods are several tens of times more than those from light foods, and if the climate is dry, or the sweat pores are closed for a long time, unable to vent, so reactive oxygen is retained in the body, causing the disease.

　　5% to 15% of patients with brittle nail syndrome may develop malignancy; 5% to 10% of patients may experience oral damage, manifested as papillomas or巨舌症-like symptoms in the upper palate, tongue, buccal mucosa, and labial mucosa, often unilateral distribution. The severity of skin lesions is not proportional to visceral damage. 60% of patients may have intellectual development disorders; 10% of patients have scoliosis; 30% to 40% of patients have neurological manifestations, the most common being a single intracranial optic nerve glioma, also seen are astrocytomas and Schwann cell tumors, intracranial tumors can cause seizures; gastrointestinal damage can cause bleeding or obstruction; when the lesion involves the lower urinary tract, urinary tract manifestations may occur; complications such as endocrine abnormalities such as acromegaly, hyperparathyroidism, gynecomastia, and adrenal phaeochromocytoma may also occur. Early onset, rapid growth of skin lesions, extensive involvement of the urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, or central nervous system suggest poor prognosis. Pregnancy may sometimes cause the original skin lesions to develop rapidly and new lesions to occur.

　　The nail plate is thin, with longitudinal cracks and layered separation. Women are more prone to brittle nails than men due to thin nail plates and easy influence from external stimuli. The characteristic of thin nail plates with longitudinal cracks and layered separation in clinical manifestations can be diagnosed.

　　Actively treat systemic diseases and local causes, avoid long-term soaking, and shorten the nails. Oral vitamin A. Regularly eating foods rich in high molecular weight collagen, such as pork skin, pork feet, and pork bones, which are high in protein and rich in gelatin, vitamin A, and B vitamins, is not only beneficial for treating brittle nails but also has the effect of nourishing the essence and blood, moisturizing the skin, and giving luster to the hair. Brittle nails may be seen in hypothyroidism, osteoporotic softening, vitamin A, B deficiency. Calcium, iron, vitamin A, B, iodine supplementation may be given. In winter, brittle nails may worsen due to low humidity, causing excessive water loss on the nail surface. Ointment can be applied for protection. Nutritional supplements or medications require the consent of the attending physician.

　　There are many causes of this disease, such as systemic diseases such as iron deficiency anemia, peripheral circulation disorders, hypothyroidism, vitamin A or B deficiency, and local factors such as excessive contact with hot water and alkaline soap. All these can cause the disease. Therefore, blood routine, thyroid function, hemorheology, coagulation function, and other tests should be done. In addition, fungal tests should be done to rule out onychomycosis.

　　Regularly eating foods rich in high molecular weight collagen, such as pork skin, pork feet, and pork bones, which are high in protein and rich in gelatin, vitamin A, and B vitamins, is not only beneficial for treating brittle nails but also has the effect of nourishing the essence and blood, moisturizing the skin, and giving luster to the hair.

　　Actively treat systemic diseases and local causes, avoid long-term soaking, and shorten the nails. Oral vitamin A.

　　Regularly eating foods rich in high molecular weight collagen, such as pork skin, pork feet, and pork bones, which are high in protein and rich in gelatin, vitamin A, and B vitamins, is not only beneficial for treating brittle nails but also has the effect of nourishing the essence and blood, moisturizing the skin, and giving luster to the hair.

　　Brittle nails may be seen in hypothyroidism, osteoporotic softening, vitamin A, B deficiency. Calcium, iron, vitamin A, B, iodine supplementation may be given. In winter, brittle nails may worsen due to low humidity, causing excessive water loss on the nail surface. Ointment can be applied for protection. Nutritional supplements or medications require the consent of the attending physician.