Brittle nails: the impact of aging and how retinol can help

Mature Skin

Last Updated September 4, 2025

If you've noticed your nails becoming more brittle and prone to breaking as you've gotten older, you're not alone. Nail brittleness is a common complaint, affecting up to 20% of the population and especially women over 50.

How keratin production declines with age

As we get older, our bodies naturally produce less keratin, the primary protein that makes up our nails, giving them strength and resilience. This decline in keratin production is a key factor in the development of brittle nails. Hormonal changes, particularly the drop in estrogen levels during menopause, can exacerbate this process as well, further weakening our nails.

Keratin reduction leads to several noticeable changes in nail structure and appearance such as thinning, being more prone to splitting and breakage, and a loss of natural moisture and flexibility.

Research has even shown measurable changes in nail composition with age. An increasing carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio in fingernails indicates a shift in keratin composition, with a higher proportion of alpha-amino acids present in older nails [3].

Retinol: a solution for brittle nails

While aging and hormonal changes may be inevitable, there's hope for improving nail strength and resilience. Enter retinol, a tried-and-true form of vitamin A that's the gold standard for supporting aging skin, andhas also shown promise in treating brittle nails.

Retinol works similarly on nails as it does on skin, encouraging healthy renewal of the nail plate¹. Some studies have demonstrated that retinoids (the family of compounds related to vitamin A) can positively affect nail growth rate and thickness. By improving the ultrastructure of the nail plate and promoting a more regular arrangement of nail cells, retinol may increase the nail's resistance to breakage².

Topical nail care products containing retinol or related compounds are becoming increasingly popular. For example, a water-soluble nail strengthener formulated with silanediol salicylate and other active ingredients has shown promise in restructuring fragile nails². Hand creams with retinol also help deliver the strengthening and restorative benefits of vitamin A, while also imparting moisture to nails and cuticles, helping strengthen them.

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References:

¹Dittmar M, Dindorf W, Banerjee A. Organic elemental composition in fingernail plates varies between sexes and changes with increasing age in healthy humans. Gerontology. 2008;54(2):100-105. doi:10.1159/000128269

²Chessa MA, Iorizzo M, Richert B, López-Estebaranz JL, Rigopoulos D, Tosti A, Gupta AK, Di Chiacchio N, Di Chiacchio NG, Rubin AI, Baran R, Lipner SR, Daniel R, Chiheb S, Grover C, Starace M, Piraccini BM. Pathogenesis, Clinical Signs and Treatment Recommendations in Brittle Nails: A Review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020 Feb;10(1):15-27. doi: 10.1007/s13555-019-00338-x. Epub 2019 Nov 20. Erratum in: Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020 Feb;10(1):231-232. doi: 10.1007/s13555-019-00348-9. PMID: 31749091; PMCID: PMC6994568.

³Thieman T, Clarey D, Johnson RA, Trowbridge RM. Trachyonychia Secondary to Acitretin Usage. Cureus. 2020 Jan 19;12(1):e6703. doi: 10.7759/cureus.6703. PMID: 32117654; PMCID: PMC7029829.