Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Onychoschisis - Brittle Nails
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the symptom?
People subject to brittle nails should limit the amount of soap they use and the length of time their hands are exposed to water. Some people may be able to use mild, moisturizing soap on their hands. A few need to limit soap use to the underarms and genitalia.
After patting the hands dry with a towel, the individual should apply a moisturizer to the skin and nails. The two types of moisturizers available over the counter include:
Other measures to avoid brittle nails include the following:
Several vitamins and minerals have been proposed for the prevention of brittle nails, but none have been proven effective in human studies.
What are the long-term effects of the symptom?
Brittle nails are often unsightly but have no significant long-term effects.
What are the risks to others?
Brittle nails are not contagious and pose no risk to others.