Why are my skin and nails so dry and brittle?
Not a diagnosis: a head start. These are the three drivers most worth checking first, based on what the evidence says gets missed most often.
Thyroid’s quiet signs
Dry skin, brittle nails, thinning brows: textbook underactive thyroid.
Iron and protein supply
Nails and skin are built from what is left over. Low iron or low protein shows here first.
Omega-3 status
The cheapest visible upgrade for dry, flaky skin in most people.
TSH, ferritin, vitamin D
1. Start a two-minute note so the pattern becomes visible.
2. Take the test list above with you so you can explain the pattern clearly.
3. Read the evidence: Browse the library.
Education, not diagnosis, and never a replacement for your GP or pharmacist. Reference ranges and guidance vary; sudden, severe or worsening symptoms need 111, or 999 in an emergency. By Hussain Sharifi · independent, affiliate-free health research.