Q: I've been trying to grow my nails, but they keep splitting and cracking. I try "nail-grow" polishes, but they don't seem to work. What can I do to have longer nails? A:
Nails are made of a protein, keratin, so make sure your diet includes an adequate amount of protein. Patients of mine who go on crash diets or make sudden dietary changes often notice that their nails get thinner and brittle. Because nails are not made of calcium, taking calcium supplements and drinking gelatin will not make them grow faster. On the other hand, some research suggests that taking a daily supplement of biotin (a B vitamin) may help strengthen brittle nails. One study showed that taking 2,500 micrograms a day of biotin for two months helped heal dry, splitting nails in two-thirds of the participants.
Atom Feed (xml)