How to care for your nails as you age, per dermatologists

Just like skin and hair, your nails age with you — the good news is there are many things you can do to help make it a graceful process. Why do our digits actually age, though? To get the inside scoop on all things nail health, we reached out to trusted board-certified dermatologists to get their expert opinions, tips and tricks when it comes to anti-aging nail secrets. According to experts, keratin loss plays a large role, along with a variety of other internal and external factors like malnutrition, slower circulation and excessive water exposure.

“Our nails age just like the rest of our body,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Pooja Rambhia. “Age-associated nail changes are largely due to impaired circulation, trauma, infections and underlying systemic medical conditions.”

Caring for our nails as we age is no different than tending to our skin and hair — it’s all about taking an intentional, inside-outside approach focused on both nutrition and topical daily care. It’s also important to remember that consistency is key.

Thankfully, there are tons of products available to help strengthen and protect your nails as you age. From glossy top coats you can wear without polish to handy pens filled with oils for optimal cuticle health, we've listed expert-approved product picks from our board-certified dermatologists.

And spoiler alert, some of these picks work practically over night. Keep reading to learn everything you need to about completely transforming your nail health.

Our top picks

A drugstore must-have

Healing Petroleum Jelly Unscented

$4.48

Amazon

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Best nail strengthener

Nail Care Strengthener Treatment

$7.61

$11.00

Amazon

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Best moisturizer

Nail Conditioner

$16.99

Amazon

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Travel-friendly cuticle serum

Nail Strengthener Cuticle Serum

$39.00

Amazon

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Dr. Dana Stern, a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in nail care, embellishes on blood flow and says that as we age, "our peripheral circulation becomes compromised." She continues, "The reason why that’s significant is people don’t realize that healthy nails require oxygen and nutrients that are delivered from the bloodstream. And so, when circulation is compromised, it significantly can negatively impact nail health."

Another culprit? Keratin loss. “Our nails, like hair, are largely composed of keratin proteins, and as we age, this naturally declines,” says Rambhia.

The speed of nail growth also changes with time, which can affect nail health significantly. Stern, who notices a prominent change in growth speed around the age of 40, says that a "slower-growing nail is replaced less frequently, and is therefore exposed to more environmental factors.”

When does that shift start? Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified dermatologist, tells us that “changes in our nails can begin as early as our twenties, as nail growth begins to decline starting at 25 years old.”

More specifically, they grow “at a slower rate, with a declining rate of roughly 0.5% per year.”

“Our nails can commonly become brittle, discolored and prone to breakage,” says Rambhia.

They can also become ridged. In fact, Stern says ridging (aka onychorrhexis) is "an age-related phenomenon" that occurs when the growth plate of the nail shrivels. She compares nail ridging to skin wrinkles that form over time.

Stern continues, "Another age-related issue that I see very frequently in my practice is something called onycholysis, which is when the nail lifts or separates off the nail bed." She tells us, "I have personally observed that it seems like once we hit the age of around 50, our nails just don’t adhere as firmly as they used to."

“The best way to minimize age-associated nail changes is to consume a well-balanced diet that contains adequate amounts of protein, essential vitamins and minerals, including iron,” says Rambhia in regards to nutrition.

All of our experts agree that moisturizing is also extremely important when it comes to nail health. “Frequent moisturizing of the nails and its surrounding skin, in conjunction with drinking enough water, can also help maintain hydration and help prevent the formation of brittle nails," Rambhia continues.

However, exposing your nails to water isn't always a good thing. Stern says water can put a "tremendous strain" on nail cells, as nails are extremely absorbent. Green also notes the downfalls of water exposure, saying "hands that are frequently wet or submerged in water can result in weak and brittle nails."

Stern suggests utilizing gloves in the instance of water exposure: "And so, if you’re doing a lot of house work [and] wet work, gloves are important."

Clear nail polish can also help protect brittle nails over time. Dr. Rebecca Baxt, a board-certified dermatologist, says, "I do tell people to put a clear coat of nail polish on them [weak nails] to try and give them a little bit more strength." Green also suggests polish and tells us, "Base coats and top coats are excellent for fortifying and strengthening nails after a manicure or pedicure."

Size: 7.5 oz. | Key ingredient: Pure petroleum jelly

Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City and New Jersey, highly recommends classic petroleum-based Vaseline ointment for giving nails some extra TLC. "By providing an occlusive barrier, this healing ointment helps to reduce external irritants,” she explains. “It can be applied throughout the day as needed to improve the overall look and feel of the nails.”

Size: 1.6 oz. | Key ingredients: Water, glycerin

Green suggests using this hands-and-nail cream by Bioderma, calling out the addition of moisturizing shea butter within the formula. She also tells us, "The cream creates a hydrogel barrier to protect and nourish both the nails and skin, even after repeated washing." This pick contains glycerin, which is an active ingredient that plays a big role in hydrating skin.

Size: 1.7 oz. | Key ingredient: Petrolatum

Baxt recommends Aquaphor as a suitable moisturizer for nail care. The ointment, which contains lanolin (a highly moisturizing ingredient derived from the wool of sheep), is clinically proven to create a barrier above the skin to help heal dry or cracked areas.

One Amazon reviewer who uses Aquaphor on their nails wrote, "The last thing I do every night is rub a little Aquaphor ointment into my fingernails and hands. My nails used to be weak and splitting, but after I began using Aquaphor, my nails became as strong as acrylics. (Not overnight, of course.)"

Size: 1.35 oz. | Key ingredients: Shea butter, glycerin, B5

“This is a great, fragrance-free thick moisturizing cream that absorbs quickly into the skin on the hands, cuticles, and nail plate to hydrate and protect from environmental irritants,” says Rambhia of the French skin care brand’s bestselling barrier treatment. In addition to pro-vitamin B5 (aka panthenol), the formula also contains hydrating glycerin and dimethicone, soothing shea butter and nourishing centella asiatica.

Size: .25 oz. | Key ingredients: Lanolin, beeswax

Baxt also recommends this nail conditioner, which is "not that expensive" and "very effective." She goes on to say she advises her patients to put this on "once in the morning and once at night."

The thick formula, which aims to help strengthen nails and cuticles, is rich in lanolin. Baxt suggests patients turn to Vaseline if they're allergic to the ingredient.

Size: .46 oz. | Key ingredient: Calcium

“This nail strengthener helps to make nails appear visibly brighter and healthier,” says Garshick of Essie’s top-rated nail treatment. “It strengthens soft or damaged nails while improving overall nail health using MSM technology and can be applied to clean, bare nails.”

Size: .45 oz. | Key ingredients:

“Containing vitamin E, this nail strengthener can be used for weak or thin nails and is a great option for someone looking for a vegan and 17-free formulation,” says Garshick. “It is meant to be used in a four-week treatment cycle and then can be used as needed.”

Size: .47 oz. | Key ingredients: Kale, calcium

Kale has plenty of dietary benefits, but did you ever think about incorporating it into your nail care routine? Green recommends this base coat that's actually fortified with kale extract to help strengthen nails. She continues that the polish is "enriched with vitamins and superfood extracts to provide the building blocks for keratin production, strengthen nails and stimulate nail growth."

Size: 0.085 oz. | Key ingredients: Silanediol salicylate, hyaluronic acid

Another recommendation from Rambhia, this travel-friendly nail strengthener is a great option for when you’re on-the-go as it’s super easy to apply and fit in your pocket or purse.

“It hydrates, strengthens, and promotes growth of the nail plate,” says Rambhia. This is thanks to a powerhouse blend of hyaluronic acid and mastic oil, which work together to keep nails strong and resilient.

Rambhia says that it’s a good idea to avoid frequent back-to-back gel or acrylic manicures, as this can help minimize significant extrinsic damage to your nails that can weaken them over time.

“Gel and acrylic manicures give the deceiving appearance of stronger nails, however they can significantly weaken the nail plate, making them even more susceptible to damage from external irritants like household chemicals and extreme cold weather,” she says.

As far as UV lights at the nail salon go, Stern advises salon-goers to protect their skin with the use of fingerless gloves and broad-spectrum sunscreen "30 minutes before the manicure."

Unfortunately, there’s no way to avoid age-associated nail changes altogether. However, the best way to improve the process is to prioritize nutrition and a nourishing nail care routine. Additionally, be sure to take breaks in between manicures to help avoid prematurely weakening the nails.

Be sure to visit a board-certified dermatologist if you notice any concerning nail changes arise. “Nail issues can be the result of inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, infections, underlying systemic medical conditions and even malignancy,” cautions Rambhia.

“We can develop cancer within the nail apparatus, so it is imperative to be on the lookout for dark steaks within the nail, darker skin next to your nail, or any new growths or bumps underneath your nail plate.”

According to Stern, acetone is "very dehydrating and drying." She advises polish lovers to use acetone-free remover instead, and says that "making a switch to a better formulation that has an alternative solvent as well as hydrating oils is going to be a great way to prevent further nail brittleness and damage."

We selected expert-recommended nail care products made with specific ingredients that aid in strengthening and repairing aging nails. All of the products are designed to leave nails hydrated, nourished and more resilient to breakage as well as other age-related issues.

Kaleigh Fasanella is a freelance beauty and wellness writer with over nine years of experience contributing to Allure, Teen Vogue, Byrdie and more.

Amanda Fama is an editor for Shop TODAY.