How Older Adults Can Manage Brittle Nails

Nails change with age, whether they develop a thickened, yellow appearance, become more vulnerable to fungal infections or thin and flake off. While brittle nails can affect anyone, older adults are more susceptible to this condition characterized by splitting, peeling or visible breakage. Learn why this occurs and what you can do to address the issue.

When Are Nails Brittle?

Nails are made of a protein called keratin that protects your fingers and toes from damage. Nails form and grow out of the base of your finger and a layer of skin protects this area against infections.

Ideally, your nails have a shiny, smooth appearance with white edges and a curved shape. The nail bed, distinct from the cuticle, should appear pink.

Nails are characterized as brittle when:

• The ridge is angled 90 degrees from the fold
• Cracks and dents form on the open edge
• Splitting occurs along the ridges
• Discoloration is present, including a lighter color on top or a dark shade below
• The nail starts to curl
• The keratin feels thin or begins to separate from the skin
• Bleeding or swelling occurs around the nail
• The nail does not grow out from the bed

Causes of Brittle Nails

Brittle nails may occur in response to an underlying health condition or lifestyle factors. Potential causes include:

• Repeatedly washing your hands, which can cause the nails to dry out and break.
• Exposure to household chemicals, including soaps, cleaners and nail polish remover.
• Age, which can affect keratin production and nail growth. These two factors can result in thin fingernails that break easily.
• A nutritional deficiency, with low iron, protein, biotin, calcium, fatty acid and vitamin B levels associated with nail thinning and breakage.
• Regularly filing and manicuring your nails, which can contribute to cracks and splits.
• Hypothyroidism, which may be accompanied by hair loss, fatigue and weight gain.
• Raynaud’s syndrome, which affects circulation and how nutrients reach the extremities, including your nails.
• A fungal infection causing your nails to separate from the bed.
• Psoriasis, which can result in plaques forming under the nails, contribute to discoloration and cause the nail to separate from the bed.
• Damage to the nail bed, which can affect the cells responsible for growth.
• Living in a dry or cold environment.
• Hormonal changes, with menopause potentially causing pale, dull or thinning nails.

How to Preserve Your Nails

To help prevent your nails from splitting and breaking:

• Moisturize your nails, especially after washing your hands or doing the dishes
• Moisturize your hands and feet before you go to sleep
• Protect your hands while doing household chores with a pair of rubber gloves
• Limit using alcohol-based sanitizers, which can dry out your nails
• Put on insulating gloves if you need to head outside into cold, wet weather
• Keep your nails short to limit snagging and breakage
• File the edges in a single direction to keep your nails even and lessen splitting
• Avoid biting your nails or using them as a pick
• Avoid using a nail polish remover containing acetone
• Lessen how often you paint your nails or get acrylics, both of which can wear down the surface of your natural nails
• Start consuming more protein and take a biotin supplement

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How to Avoid the Most Common Causes of Cracked Heels

Cracked heels can occur for a number of reasons, from lacking enough moisture to exposing footwear. If you’ve noticed symptoms such as dry skin thickening around your heels, or have cracked skin or heel pain, then knowing the causes can help you understand the condition, and could prevent further relapses from happening. 

There are several potential causes of cracked heels. Take a look at your routine, and if you identify anything below that may be affecting you, then try altering your current habits. Here are the most common causes of cracked heels:

Lacking moisture – This is the most common cause of cracked heels. The skin underneath your feet is often dry, rough and chapped. This is because the skin around your heels has a relatively small number of sweat glands. If your skin is particularly dry, then cracked skin appears more easily due to there being less elasticity and can be exacerbated by any of the below problems.

Deficiencies – Lack of vitamins, minerals and zinc in your diet can adversely affect your heel health.

Pressure – Spending a long time standing at work or home can stress the skin on your heels.

Aging skin – Thick, dry, scaly skin loses its elasticity with age, and as such cracks can have higher incidence as you become older.

Disorders – Athlete’s foot, psoriasis, eczema, thyroid disease, diabetes and some other skin conditions can be the cause of cracked heels.

Obesity – Being overweight can increase the pressure on the fat pad under the heel. This can cause it to expand sideways and, if the skin lacks flexibility, put pressure on the feet. This leads to cracked heels.

Exposing footwear – Open-back sandals or shoes can allow fat under the heel to expand sideways and increase the possibility of cracks on your heels. Taking care of your feet regularly is important when wearing footwear that exposes your heels.

Hygiene – Failing to keep your feet adequately clean can be a further cause of cracked heels.

Water – Water on your feet can take away natural oils from the skin and can leave the skin rough and/or dry. Standing for prolonged periods in damp areas, such as a bathroom, can cause dry and cracked heels.

Poor fitting shoes – Wearing shoes that do not fit properly can contribute to cracked heels.

Genetics – Naturally dry or thick, dry skin (callus) around the heel could be a genetic cause of cracked heels.

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Who My Services Are Designed For

This Is Who My Services Are Designed For

Not every nail space is for everyone—and that’s okay. This one is intentional.

My services are thoughtfully designed for clients who value:

• Gentle, detailed care

• A quiet, private environment

• Extra attention to nail and foot health

I regularly care for:

• Seniors

• Diabetic clients

• First-time pedicure guests

• Clients with problematic or sensitive feet

• Anyone who simply prefers calm over chaos

You don’t need “perfect” feet to come here. Just feet that deserve respectful, un-rushed care.

If this sounds like you then let's chat! Book your appointment today!

Appointments only. Book Online.

Sole Soothe Pedicure

This service was created for clients who want more than a basic pedicure. Whether your feet are aging, sensitive, overworked, or simply deserve better care, the Sole Soothe Pedicure focuses on comfort, cleanliness, and long-term foot health.

What makes it different:

• One-on-one, private appointment

• Gentle trimming and detailed nail care

• Callus reduction without aggressive tools

• Health-forward, professional products

• Enhanced sanitation at every step

• Plenty of time—no rushing, no double booking

This pedicure is especially loved by clients with:

✔️ Mature feet

✔️ Dry or thickened skin

✔️ Sensitivity or discomfort

✔️ A desire for clean, natural nails

✔️ Past negative salon experiences

But truthfully—it’s right for all feet.

Every set of feet tells a story, and every client deserves to feel comfortable, respected, and well cared for.

My goal is simple: help you leave with feet that feel lighter, healthier, and truly UpKept.

Book your Sole Soothe Pedicure online

Corns vs. Calluses

To start, people often confuse corns and calluses because they share a similar cause — mainly, persistent friction or pressure on the feet, often from footwear that doesn’t fit properly. However, they differ from there.

Corns

Corns are often small, round bumps that form on the tops or sides of your toes. They can seem hard, soft, or something referred to as a “seed corn.”

In most cases, hard corns have a firm center surrounded by thickened skin. And, as the name implies, soft corns seem more pliable. It’s also possible for corns to form between your toes, and they may appear white or gray. 

Seed corns typically form on the bottoms of your feet, and they’re quite small. These types of corns can also be very sensitive and linked to clogged sweat ducts. 

Calluses

Unlike round, well-shaped corns, calluses are usually larger areas of uneven, thickened skin. They’re most common on the bottom of your feet or on bony areas, especially those that experience a lot of pressure from bearing your weight. For instance, the heel, big toe, or ball of your foot. 

While corns and calluses look different and form in distinct areas, they’re both your body’s ways of protecting the skin underneath them. 

Understanding your risks for corns and calluses

As mentioned above, a leading cause of corns and calluses involves wearing ill-fitting shoes...

Additional causes of these skin issues include:

• Not wearing socks with shoes
• Certain physical activities
• Going barefoot a lot

• Having gait or posture problems
• Standing or walking for extended periods

You’re also more likely to have corns and calluses if you have other foot problems, like a hammertoe, bunion, or arthritis. They’re also more common in smokers. 

It’s important to note that corns and calluses typically don’t put people at risk of serious health complications. However, it’s not the case if you have a medical condition affecting your feet, like diabetes, which requires vigilant wound care.

These disorders can cause any skin problem or injury — even corns and calluses — to go unnoticed. They can also become infected quite quickly and put you at risk of serious complications.  

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Valentine’s Day Gift Cards at UpKept Nail Spa

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about flowers and chocolate...

It’s about showing care in a way that actually lasts.

An UpKept Nail Spa gift card is perfect for:

• Someone who deserves quiet, one-on-one care

• Tired feet that need real relief

• Natural nails that deserve expert attention

• Anyone who would rather relax than rush

Gift cards are available now!!!

🔗 Book or purchase online at StayUpKept.com

Toenail Trimming Tips for Diabetics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.6 million people in the United States were diagnosed with diabetes. By 2015, that number had increased to 23.4 million, and has continued to rise. Now, 37.3 million people in the United States, roughly 10%, have diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition, and when you have it, your body doesn’t produce enough of, or doesn’t properly use, the hormone insulin, which is crucial for converting food to energy. The sugar that should be turned into energy instead stays in your blood, which can cause a host of problems. 

One of those problems is poor circulation and damage to your blood vessels. Your feet are the part of your body farthest from your heart, and when you have poor circulation, it may be difficult for even minor injuries to heal. Nerve damage is another common problem that results from high blood sugar. If the nerves in your feet are damaged, they may become numb — which means you may not notice a minor injury. 

Toenails grow, so you’re going to need to trim them. When you have diabetes, it’s especially important to trim them carefully and correctly. 

The first step is to wash and dry your feet. Make sure you get the spaces between your toes thoroughly dry. You need a pair of sharp clippers or nail scissors for the job. Cut straight across, being careful to not round the corners of your nails. Cut them short enough to avoid snagging on things like your blankets at night or your socks, but not so short you run the risk of getting an ingrown toenail. 

Use a file to smooth the edges. File in one direction and only use a file when your nails are completely dry.

Complications Associated with Toenails

It may seem outlandish to think that a jagged toenail could pose a risk to your overall health, but if you have diabetes, it certainly can. Toenails that are too long or sharp can scratch or cut you, and if you have nerve damage, you may not know it’s happened. 

If your toenails are too short, you run a much greater risk of developing an ingrown toenail. The sharp edge of your toenail grows into the soft skin that surrounds your nail. This situation can be painful, and become infected. Poor circulation makes it much harder for your body to resolve and heal from an ingrown toenail. 

For some people, trimming their own toenails is a problem. You may not be able to reach your toes easily, or you may simply be worried you won’t do it correctly. This is where we come into play! 

Contact us or book an appointment with UpKept today! I would love to assist you!

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