Dry hands and brittle nails: what to know

Frequent handwashing, sanitiser, detergents, solvents, cold air, and occupational wet work can strip the skin barrier. The skin may feel tight, rough, itchy, or cracked. Nails can become thin, split at the tips, peel in layers, or break when exposed to repeated moisture and drying.

A nail that changes colour, thickens, becomes crumbly, or separates from the nail bed may have a different cause. Nail fungus is one possibility, but trauma, inflammation, and other conditions can look similar, so appearance alone cannot confirm it.

Apply a thick, fragrance-free moisturiser after washing and before bed, working it around the nails and cuticles. Use gloves with a soft lining for cleaning or prolonged wet work, and dry carefully between the fingers. Keep nails short, file rough edges in one direction, and avoid biting, picking, and cutting cuticles.

Give the nails time to grow out, and reduce acetone, harsh removers, artificial nail products, and repeated buffing while they are fragile. If one nail is changing more than the others, photograph it periodically so a clinician can assess progression.

Book an appointment if nail brittleness continues after reducing irritants, affects several nails, or comes with pain, swelling, discharge, marked colour change, or separation from the nail bed. Seek earlier assessment for a dark streak that is new or changing, or for rapidly worsening inflammation around a nail.

Ask whether the nail pattern suggests irritation, trauma, nail fungus, or another condition; whether a nail sample is needed; and which hand-protection routine is suitable for your work and washing habits.