title: Brittle nails.
abstract: Brittle nails effect as much as 20% of the population and are significantly more common in women than in men. The major factor of this condition is dehydration of the nail plate. The causes of this dehydration are discussed with relevance to the structure, function, and development of the nail unit. The current approaches to the management of this difficult problem are also presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Scher
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bodian
mesh_terms: D003681:Dehydration / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D009264:Nails, Malformed