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Why Do Nails Peel?

Here's Why Your Nails Are Peeling and How to Stop It For Good

Why Do Nails Peel?

Dealing with weak, brittle, peeling nails is a superfrustrating issue. Not only does nail polish chip faster, but it's also super painful when you reach for something and your nails actually bend (ouch). We reached out to dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman, assistant professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, to find out the cause of this uncomfortable problem and how to solve it once and for all.

"The medical term for peeling nails is onychoschizia," Dr. Jaliman explained. "Nails are made up of several layers, and the nail plate is made of keratin, which is a protein. When nails become thin and brittle, they can peel." While in rare cases, peeling nails can be a sign of a more serious medical condition, Dr. Jaliman said it's usually one of the much simpler reasons ahead.

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