How Nail Polish Causes Dry, Brittle Toenails & Repair Tips

How Nail Polish Can Cause Brittle, Dry Toenails

Many people love decorating their nails with colorful polishes. However, repeatedly painting your nails, especially on the toes, can lead to dryness, brittleness, peeling and cracking over time. Nail polish seals out natural moisture and oils. Frequent use prevents the nail bed from accessing air as well.

These lasting effects of nail lacquer combined with additional factors like seasonal changes, aging, and improper nail care cause toenails to become damaged. Understanding exactly how nail polish impacts healthy nails along with proper care tips can help restore strength and luster.

The Moisture-Sealing Effects of Nail Polish

On a base level, nail polish forms an impermeable seal over nails that blocks natural moisture, both in the air and within the nail plate layers, from reaching the nail bed. This leads to dryness, especially with repeated applications.

Since toenails grow more slowly, lasting polish stays on longer. This protracts the exposure to moisture-sucking effects. Brittleness and increased susceptibility to cracking eventually develop.

Ingredient Chemicals Can Cause Irritation and Peeling

Certain chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde resin are common in nail polishes. With repeated or prolonged contact, these can irritate nail beds.

Significant irritation leads to peeling and flaking, which further perpetuates moisture loss and dry, damaged toenail layers beneath. Discoloration and thickness can also occur in response.

Trapping Additional Moisture Breeds Fungus and Infection

While nail polish does seal out external moisture sources, it can also trap extra sweat and water beneath the polish layers. This breeds an ideal environment for toenail fungus and bacterial infections to develop.

Infections themselves as well as harsh oral medications used to treat them can end up thinning and distorting toenails. Weakened nails are far more prone to crispy texture and cracks.

Other Culprits That Worsen Dry Toenails from Nail Polish

While frequent lacquer use itself commonly contributes to dry, brittle toenails, other influences can make the problem worse. Being aware of these additional causes allows for better management.

Seasonal Changes

Just as weather shifts impact skin moisture levels, nails also lose hydration when seasons change. The cold, dry air of winter followed by excessive sweat and water exposure in summer is problematic.

These environmental changes exacerbate the drying effects from polish. Being diligent about proper toenail hydration and protection during transitional weather helps.

Normal Aging

With age, nails naturally lose moisture, flexibility, and strength. The growth process slows as well. This means polish stays on aging toenails even longer, allowing more time for drying damage.

Older women especially tend to regularly paint their nail. Taking occasional polish breaks becomes even more essential to prevent lasting brittleness over time.

Gel Manicures

Gel polish formulas last weeks without chipping or smudging, making them popular for pedicures. However, the UV setting process hardens them into an impenetrable plastic shield.

While convenient, gel manicures severely starve nails of hydration for their full duration. The powerful removal process also thins and strips away layers, increasing brittleness long-term.

Improper general care

Poor overall toenail maintenance habits compound problems as well. Not properly trimming, filing, moisturizing, or allowing nails to breathe nude all heighten the risk for crispy, cracked polish damage.

Restoring Health to Dry, Brittle Toenails

Repairing and rehydrating damaged toenails from repeated polish requires diligent TLC along with long-term routines focused on nourishment and protection. Certain key remedies make the biggest difference.

Take Regular Polish Breaks

Allow nails one week polish-free for every three weeks of color. This gives time for moisture to re-penetrate while also assessing true nail health without lacquer concealment.

Scheduling these routine breaks prevents gradual long-term drying. Keep nails nude even longer during dry winter months or gel removal recovery when extra hydration is needed.

Invest in a Nail Oil

Lightweight nail oils infused with moisturizing botanicals penetrate better than thick creams. Apply oil to bare nails and cuticles at least twice daily, focusing on visibly dry areas.

Look for nourishing ingredients like vitamin E, coconut, argan, jojoba or olive oils. Massage in thoroughly before re-polishing for boosted protection.

Exfoliate Dead Layers

Gently buffing away dead, lifted layers of dried nail plates using a fine file or buffer smooths texture. This removes snags and creates a cleaner surface for soaking in reconditioning treatments.

Avoid over-filing too deeply or aggressively. Only remove what lifts and flakes away easily to prevent excess thinning that worsens brittleness.

Apply a Deep Treatment

Regular use of a concentrated nail repair product delivers intensive hydration where it’s needed most. Look for moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

These soak into cracks and strengthened nail bonds from within. Applying before bed allows time for deeper penetration overnight.

Prevention Tips for Battling Dry Toenails from Nail Polish

While restoring damaged, brittle nails requires commitment and diligence, prevention is more straightforward. Building healthier nail habits minimizes the drying effects of regular lacquer use.

Always Use a Base Coat

Base coats act as a barrier between polish and the natural nail. This helps regulate moisture loss and prevents ingredient chemicals from causing damage to the nail bed.

Allow base coats to fully dry before painting color. Choose options with nourishing ingredients like vitamins, keratin or calcium for added care.

Alternate Darks and Brights

Staining darker polishes seep into the nail plate more permanently when worn regularly. The same goes for bright neon shades, which require an adhesive base.

Switch off these drying formulas with lighter creams and pastels. The warmer undertones help retain moisture and strength better long-term.

Avoid Excessive Polish Removal

Preventative nail health also means limiting over-processing during manicures. Soak gels and lacquers instead of scraping to minimize thinning of nail layers.

File away lifting edges rather than ripping polish off entirely. Let remover solvents do the work for you to avoid excess prying and peeling.

Consulting a Dermatologist for Severely Dry, Damaged Toenails

At-home care and polish habits may not always adequately treat extremely dried, brittle toenails. In severe cases, seeking professional medical advice proves necessary.

A dermatologist can assess the severity of damage and rule out complicating disorders. Professional procedures may remedy what over-the-counter methods cannot.

In-office acid exfoliations speed up shedding of dead layers quickly reveal refreshed skin beneath. Laser treatments and prescription-strength creams target thickening and discoloration.

For those with chronic conditions like psoriasis or eczema, nail specialists can help manage systemic connections to brittle texture. Ongoing medical oversight better controls flares affecting nail health.

With professional guidance combined with diligent at-home therapy, severely damaged toenails regain their strength, thickness and clarity.

Achieving Smooth, Hydrated Toenails Despite Regular Nail Polish

Toenail lacquer devotees need not sacrifice the joy of polished pigments to maintain healthy nails. With smart strategies, restored moisture and diligent care combat the drying effects.

Learning proper removal techniques, taking routine polish breaks and massaging in nourishing oils keeps nails smooth despite heavy color rotation.

Implement preventative care habits as well by alternate polish types and always using base coats. Address problems early before allowing brittle, dry texture to develop.

With a vigilant balance of protection and hydration, nails stay strong and vibrant, ready to shine in gorgeous glossy hues.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.